NO IMPROVEMENT

Grey River Argus, 10 December 1928, Page 5

NO IMPROVEMENT

IN KING’S CONDITION. Lung Trouble Persists. GROUNDS FOR CONSTANT ANXIETY. (Australian _,.Z. Cable Atui.) CK/ (Ceivcd December 8, at 5 p.iu.y DUN DON, December 7. Dr. Hodgson, who conducted the Radiograph examination, returned < > I.lie Palace in the evening, and had a consultation with Lord Dawion ana •Sir F. y. Hewitt. At the rame time a taxi arrived bearing the proofs o{f -he Kadiogiaph. Au eminent authority says that m this particular illness it is recognised that the crisis once over the characi ~ristic "Is seldom present, but the period of infection is lengthened. Hio Majesty ’s illnesp is of unusual severity, because infection reached the blood str am, meaning general infection of the whole body. Until recent years a docto.r was of little vaaue. It was a matter of nursing. ‘‘lt could be safely said that if this unusually severe attack had occurred sixty y ars ago, it would have been fatal within a lew days. Ln these days, chemical' were injected for killing off the germ which is responsible for infection oi the blood stream, thus increasing the number o£ white cells to fight it. ’ MYSTIFICATION BULLETIN. LONDON, Deo mber 7. The technical character of to-night’s bulletin created a good deal of mystification even in Palace circles. It rs explained, howl-ver, that the doctors to-day searched by means of a needle and X-ray, for pleural effusion ano found little. This means, that had there been pleural effusion. in large quantifies, certain special steps would be talfl n forthwith, which might Lave the effect of shortening duration of the trouble. As this is not necessary, ordinary passive treatment is r sumed. Il is important to note that tin? patient’s strength is being well maintained. The fact that he had an unrqstful day is accountable by the examinations in thb morning and evening. His Majesty was more restful at ten o’clock to-night. The needle exploration was carri J cut by Lord Dawson, and Sir F. S. Hk-wett. LONDON, December 8. The Daily Express medical authority states that the fact that there was a second X-ray is extremely sug gestive that there is suspicion in the minds of the King’s doctors, of the possibility of an abscess formation, but it is most difficult to obtjain a satisfactory exposure, win n a patient is seriously ill.

The Queen anl Princess have a daily drive for an hour. They chatted animatedly as they drove through the gates, and smiled and bowed at the crowd.

According tq present arrangements, the Queen will un\Vil the Merchant Navy War Memorial, on Tower Hili, on Wednesday. The Duchesses various public appearances to-day wen. 1 a welcome sign that there was ar more hopeful feeling at the Palace. Tonight sU.I visited Christ Hospital, in connection with fhe birthday festival of Toe H. The Duke of York for the third night in succession dined with the Queen at the Palace, and left at 10.30.

The Railway Company operating the Flying Scotsman, has arranged for copies of the morning bulletin issued affi r its departure from London, be telegraphed to York, where travel Lett’s are informed. Bulletins by wirelews areTreceived by the all night trans Channel steamers.

Lord Hew’ett later returned to the Palace, and will remain for the night. Thi>* King’s private Secretary, replying tonight iq a message from Norfolk Yeomanry Old Comrades, stated: “His Majesty’s symptoms are improving, and the situation is Lss anxious. * ’ PRINCE AT CAIRO. (Rceived December 8, at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 8. Th}-- Prince of Wales arrived at Suez to-night. The Enterprise covered the 1.500 miles from Ad l n in approximately fifty-ont hours, thus her total estimated steaming time from Dares Salaam to Suez was 3,500 niiles 124 hours. , Lord Lloyd met and accompanied in a sp'cial train to Cairo. He leaves for Port Said on -Saturday, where he will embark on the Enterprise which is scheduled to arrive at Brindisi on Monday morning, Though possibly Sunday night, in which case it is arrang’ d for a special to leave immediately. M. Doumergue has instructed the police to depute a per sonal bodyguard on board the train at the Swiss border. Representatives of the British and Italian Governments, and the King of Italy, and Mussolini, will meet the Prince of Wales at Brindisi, but only by their presence, and not by ceremonial, will they symbolise God speed to the Prince, and wishes for the King’s recovery. Railway engineers have been placed at important junctions to ensure that the train will not be delayed, and everything is done to render a safe and quick passage. The actual route will be by the Milan St. Gothard tunnel. Basle, Belfort, and Chanmont Chalons, avoiding Paris. He will touch Amiens, and then Boulogne. Sir Godfrey Thomas, Secretary to j the Prince of Wales, left London for Brindisi with a complete kit of warm , clothing. PHYSICIANS’ DILEMMA. LONDON, December 8. The “Daily Chronicle’s’’ medical expert says that all the doctors recognise that relatives and friends of the patient generally desire an intelligible label to be affixed to any serious illness, but when the symptoms obstinately refuse to conform to any classification of generally understood types, curiosity cannot be satisfied. This is the dilemma with which the physicians are faced. They are suddenly confronted, with a combination of symptoms which are serious but unsettled, although in themselves easily recognised. They are therefore obliged to treat the symptoms. This has been done so temperately and wisely that there is every reason to believe

His Majesty will ultimately be spared to the nation. The only important present question is the maintenance of the patient’s strength, upon which tho bulletins continue to be optimistic. Whenever a bulletin “general condition unchanged,” the people may look forward with considerable confidence to a favourable issue. NO QUICK DECISIVE IMPROVEMENT EXPECTED. (Received December 8 at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 8. Close ou the third week of His Majesty’s illness finds anxiety only slightly relieved. It is generally realised that a week ago the worst dangers had drawn very near. Though tho later development was somewhat more hopeful, it did not remove grounds for constant and immediate anxiety. No quick decisive improvement can be expected in a case of this nature. It i* a slow illness. The idea that there will be a crisis, after a period of convalescence is shown by well-inform-ed articles published in this week a medical journals to be an illusion. The disease conforms to a type in which there is not a single crisis, but a protracted succession of ups and downs. The nation must wait patient ly amid the loyal hopes and prayers, the outcome of which in the last resort no human skill can wholly determine.

Eminent doctors in attendance, in their position wield on His Majesty’s behalf the latest and most varied resources of medical science. It is probably true that, had the same illness attacked a decade ago, the medical resources of that day would not have saved him. CONDITION LESS REASSURING. (Received December 9 at 8 p.m.) LONDON, December 8. A bulletin at 11-30 states that the King had some hours sleep. His temperature is still raised on account of local lung condition. His .general condition is the same. Sir F. S. Hewett and Lord Dawson, in a later message, in view of the inconclusive chars ctor of the bulletin, says that the King’s condition cannot lie regarded as entirely satisfactoryAlthough a maintenance of his general condition at a steady level is an important feature, the persistence of lung trouble is causing the physicians a certain amount of worry. There is an absence of any definite signs of improvement., and in that respect it i less reassuring than coul dbe desiredReference to temperature is still being raised. It does not mean that it has become higher, but is still subject to fluctuations, and remains above normal. Sir F. S. Hewett. Lord Dawson, and Drs Buzzard. Rolleston and Hodgson held a consultation at the Palace in ths afternoon. ■ (Received December 9 at 8 p.m.) LONDON, December 7. Lord Dawson and Sir F. S. Hewett left the Palace after the bulletin had been posted. For the past five nights Sir F. S. Hewett has remained.