KING’S ILLNESS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 December 1928, Page 7

KING’S ILLNESS

HIS GENERAL CONDITION NOT ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY LUNG TROUBLE PERSISTS. ..i-u x'xeao AaeuciatKiii —by Electric icicyi C-upyrigut../ (•AUbliULLiilJ ASSUCIUIiUL.; LONDON, Dec. 3. The King had some hours' sleep during the night, stated a bulletin issued at 11.30 a.in. His temperature is still raised on account o.t the local lung condition, and las general condition is unchanged. in a later message, in view of the inconclusive character of the bulletin, Lord Dawson and Sir Stanley Hewett stated that the King’s condition cannot be regarded as entirely satisfactory, although the maintenance of his general condition at a steady level is an important feature. The persistence of the lung trouble is causing the physicians a certain amount of worry. The absence of any definite signs of improvement in that respect is less reassuring than could be desired. Reference to the temperature _ still being raised does not mean that it has become higher, but that it is still subject to fluctuations and remains above normal. Five physicians held a consultation at the palace in the afternoon. The close of the third week of the King’s illness finds the anxiety only slightly relieved. It is generally realised that a week ago the worst dangers had drawn very near indeed, though later developments-, somewhat more hopeful, did not remove ' the grounds for constant anxiety. CURE NECESSARILY SLOW. -so ([uiCiv, decisive improvement, can do expected in a case -vc was nature, it is a slow luuess. 'me Kiea tuat mere win be a crisis, alter wiuc-ii xiioio will be tne pacn co coavalescence, IS jSnO-wn by well-iinoim-ea articles put>nsned in tnis weeic’s medical journals to be an illusion.

Tiie disease, it is stated, conforms to the type in which there is not a single crisis but a protracted succession of ups and downs. The nation must wait patiently and loyal hopes and prayers for the outcome which in tne last resort no human skill c-an wholly determine. Eminent- doctors are in attendance, and in a position to wield on His Majesty’s behalf the latest and most valued services known to medical science. The “News; of the World” says the King was under an anaesthetic at 2.12 p.m., when the examination was made, it- was the action of the anaesthetic that led to the necessity of giving oxygen in order to support' the heart. “Gossoper” in the same journal says the King is exhibiting his usual sense of humour, and insists on hearing the wireless bulletin in Ms bedroom. He has seen some personal pets, including a devoted parrot named Charlotte, which the King has had since he was a captain in the Navy. Charlotte, however, became so excited and yelled so loudly its favourite remark, “How do, Captain,” that it had to be removed. The King’s Sealyliam terrier Job was much more sensible and quiet; therefore he has been more frequently admitted.

LIFE MORE THAN ONCE IN DANGER.

GRAVITY OF KING’S ILLNESS

RECENT BULLETINS REVIEWED

LONDON, Dec. S

-More information on the King’s] condition was given to-day than any day since No A’e inner 28. The statement will ue read throughout the Empire with feelings of deep thankfulness. It conhruis all the reports cabled stressing the seriousness of the illnes and the gravity of Hisi Majesty's condition. It is now stated publicly on the highest authority that the .King’s life has been more than once in danger, which fully justified all the warnings given since the illness began. These were necessarily couched in cautious language because His Majesty read his own morning paper as long as possible. Even when unable to do so he displayed interest in the bulletins.

Those accustomed to the right use of words, however, had no difficulty in detecting the anxiety' underlying the published statements of the past three weeks.. The fact that for tne second time in a week five doctors held consultation at the Palace, where they remained ninety luinutes, is taken to indicate they desired to discuss the future line of treatment of the stubborn persistence of' the infected area of the lung.

Novvhere is there a suggestion of renewed anxiiefy. Contra wise, the ‘ ‘ livening Standard’s” well-informed diarist says the King’s condition is no worse, life is not without authority in saying the doctors are fairly satisfied. A sjiecialist, writing for the “Standard,” says the bulletins of the last few days have been much more favourable than would have been expected, considering how seriously ill the King was a week, ago with heart weakness, of which there has been no mention recently. Apparently it is not causing so much trouble, which means the patient has a better chance of fighting the fresh threat of empyema, or a collection of matter in the pleaural cavity. On the other hand the temperature shows that the danger of such a development is by no means past. Other medical opinions quoted by the “Central .News” connects the rise in temperature with the alt sorption of toxin® from the congested area of the lung.. The medical correspondent of the “■Sunday Express” emphasises the hopefulness of the sign that no mention lias been made of the collection of fluid.

There was again a large crowd outside the palace to read the latest bulletin, despite the bitterly cold weather and the ground frost. A good omen is drawn from the fact that the Duchess of York was smiling brightly when she and the Duke drove off at 8.30 p.m. The bulletins, directly they are prepared , are always sent first fro the Copies are promptly telegraphed to the King’s relatives in Britain and abroad, including the Duke of Connaught at Nice. A bulletin issued at- 11.45 a.m. states: “The King had several hours’ sleep. The prolongation of the fever is having the inevitable effect of producing a certain amount of exhaustion. The pulse remains steady.” The technical character of to-night’s bulletin created a good deal of mys-

£&/ lor’ploui-a’f cZsio/and "found little 7 Had there been .pleural _ effusion in large quantities certain special steps could be taken forthwith which mg - have the -effect of shortening the duia tion of the trouble. As this was not necessary ordinary passive treatment was resumed. r . , An important note is that the Knie, 1 strength is being well maintained li e fact of an unrestful day is accountable to the examinations in the morning and evening-. \Hi& J-VTaiesty was more restful at fen o’clock to-night. The needle exploration was carried out by Lord Dawson and Sir Stanley Hewett. The “Daily Express’s” medical authority states that the fact of a second X-ray is extremely suggestive o± suspicion in the minds of the King s doctors of the possibility of an abscess formation, but it is most difficult to obtain a satisfactory exposure when the patient is seriously ill. The Queen and Princess took then dailv drive for an hour, chatting animatedly as they drove through the gates. According to present arrangements the Queen will unveil the merchant navy war memorial at Tower Hil on Wednesday. The Duchess made various .public appearances to-day. The railway company operating the Flying Scotsman has arranged for copies of the morning bulletin to be issued after its departure from London to be telegraphed to York, where the travellers are informed of the position. The King’s private secretary, replying to-night to a message from the Norfolk Yeomanry, stated: “His Majesty’s symptoms are improving and tne situation is less anxious.” . An eminent authority says that in this particular illness the recognised crisis, once characteristic, is now seldom jiresent, but the period of infection is lengthened. His Majesty s mncss was of unusual severity because the infection had reached the. blood stream, meaning general infection of the whole body. Until recent years a doctor was of little value; it was a. (matter of nursing. I “It can safely be said,” says the authority, “that if this unusually s-ev-. ere attack had occurred 60 years ago it would have been fatal within a few days. In this attack chemicals were injected, killing off the germ which was ■-•responsible for the infection of the 'blood stream, thus increasing the number of blood cells to fight it.” Lord Dawson arrived from the palace for a dinner at Crosvcnor House, Park Lane in aid of Princess Elizabeth’s hostel for children, while Lady Dawson wag presiding. Proposing the toast of the King, Lord Dawson, in a bright, witty speech, announced at the close of the dinner that £15,000 had been collected which, together with other subscriptions, amounted to the £25,000 for which they were appealing.

JOURNEY OF PRINCE OF WALES

LONDON, Dec. 3. The Prince of Wales arrived at Suez to-night. The Enterprise covered the 1500 miles from Aden in approximately 51 hours; thus the total estimated steaming time from Dar-es-Salem to Suez, 4500 miles, is 124 hours. Lord Lloyd met and accompanied the Prince in a special train to Cairo. He leaves for Port Said on Saturday to embark on the Enterprise, which is scheduled to arrive at Brindisi on j Monday morning, though possibly she i may arrive on Sunday night, in which | case it has been arranged that a; ■.special train is to leave immediately. M. Pomnergue has. instructed the police to depute a personal bodyguard for the board train to the Swiss border. BULLETIN LESS SATISFACTORY. CREATES ANXIETY AMONG THE PUBLIC. CONDITION COMPARATIVELY UNCHANGED. Received 10.15 a.m. ta-dav. LONDON, Dec. 0. Despite the morning bulletin being less satisfactory than it was hoped for the “Central News” has the highest authority for stating, actually that His Majesty’s condition remains comparatively unchanged. The reference to exhaustion caused some anxiety, but it was stated that it was no more than the doctors expected in view of the fact that the long and tedious illness had reduced the King’s recuperative powers. Sir Stanley Hewitt and Lord Dawson were in consultation for an hour and 1 three-quarters before they issued the bulletin, the contents of which created anxious feelings among thousands waiting at the palace.