“Condition Satisfactory”— His Majesty Undergoes Operation

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1949, Page 6

“Condition Satisfactory”— His Majesty Undergoes Operation

LONDON, March 12.

His Majesty the King was successfully operated on this morning at Buckingham Palace. His Majesty underwent the operation to free the flow of blood to his right foot. The following bulletin was issued from Buckingham Palace at 11.15 a.m. G.M.T.: —“The operation of lumbar sympathectomy was performed on His Majesty at 11.10 a.m. G.M.T. His Majesty’s condition is entirely satisfactory.” The bulletin was signed by Sir Maurice Cassidy, Sir Thomas Dunhill, Dr Horace Evans, Dr John Gilles, Professor J. R. Learmonth, Dr C. J. Longland, Professor J. Paterson Ross, Dr A, J. Slessor, and Sir John Weir.

A second bulletin, issued soon after 7 p.m. G.M.T., said: “His Majesty had a. restful day. His temperature, pulse and respiration rate have not varied from normal, and. His Majesty’s recovery from the operation is proceeding smoothly.” This bulletin is signed by Sir Maurice Cassidy, Sir Thomas Dunhill, Dr Evans, Dr Gilles, Professor Learmonth, Professor Paterson Ross, and Sir John Weir. The operation was performed by Professor Learmonth, a Scottish authority on the surgery of the nervous system, with Professor Paterson Ross, professor of surgery at the University of London. “Part Of The Cure”

Palace officials emphasise that the operation is not regarded as an emergency one, or as a last-minute attempt to save the King’s right leg, but rather as part of the cure. The medical correspondent of the Sunday Express says: “There is no doubt that the decision to operate on His Majesty was taken because the treatment so far has not been completely effective. If the operation does not improve the circulation of the leg, there is a possibility that he may lose the limb.” His Majesty will not see visitors, apart from members of the Royal Family, for a few days, but should it be necessary for him to see Ministers or State officials on urgent business, he will receive them while in bed. All doctors looking after the King will remain in London over the week-end. The normal convalescence from the operation is from 14 to 20 days.

His Majesty spent last evening quietly at the Palace with the Queen, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, contrary to their usual custom of going away for the weekend, remaining at the Palace last night. . The operation was performed m a Palace bedroom which had been specially converted into an operating theatre. Immediately after the operation, Professor Learmonth told the Queen of its successful conclusion. Queen Mary was informed by telephone at Marlborough House. Soon after the news of the operation, telegrams began pouring into the Palace, wishing His Majesty a speedy recovery. Flowers were sent to the Queen. The operation of lumbar sympathectomy consists of cutting the nerve controlling the flow of blood to the foot, to improve the circulation. It took considerably less than hour to complete, and His Majesty came out of the anaesthetic before noon.

Doctors In Attendance

The nine doctors in attendance at the Palace for the _ operation were: Professor James Learmonth, aged 53. professor of surgery at Edinburgh University since 1939, regius professor of clinical surgery at Edinburgh since 1946, and surgeon in His Majesty’s Medical Household in Scotland.

Professor James Paterson Ross, 53, professor of surgery at the University of London and surgeon and director of the surgical professorial unit of St Bartholomew's Hospital. Sir Maurice Cassidy, aged 69, physician to the King, physician and chief medical officer to the Metro-

politan Police, and examiner in medicine at Cambridge and other universities.

Sir John Weir, aged 70, physician-in-ordinary to the King since 1937 and to Queen Mary since 1936, and consulting physician to the London Homeopathic Hospital. Sir Thomas Dunhill, aged 73, ser-geant-surgeon at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Dr Horace Evans, aged 4.6, physician to Queen Mary since 1946, and physician to the London Hospital and the Royal Masonic Hospital. Dr John Gilles, aged 53, one of the most distinguished anaesthetists in Britain, and president of the Association of Anaesthetists of Britain. Dr Alexander Slessor, aged 36, assistant surgeon at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. He was Professor Learmonth’s assistant at the operation. Dr Cedric Longland, aged 34, first assistant at the surgical professorial unit of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. He was Professor Ross’s assistant at the operation. Five nurses were at the Palace. They included Theatre Sister Anne Gordon, of the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and Theatre Sister Katherine Bartlett, of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, who was theatre sister at the operation. Three other sisters, all from St Thomas’s Hospital, will take turns of duty in attending the King.