THE KING’S ILLNESS.

Grey River Argus, 11 December 1928, Page 5

THE KING’S ILLNESS.

CONDITION NO WORSE. Doctors “Fairly Satisfied.” (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn). LONDON . ucctmb' r o. More information un the King's ‘•undition was given to-day than any since November 26. ilia state-' •u* nt will be read Empire w«dc wile fveiing of deep than Ki unless.' It confirms all the reports caoled, stressing th seriousness of the ill,.css and ttiu gravity of the condition, in fact, it *• n'ow staU -d publicly, o;i the iiigacsi authority that the King s aifc has been mor. than once i,u danger, and fully justified all the warnings given since the illness began.

These wwe necessarily couched iu cautious language, bccau.se His Majesty read his own morning paper long as possible, and even when unable tu do so, he d.splayed interest in the bulletins. Those accustomed to like right use of words ,however, had in detecting the anxiety underlying the published statements <'f the past three weeks. The fact that fur the second time in a week live doeto/ra held a consultation at the when.) they remained ninety minutes is taken to indicate Luat they desired to discuss the future line of treatment uf the stubborn persistence of the infected- area of tl.e lung.

Nowhcr e is there a suggestion of r - newed anxiety. Con traori wise, the ‘Evening standard’s” well-informed diarist says that the King’s condition is no worse. He is not without authuritj" in saying thz doctors are fairly satisfied. A specialist, writing for the “Standard” says; The bulletins of the last few days have been much more favourable than would have been expi.cted, considering how seriously ill the King was a week ago, with, heart weakness, of which there has been no mention rec- ntly. Appaiently it is not causing so much trouble, which means that the pat ient has a better chance of fighting the fresh threat of i mpyima, or collection of matter iu the pleural cavity. On the other baud, the temperature shows that the danger of such a development is by no means past. Other medical opinions quoted by the ‘‘Central News” connect the rise iu temperature with the absorption of toxins, from the congested ai> as of the lung. The “Sunday Express’s” medical correspondent emphasises th hopefulness etf the sign that no mention hag been made of the collection of fluid.

There was again a large crowd outside the Palace to read the bulletin despite the bitterly’ cold weather anti ground frost. A good omen is drawn from thj w fact that the Duchess of York was smiling brightly, when she and the Duke drove off at 3.30. It ft learned that the bulletins, directly they are prepared, are always sent first to tht\ Queen. Copies are promptly telegraphed to the King’s relatives iii Britain and abroad, including the Duke of Connaught at Nice.

Five doctors, after the conference, 11 ft the Palace at 3.45. All returned at seven o’clock, ami remained until an hour aftey the issue of the evening bulletin. This is the first time they have thus stayed on. Sir S.. Hewett again spent the night at the Palace. KING’S CAUSTIC COMMENT. LONDON, December 9. The “News of the World” says that the King was under an anaesthetic al 2.12 wli n an examination was made.It was the actio/n of the anaesthetic which led to the necessity of giving ° x ygen in order to support the heart. “Gossipier” in the same journal says: The King is exhibiting his usual sense of humour, and insists on hearing the wireless bulletin in his bedroom and makes caustic remarks thereon. He has seen so ml <of his personal pets ,including the devoted parrot, Charlotte, which the King has had since he was a captain in the Navy. Charlotte,' however became so excited and yelled so lodflly her favourite remark, “How do, Captain” that sht ha<T~to be removed. The King’s Se?» lyha»n. terrier" Jobe, wfcis much mon sensible and quiet, therefore he has been moiv frequently admitted. CONDITION UNCHANGED. LONDON. December 9. A bulletin issued at 11.45 stated: The King has had several hours’ sleep. The prolongation of the iL’ver is having the inevitable effect of producing a certain measure 'of exhaustion. His hufwiver, remains steady.—Hewett; Dawson. Despite the morning bulletin very less satisfactory than hoped, the Central News has the; highest authority for stating that actually his Majcstry’s condition remains comparatively unchanged. The reference io the exhaustion caused some anxiUty, but it is stated it is no more than the fact that the long tedious illness reduced the King’s recuperative pow’-T. Sir S. Hewitt and Lord Dawson were in comsultation for 105 minutes before they issued the bulletin, the nature ‘of which created anxious feeling among the thousands waiting at the palace. The "bulletin issued at 8.30 p.m. states:— Th > KTng passed a quiet day, hut there is no diminution in the exhaustion mentioned in the morning bulletin. His pulse remains steady. An eminent physician, in a statemldnt to the “Daily Express,” said:— “The mention of no diminution in exhaustion is not a hopeful sign, but very much thIJA opposite. The whole question now is the ability of the constitution, and the system g 1 ‘nerally't'o recover. If at this stage the King is beginning to become exhausted and fever is continuing, it makes th 1 3 outlook very serious indeed.” A semi-official statement says: “To-

night’s bulletin is not regarded as reassuring. The reference to tijj puiee tor thb first time to day is not altogether a" good sign. Lt seems to indicate that while doctors are able to report ’that the pulse remains steady, they ad I watching carefully for possible future development. Sir fc>. Hewett and Lord Dawson saw Bia Majesty for half-an-hour this afternoon, and had a longer visit in the evening. TU bacteriologist, Dr. Whiteby, was in conference with them iu the evening, but did nut gec the King. Nie vertheleis, it should be noted that the Queen, fur the first time fur many days, lunched away from the Palace, going to the Duke of York's home, along with Princess Mary and Lord LascelLs. PRINCE’S JOURNEY. LONDON, December 9. There is the keenest interest in tne Prine.': of Wales’s journey. The wlioie country will be relieved when he reaches London. He managed tu secure a little exercise at Cairo, where be playHl an energetic game of squash racquets. He made necessary purchases of clothing, and visit! d the famous bazaar and bo t ught three Bokhara carpets, lie tried to find an ancient Arab chest, but this was not obtainable. Later he went to the Citadel, whence he had a magnificent view, and also visited King Fuad, thence to the. station* where he entrained for Port Said, where be rejoined th. ■ Enterprise and sailed at 11.20 in"fhe evening. He was expected at Brindisi within 24 hours and at London on Wednesday morning. It is reported from Brindisi that crowds I an.* already g-thering, although the authorities have been warned from Romp that the Prince must not be interrupted by demonstrations. An Italian aeroplane has arrived and will bi? placed at the Prince’s disposal.