KING’S CONDITION.

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1928, Page 5

KING’S CONDITION.

NO IMPROVEMENT. Still Cause for Much Anxiety LONDON, December 14. A bulletin issued at 10.30 stated:— A slight improvement in the King’s condition was noted last evening. Any progress must be slow and difficult.— (Signed) Hewett, Dawson, Rigby. The bulletin issued at 8.15 p.m. slates: —The King had a somewhat disturbed day. The general condition is not quite so satisfactory. His pulse, however, remains steady. It is authoritatively stated that there is more confidence at the Palace but nevertheless anxiety will continue for some time. Both the bulletin and the Queen’s message to Mr Coolidge indicate that the doctors are preparing for a long and difficult struggle. Though much noxious matter has been removed from tho King’s body, there arc still risks to be faced. The conflict between the general infection and the King’s strength continues. It was officially stated at 3 o’clock that His Majesty’s condition is unchanged. SITUATION STILL VERY ANXIOUS. (Received December 15 at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 15. Tho fourth week-end of the King’s illness finds the situation still a very anxious one, as it was on the previous three. Yet the illness has undergone many changes and developments. The public have been buoyed with hope one day, and reduced to grave anxiety on the. following day. The bulletin is the surest index of the position to be seen outside the Palace. When a bad bulletin is issued, the anxious crowd outside grows to thousands.

The general poisoning of the whole blood system., which was so alarming at the first stage, has slowly localised itself into a collection of noxious matter affecting the lung, for which the operation was performed. Such an operation, as already pointed out. if 'ucccssful, is often followed by a twenty-four hours’ rapid and marked improvement, due to the relief experienced.

Lord Dawson and Dr Rigby left the Palace at 8.15, having stayed for an hour. Sir F. S. Hewett remained. Tho Prince of Wales and Duke and Duchess of York dined with the Queen, and left the Palace at 11 P-m. ENGAGEMENTS CANCELLED. (United Service.) z Australian & N.Z. Cable (Received December 15 at 11 p.m.) LONDON. December 15. A bulletin at eleven this morning, signed by Dr Rigby, Sir F. S. Hewett and Lord Dawson, stated that the King had had several hours’ sleep. The local condition was thus far satisfactory. There was no increase in exhaustion, and the pulse remains steady.

Another bulletin at 7.30 this evening stated that His Majesty had had a quiet day, with some sleep. Though his pulse remains steady, and the fever is now moderate, exhaustion persists. It has been decided to employ Ray therapy as part of the treatment. The morning bulletin is regarded at the Palace as favourable, and justifying tho hope expressed last night, that the less satisfactory condition prevailing is only on e of the fluctuations to be expected in the course of the illness. Last night’s sleep has been beneficial, and probably contributed t 0 maintenance of strength, which, with steadiness of pulse, is one of the most reassuring features of the bulletin. The doctors had a long afternoon consultation with the Prince of Wales, and Lord Dawson left the Palaeo at three o’clock. The Queen di-d not go for her usual drive, and Princess Mary cancelled today’s engagement at Windsor, and remains at the Palace.

Doctors Robert Stanton Woods, Alfred Bakewell, and Sir F. S. Hewett returned to the Palace within half an hour of their departure. If is announced officially from the Palace that the King does not wish his illness to in any way interfere with the Christmas party to six hundred disabled soldiers, for which the King lent his riding school at the Palace. A DISQUIETING BULLETIN. (Received December 15 at 9 p.m.) LONDON, December 15. The bulletin gives the disquieting reminder that the time has not yet arrived for optimism. The King’s condition, after the successful operation, has been regarded by the public as a turning point in his illness, but every authoritative statement, including official warnings from the Palace, stress the anxiety which is still felt. To-night’s bulletin has not lessened the anxiety. The fact that the King had a disturbed day. am] his general condition is not quite so satisfactory, are definitely not to the g ood / ” ever " theless, it is learned authoritatively that there was a slight retardation of progress, and the doctors arc quite prepared during the long struggle ahead for other such fluctuations, which may occur.

The fact that the pulse remains steady saved the situation from being a serious one. Anxiety must definitely continue until it is known whether the King’s strength is sufficient to banish the microbes. The Daily Express’s medical writer regards the bulletin as disquieting, because. while it is assumed that the local condition is satisfactory, his genoral condition is unsatisfactory. t indicates some cause beside the local one at work, and appears as thoug i tho general infection was assuming a more serious position than even before. It means either that there still some local connection of pus not escaping by the method adopted, or that general poisoning is tho most serious aspect of the ease.” The Princg of Wales sent a letter

to Mr Harisham, President of the King Edward Hospital Fund.. intimating that although back in England, he cannot just at present undertake any public engagements, and asked the present officers to carry on until the end of the year. MR COOLIDGE’S SYMPATHY. WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. Mr Coolidge cabled as follows to King George: “I am greatly pleased to learn of the distinct improvement in your Majesty’s health, and trust that your complete convalescence will now be a matter of a short time.” LONDON, December 14. The Queen, acknowledging Mr Coolidge’s message, said: “His Majesty will be informed thereof as soon as his strength permits. The consequences of general infection will entail many weeks’ slow and anxious progress before convalescence can be reached.” It is officially stated at the Palace that the operation did not involve the removal of a rib section.

Tribute to the King. BY LABOUR PARTY’S LEADER. (Received December 16, at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 15 “I would like to say bow all have been moved by the King’s illness”, said Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party) at a dinner to-night. “Sympathy is not .at question of sycophancy with those who have the great pleasure of knowing the King personally. We know how sincerely devoted to duty, with constitutional impartiality, be is, and we realise, when he is walking through dark shallows, how extraordinarily well His Majesty has always done his work, and how. In doing if ‘.he knit us to him ,not as the official dignified head of the state, but as one who belongs to the nation. Th has tried all life in all his actions to carry out his national responsibilityr and to advance* the national interests. There is not on<member of the 'old Labour Cabinet, who would not join me in prayer for his complete recovery.*’