KING'S ILLNESS GRAVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20131, 17 December 1928, Page 11

KING'S ILLNESS GRAVE.

: (NEW DOCTOBS CALLED.

SPECIAL RAY TREATMENT.

apparatus in palace.

DANGER FROM INFECTION

STERN BATTLE FOR LIFE.

Jj Telesrspli—'Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z Press Association. (Received December IG. D.5 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. IG. Tho fourth week of tho illness of King George finds the situation still very anxious, as it was in tho previous three weeks. Yet tho illness has undergone many changes and developments. Tho public is buoyed up with liopo one day, arid reduced to grave anxiety on the next, as it follows tho bulletin. The surest index to its feeling is seen outside Buckingham Palaco. When there is a bad bulletin the anxious crowds grow to thousands. The general poisoning of tho King's wholo blood system, which was so alarming in the first stage, has slowly localised itself into a collodion of noxious matter affecting tho lung, for which tho operation was performed. Such an operation, as has already been pointed out, is if successful often followed in 24 hours by & rapid marked improvement, owing to the relief experienced. This has, unfortunately, not yet been recorded in tho caso of the King, presumably becauso tho hold of the infection on his system was so widespread, and his condition was so weakened beforo the operation was possible. Progress Mu.it Be Slow. The bulletins, nevertheless, warrant the hope that progress, although slow and difficult, may persist. The call on the sympathies and prayers of tho King's subjects isi as definite as ever, and may for a very considerable time remain so, but yet there is no ground of any sort for despair. It is generally believed that the King may eventually recover. If bo does, tho case will stand as no mean triumph for the latest and fullest resources of medical Science and skill.

There was a most important development to-day, in the summoninj; of two additional doctors, who arrived at 4.30 p.m. and left at 5.30 p.m. They then returned within half an hour. These were Dr. Robert Stanton Woods and Dr. Frank Howitt. ■■ t

These comings and goings are probably partly explained by information from the Palace that the doctors waited for some hours to see the King, but as His Majesty was sleeping in tho afternoon, they decided to let this invaluable aid in their fight continue uninterrupted.

Lord Dawson of Penn remained at the Palace the whole afternoon and had a long consultation with Sir Stanley Hewett. The Prince of Wales waited for its conclusion and shortly afterwards tho new doctors arrived. New Method of Treatment.

Dr. Woods is an eminent electrologist and radiologist. He is in charge of the department of physical elec'crology at the London Hospital. He is part author of the treatise "Pericarditis with Effusion."

Dr. Howitt is an eminent Harley Street specialist. ~ He is the chief clinical assistant in the actio-therapy department of Guy's Hospital, physician-in-charge of the physio-therapy and massage departments o{ the.Princo of Wale's Hospital, Tottenham, and part author of 44 Observations t»:a Light Sensitization." •" There was no surprise, therefore, when the bulletin revealed tho adoption of a new method of attack, with the names of Dr. Woods and Dr. Howitt, who are the best known experts on ray-therapy treatment, and presumably are responsible for tho new treatment.

Tho science of ray-therapy (curing by means of rays), ha.s made great strides since the discovery of tho medical value of the X-rays, and tho introduction of radium, particularly in connection with £he destruction of diseased tissue. It has, therefore, played a great part In the treatment ol: cancer, as an accesBory to surgical treatment. It .is now possible to enable the healing work of the rays to operate at a considerable Idlepth, by tho insertion of minute capillary glass or gold tubes containing radium emanation, by means of surgical needles. It is understood that the ray-therapy treatment will be directed in tho King's case chiefly again;,t the general infection. Appliances For Ray-t,herapy. The absence from tho Palace for half-tn-hour of Dr. Woods and Dr. Hewett was to enable tliern to procure the requisite appliances. These were adjusted with the aid of the Palace electrician. The doctors have now marshalled all the resources of medical science on behalf of their Royal patient, bacteriology, radiology, surgery, oxygen, and electrotherapy. This last treatments is now frequently used to help the heart, in addition to tho other purposes already indicated. The medical correspondent of the Daily Express says he regards tho bulletin of last evening as being disquieting, because while it is assumed that tho local condition is satisfactory, tho general .condition is unsatisfactory.

This, he says, indicates somo causo at .work besido tho local ono. It appears as though tho general infection is assuming a moro serious position than even leforc. This means that either thero is still somo* local collection of pus which is not escaping by tho method adopted, or else that tho general poisoning 13 the more serious aspect of tho cane.

' PRINCE OF WALES.

NO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS.

LETTER TO LORD HAILSHAM.

Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received Decumberlß, 5.5 p.DI.) ■LONDON. Deo. 15. The Prince of Walps, in a letter to Lord Hailsham, the Lord Chancellor, who is president of the King Edward Hospital fund, although he is back ia England, he "Cannot juat at present undertake any pnblio erigßgejmi>nts. He has asked this presont officers of- the fund lo cftrtr until the en<H ; vi, the>; :v isw, IIP: ■