THE KING'S ILLNESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12425, 7 August 1902, Page 2

THE KING'S ILLNESS.

details by the mail.

A GRAPHIC' description.

Surely such a sudden and startling surprise, such r. stunning and stupifying shock, uover can have fallen upon a community as that which, as in a lightning Hash, crashed, upon London last Tuesday morning, and which seemed for a moment almost to paralyse thought -and action! " Such is the opening of our London correspondent's account, under date June 27, of tho sudden illness of his Majesty the King. Tho correspondent of tho Melbourno Argus, writing on the same date, supplies tlio following graphic account: — Wo have had a week of tragedy. The King and Queon camo to London from Windsor last Saturday to prepare for the r,?. r 1 ? I ? a ™ n , celebration, fixed for yesterday. \\ i thin 24 hours of their arrival at Buckingham Palace the announcement was made that- owing to tlio -King's illness the great ©vent in which tho whole Empire was about

to take part must bo indefinitely postponed. It was heartbreaking to Icaru that all the preparations which had been proooedmg for many months, that the great gathering of troops and visitors from all parts of tho world, and tho immense programme of festivities throughout tho Umpire were to end in disappointment. The consternation and dismay were increased when the precise cause of the great misfortune camo to be clearly known. The King had been strickijn with a painful illness, which must havo ended fatally in a fow hours had lie not submitted to tho surgeon's knife. It was sad to havo the Coronation ceremony and its attendant. festivities postponed. It was worse-to discover tint the Sovereign's life was hanging by a thread,

CONSTERNATION IN LONDON. Ono cannot describe Ihe emotion which swept across the country. In London the excitement was intense. Scores of thousands of people were parading the streets through which the two great processions ; were to pass; troops were pouring into London, when, just after noon, -bulletins wore posted at ■ tho newspaper offices and at the Mansion House, announcing that the Coronation had been postponed, and that tho King would have to undergo a surgical operation. After a sudden momentary silenefl thero was a gi-eat hum of excitement, the streets becoming, more animated than ever Tho evening newspaper vendors were besieged by purchasers, and the postal and telegraph ofliccs were crowded. Tho news was liko a thunderclap. The nation was plunged into gloom in lhe midst of its preparations for festival, and yet the gravity of the King's condition did not take everybody by surprise. Those of your readers who have watched' your London correspondence will have noted -that for many months the King's health has been the leading subjqet of interest at Home. Jsot many hours aftor the King was stricken with lumbago at Aldersh'ot on the Mth inst._ rumours went'round that he was seriously ill, and when he had been seen by ' Frederick Treves, at Windsor, on tlio 18th inst,, very definite statements were mad© by -many persons who had access to tho Court that the King's condition gave , cause for great anxiety. ' An official personage. well placcd for inside information, assured me eo far back as Sunday that the King might be crowned, but would not be present in the procession through the "City,

| OFFICIAL R&FICENCE. When the real condition of nis Majesty became known on Tuesday last there was a certain amount of annoyance that the public had been kept in complete ignorance of the facts. For instance, Sir P. Knollys informed the newspapers on the night of the <ilst that thero was not tho slightest truth in the persistent alarming reports that were then current respecting tho King's hcalth, though Sir Francis must have been perfectly aware ot tho fears and suspicion* which Sir Frederick Treves hud ex»ressed three days earlier. The Bishop of Worcester Jul' bore), speaking at an intercession service at Birmingham on Wednesday, expressed the opinion of many people, when no said that the public were astonished that tney had not had some forewarning. For weeks they had • been h-oaving ominous rumours in the clubs and streets to which good citizens refuse to turn an ear. It was not well that loyal citizens should have to feel that the rumour# of tho clubs and streets were right, and the official declarations wrong. Ho thought it the duty, at momonts like the present, of tho Clmrch of.Christ to ask those in .authority and in iV® 'JV" 0 ,® 8 tllo "tmost nossible to tell the. tihiMi. This outspoken 'language has wotted a very thin explanation from Sir i'rancis Knollys. which 'has don© him 110 good ill the public estimation, 1

. DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLNESS. • P lO . British Medical Journal gives an interesting medical history of the KintA illness.- It that. the Royal Court on I riday, June 13, was cxtremolv trying, and tip hurried, supper his Majesty took after this function may possvbly not havo been unconnected with • hi s subsequent illnoss. was indisposed .on Saturday, but insisted that the troops at-Aldorehot should not bo disappointed of his presence, and therefore went down to attend tho tattoo, lliat ■ evening, after dinner began, tho suffering increased, with abdominal discomfort and disrention. and in the eirly hours of . '"5 experienced considerable pain, isir Srencis Lairing arrivod at Alderwot at 5 o clock on Sunday morning, and WO remedies applied pavo relief. Tho Kings progress, however, was not satisfactory. and in the course of tho day Sir .Oiomas Barlow was called into consultation. On this day Ins Majesty had a slight Willi, or rigor, an coeurrc.'.ce which gave ground,! for fearing that sorno inflammatory TOKcliief was in oxistcnee. On tho folJowing day (Juno 16) the physicians, t-ikine into consideration .(lie fact- that the ficcoinmodation at Aldershot was not such na was altogether suitable should his -Majesty suffer sorious illnoss, advised that, he should return to Ynndsoi;, and the King drove from Aklor&hol to Windsor in an onsy carriage. Ino journoy wns well borne. and his! Majosty arrived at Windsor in a condition nil tno wnoio rather more favourable than he had been ,n in the morning. Hi, Majesty, who all .through was extremely anxious that tho arrangements for iho Coronation should not be- disturbed, realising how much disappointment any postponement-must cause, loruade any announcement which would alarm the public mind, or, indeed, the publication of a bulletin, but proved himself amonaWo to the medical advice tenderod i J ) c I ,f s f (,|| ,®y quiet days 011 Tuesday and TV ndncsday, taking only very short drives in tho private grounds of- Windsor, and lying down tho rest of the day. 1 On Juno 18 he was soon by Sir Frederick xro\cs in consultation, and the signs and symptoms then pointed to inflammation in the region of the head of tho lavge bowel> J.IIG possibility that an operation might become necessary was then present to the mmds of his medical attendants, but on 1110 following day tlio conditions, both Ecneral and local, were very much improved, lhe improvement continued on Friday ami Saturday (June 21), and, in view of 'the facts that there had been no fever for two days and a-half, and that the swelling in the affected region had almost vanished, it was felt that there was good reason tn hope that the attack! was subsiding, and that his Majesty would be able, by practising due care in the intervening period, to bear the fatigues of the Coronation ceremonials. .There was, therefore, no justification in suggesting a postponement, of the Coronation. His Majesty, who throughout the illness showed _ himself strongly ,imbued with a sense of his duty toward the nation, felt, that ho was under an obligation to proceedto London ou Monday. The journey was accordingly made by train from ■Windsor, with Qvevy precaution to avoid fatifflle and strain. On Monday evening (.Tune 231, however, there was an exacerbation of tho symptoms. 'liie foyer returned to MMdeg' Falir., and the swelling in tho right iliac, fossa rapidly increased. Tho TCing received intimation that Virulent iilflanMnfttion had occurred v.lth

SL"T 1 ,f 9U , n,80 aml cq«a»'tnity, while «. of fi?v ' 1 koo , ncat distress that (lie people t K. couiivry should bo disappointed, THE OPERATION.

i u n morning a consultation was r ; winch all the sergeant-surgeons, Lord Lister. -Sir Thomas Smith, and Sir i'rederiek Treves, were presont, together with Sir Ihomas Barlow .and Sir Francis ft i' i 5 Majesty's- immediate medical attendant. The opinion was unanimous whatever the inconvenience to tho i public. Ins Majesty's condition rendered an immediate- operation an absolute necessity, bvoryilimg haying been in readiness, tho operation, which wp performed bv Sir I-rcdcrick Irevos, ttiok place at liiblf-pasl 10 ™ lf ""ation having begun at 10 oeloelc I'lio operation was performed in tho ordinary .way, an incision being made in lie ordmarj- situation, but the abscess, winch was opened, lay at a considerable depth, ami was of a very large size. If, was c ear Ins Majesty had borne with admirable courago severe suffering, ;iir tho hope Ol avoiding (lie disappointment which his sorious illness caused to his loyal subjects.' f, aiscoss was completely evacuated, t-noroughly washed out, two large draina»o tubes introduced, and the wounds packed with antiseptic gauze. ' The condition of the parts made it clear that tho operation was such as to assure his surgeons that the abscess was not due to any organic disease ol a moro serious nature, or viny malignant growth, as rumour hod suggested. I

FIRST PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. t.T' 1 ® first public announcement of tho Jung« illness was made at Westminster Abbey, when the Bishop of London (Dr Ingram), who was attending- tlio Coronation choir practice, staggered the audience of singers and musicians by stating that tho Coronation would bo postponed coneequent on the King's illness. Oil Dr Ingram s appeal, the congregation joined in an intercessory service. The Bishop of Bath and Wells knelt at Hie stool where lie wou[d have sung the Litnhy in a few hours. Behind him were tho Bishop of London, the Bishop of Winchester, the Dean of Westminster, Canon Duckworth, Gallon Wilborforce, and Canon Robinson. Tho Speaker was also present. None of tho-clergy were robed, but it was an impressive sorviee, undertaken on the spur of the moment.

- A TOUCHING SCENE.. Equally touching was a similar scene among tho Coronation troops from India who are quartered on the grounds of FillJiam Palacc. When the Bishop of London, who resides in tlmt palace, made known to those persons that the King was grievously ill, and that there would be no Coronation,, they raised their hands, and said, "We go to prayer." With their prayer carpets m front of them in the grounds adjoining the palace, these men of different nationalities and religion iQngogod ill prayer for over an hour. The Christians m tho Indian forces quartered in the same' camp sent the following -message to the Uishop. of London:—"The others in the cantonments having been praying for the King, may wo come and join you Bislion in your evening service.at 10 o'clock?' - That night there was special service at the Fnlham Palace Chapel, which building was much too small for the nativo troops who desired to attend if. These two scones illustrate the dramatic and sudden change from the-brightness of a few days ago to Hie anxieties which have prevailed since ■Tuesday.

universal intercession. AH through the. country,- where joyous coronation services were to Wo been held yeaterday 111 cathedral, minster, and pariah church, there were instead intercession services for tho King's recovery. All tho persons who had received invitations to the Coronation service at tho Abbey were adrnitted to yesterday's great intercessory service at St. Paul's Cathedral, of which you havo heard by eablo. Rejoicings had given placo to prayer. Special services have been organised in the synagogues. Cardinal Vaughan also directed u public recitation 0/ the Rosary. "For." says the Cardinal, tho finger of God has appeared in the rtiidst of our national rejoicings. The King's hfe is in danger. Let xis havo recourse to Divine mercy." Thero are or will 'bo special prayers in almost oil placcs of nonconformist worship, and " General " Booth, of' the Salvation Army, has telegraphed to the vjuecu from Berlin his d&ep sympathy, and a notification that his organisation throughout 'tho world would join in petitions to the throne of Grace.

the FOREIGN press, ' - The newspapers were filled/with many columns of information respecting the intercession services which had taken place at Homo and abroad, in far-off China, in Canada, in North and South America, and among the Boers, our late enemy, in South Africa. The public sympathy in America has been very like that which prevailed here over the assassination of President Jil Kinley. On the Continent, even among the pro-Boer Dutch of Holland, the newspapers of all colours, with few exceptions, aro most sympathetic. . the British feeling towards tho Dutch nation''-during the late ilme3s of the young Queen of Holland has not been forgotten. Tho Russian .papers have buried ehronio animosities. Tho only jarring nbtes eome from two sources. One iB the French' Nationalist parly, who betray satisfaction at the illness of England's King and who are soundly rated by all the other political sections, The other melanchoty exception is found in Germany. The Berlin correspondent of The Times declares that the Gorman prcßS does not contain many noteworthy expressions of sympathy towards England. Tho Berlin journals arc mostly silent, and Frankfort almost alone supplies a worthy expression of humane feeling. In some journals, be says, which aTe by 110 means uninfluMitial and obscure, ara expressions of inhuman epite' and malice, which he refrains from quoting, not because tliey are without significance ! n . a „? ountr >' which boasts its education and intelligence, but because no self-respeoting English journal would nollute its columns by reproducing specimens of su'cli utter vileners. The Vaterland, the organ of tho episcopacy and clerical aristocracy ill Austria, is the only newspaper in that empire Which has Uot referred in sympatheitc terms to the King's illness. '

HIS MAJESTY'S THANKFULNESS. You have learnt- by telegraph that, immoi lately after (he King recovered consciousness after J. no operation, lie gent for the lrinco of Wales, and desired him to make known to Ins subjects, and to the foreign visitors, many of whom were staying in tho palaco, how grieved ho was at their disappointment. Jlis Majesty's solicitude for others has been marked all through his illlioss. When told on Tuesday morning that lie must submit to tho surgeon immediately or ho might lose his life, he showed the most complete fortitude. He said, "But operation or no operation, I won't disappoint tho people. I m ,,at g0 to the AEbey," and during the past 24 hours lie has sent Kindly messages to some of tho departing guests, showing real solicitude for their disappointment. His thoughtfulnes's was furthey illustrated by hia strongly-expressed desire that none of the" charitablo entertainments throughout tho land would bo postponed, especially his. own dinner to 50,000 poor. He further wished that all tho provincial Coronation celebrations, as well as entertainments, should not bo interfered with. But none of theso havo taken plaoe. All the public dinners and festivities throughout the land, whether in London or in tho provinces, have been cancelled. Only the pliaritaMe entertainments are being proceeded with. Tho procession arranged to pass through London was, of course, abandoned, and on Wednesday orders were issued for tho dispersal of tho fleet at Spithead. This is to be done in a few days after the colonial and Indian troops and visitors havo had an opportunity of seeing tho display of England's naval strength.