STILL SERIOUS

Southland Times, Issue 20670, 17 December 1928, Page 5

STILL SERIOUS

King's JlrusPULSE REMAINS STEADY A REASSURING FEATURE LONG STRUGGLE AHEAD (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Roc. 5.5 p.m.) London, December 15. The fourth week-end of the King’s’illnew finds the situation still very anxious 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. When a bad bulletin is issued the anxious crowd outside the palace grows to thousands. The general poisoning of the whole blood system, which was so alarming at the first stage, has slowly localised itself, a collection of noxious matter affecting the lung for which the operation was performed. Such an operation; as already explained, if successful, is often followed by 24 hours’ rapid and marked improvement due to the relief experienced. “I would like to say how all have been moved by the King's illness,’’ said Mr Ramsay Macdonald at a dinner to-night. “Sympathy is not a question of sycophancy with those who have great pleasure in knowing the King personally. We know how sincerely devoted to duty with constitutional impartiality he is, and we realize when he is walking through the dark shadows how extraordinarily well his Majesty has always done his work and how, in doing it, he has knit us to him, not as the official or dignified head of the State, but as one who belongs to the nation. He has tried all his life in all his actions to carry out the national responsibility and to advance national interests. There is not a member of the old Labour Cabinet who would not join me in prayer for his complete recovery.” Ix>rd Dawson and Sir Hugh Rigby left the palace at 8.15. having stayed for an hour. Sir Stanley Hewett remained on. The Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York dined with the Queen and left thejjalace at 11 p.m. Beneficial Sleep. A bulletin issued at eleven this morning, signed by Sir Hugh Rigby, Sir Stanley Hewett and Lord Dawson, stated that the King 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 a quiet day with some sleep. Though the puhe 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, justifying the hope expressed last night that the less satisfactory condition prevailing is only one of the fluctuations to be expected in the course of the illness. Last night’s sleep has been beneficial and probably contributed to the maintenance of strength which, with the steadiness of the pulse, is one of the moat reassuring features of the bulletin. The doctors had a long afternoon consultation with the Prince of Wales and Lord Dawson left the palace at three o’clock. The Queen did not go for her usual drive. Princess Mary cancelled to-day's engagement at Windsor and remains at the palace. Additional doctors, Dr. Robert Stanton Woods and Dr. Alfred Bakewell, and Sir Stanley Hewett returned to the palace within half an hour of their departure. It is announyd officially from the palace that the King does not wish his illness to in any way interfere with the Christmas party to 600 disabled soldiers for which the King has lent his riding school at the palace. NEW TREATMENT RAY THERAPY INTRODUCED. ADDITIONAL DOCTORS CALLED IN. NO IMMEDIATE ANXIETY. (Rec. 11.5 p.mJ London, December 15. Apart frota the fact that Princess Mary cancelled her visit to Windsor because in Dean’s words “the condition of the King was very grave,” she does not care to be away over long from the palace, but does not want people to think there is any seriously worse movement. The most important development to-day has been the summoning of two additional doctors who arrived at 3.30, left at 5.30 then returned within half an hour. These comings and goings are partly explainable by information from the palace that the doctors were waiting for some hours to see the King, but as his Majesty was sleeping in the afternoon they decided to let invaluable sleep aid their fight and did not interrupt him. Lord Dawson remained at the palace the whole afternoon and had a long consultation with Sir Stanley Hewett. The Prince of Wales awaited the conclusion thereof, after which the newcomers arrived. Dr Woods is an eminent eiectrologist and radiologist in charge of the department of physical medicine and e’.ectrology at the London Hospital. He is part author of “Pericarditis with Effusion.” Dr Howitt is an eminent Harley Street specialist, chief clinical assistant of the therapy department at Guy’s Hospital, physician in charge of the phtsiotherapy and massage departments of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Tottenham, and part author “Observations on Light Sensitization.” There was no surprise therefore when the bulletin revealed the 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 are presumably responsible therefor. The science of ray therapy has made great strides since the discovery of the medical value of X-rays and the introduction of radium, particularly in connection with the destruction of diseased tissue. It has therefore played a great part in the treatment of cancer as an accessory to surgical treatment. It is now possible to enable the healing work of the rays to operate at considerable depth by the insertion of a minute capillary glass or gold tube containing radium emanation by means of surgical needles. It is understood that ray therapy jvill be directed in the Kings case, chiefly against general infection. Effort to Neutralize Infection. An eminent London specialist, commenting on the bulletin, said: "I presume the doctors mean ultra Violet Ray treatment. It is known that this has been under consideration. The effect is that of a general tonic and it also acts in such a way as to destroy bacteria. It increases the bacterial resistance of the blood and also would tend to promote the healthy healing of a wound after an operation. I take it that in this case the doctors are going to use it for tonic effect and neutralize infection.” The night bulletin is generally regarded as satisfactory in the circumstances. It is even stated from a usually reliable source that the King’s condition is such that there is no cause for immediate anxiety. Ray therapy is simply a new method in a long difficult struggle which the doctors are waging. Exhaustion is the result of poisoning from general infection. The fact that his Majesty had a quiet day with the fever moderating is regarded as reassuring. It recognized that there are still many difficulties to face.

Dr. Howitt and Dr. Woods left the palace about 8.30 in the evening. Lord Dawson and Sir Hugh Rigby followed shortly after. Sir Stanley Hewett is staying on. With a brief break for about half an hour Sir Stanley Hewett, Lord Dawson, Dr. u owitt and Dr. Woods were in consultation ‘or about fou- hours. The callir" in of Dr. Howitt Woods ter* doctors’ tendance on his Mt»jeaty—Sir Stanley Hewett, Lord Dawson, Sir Farquhar Buzzard, Sir Humphrey Rolleston, Dr. Hodgson (radiologist), Sir Hugh Rigby (surgeon), Dr. Shipway (anaesthetist I, Dr. L. E. Whitby (bacteriologist), Dr. Howitt and Dr. Wood (ray therapy experts). There are also six nurses. There was a curious error in connection with one of the new doctor’s names. At first it was given out as Dr. William Howitt. The newspapers ascertained that a doctor - bearing such a name was at Nottingham, but he was still there. Then it was thought it was his brother, Dr. Alfred Howitt, but eventually it was proved to be neither, but Dr. Frank Howitt. No Change In Condition. It was learned shortly before midnight that the King’s condition showed no change since the bulletin. The Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York dined at the palace and left about eleven o'clock. At midnight it was learned that the King was having a restful night with some sleep. During their half hour’s absence Dr Woods and Dr Howitt procured the requisite appliances. These wgre adjusted with the aid # of a electrician. In connection with Princess Mary's recall she is a trained nurse. The doctors have now marshalled all the resources of medical science on behalf of the patient—bacteriology, radiology, surgery, oxygen and electro-therapy. The last mentioned is now frequently used to help the heart in addition to the other purposes indicated. There was an impressive scene at the marine barracks at Portsmouth when the boxer, Gene Tunney, who is a captain in the United States Naval Reserve, before presenting a football cap from American naval officers and men said: “I would like to ask the privilege to bow my head in prayer for the speedy recovery of your King.” The whole assemblage followed suit for two minutes. In response to a message from the Boy Scouts’ Association on behalf of the movement throughout the Empire, the Queen replied with thanks and assurance that the King appreciated the.good wishes.

Heart Causes Uneasiness. A usually well informed writer in the News of the World says the danger is that the heart may fail. Sir Stanley Hewett said that a most anxious and trying time was made more so by suggestions from learneds and unlearneds. The Queen on the other hand has never fussed about the doctors. It is a complete misapprehension that the King has been worried by numerous medical examinations by numerous doctors. This is not the case where the symptoms are well understood, and as is customary they have been discussed by doctors in conference. X-ray photographs of the King are some of the best ever taken of a patient when lying in bed. The King has been delirious off and on. He recognized the Prince of Wales, greeting him with the remark: “Well David, how many lions did you shoot ?” Amid the tenseness of her own anxiety, the Queen has not forgotten the hapless unemployed miners and their families of the Welsh coalfields to whom she is sending clothing and toys and appeals to everybody to brighten the sufferers’ Christmas. Princess Mary sent a supply of boots and her two sons a large selection of toys. The Duchess of York is sending clothing and Princess Elizabeth toys. Mr Baldwin personally sent a letter to the Lord-Lieuten-ant bespeaking the speediest co-operation for relief. Mr and Mrs Lethbridge Eable, of Glasgow, as a thank offering for the Prince of Wales's safe return have given £lO,OOO for the city’s poor.—Australian Press Association. EARLIER MESSAGES FRIDAY EVENING’S BULLETIN. CONDITION NOT SO SATISFACTORY. London, December 14. The following bulletin was issued from Buckingham Palace this evening: “The King has had a somewhat disturbed day and his general condition is not quite satisfactory. The pulse, however, remains steady.” To-night’s bulletin gives the disquieting reminder that the time has not yet arrived for optimism regarding the King’s condition. The successful operation has been regarded by the public as the turning point in the illness, but every authoritative statement, including official warnings from the palace, stress the anxiety which is still felt. Tonight’s bulletin has not lessened anxiety. The fact that the King had a disturbed day and that his general condition is not quite so satisfactory are definitely not to the good. Nevertheless, jt is learned authoritatively that the slight retardation in progress was not unexpected. The doctors are quite prepared during the long struggle ahead for other such fluctuations which may occur. The fact that the pulse remains steady saves 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. A medical writer in the Daily Express regards the bulletin as disquieting because, while it is assumed that the local condition is satisfactory, the King’s general condition is unsatisfactory. “It indicates that some cause bYside the local one is at work,” he states. “It appears as though general infection is assuming a more serious position than even before and means either that there is still some local collection of pus not escaping by the method adopted or that general poisoning is the most serious aspect of the case.” The Prince of Wales sent a letter to the president of the King Edward Hospital fund, stating that although back in England he cannot just at present undertake any public engagements, and asking the present officers to carry on until the end of the year. Queen’s Reply to Mr Coolidge. The Queen, in reply to President Coolidge after expressing gratitude to the President for his message, says that the King will be informed of it as soon as his strength permits, and adds: “Though the recent operas tion successfully treated one phase of the King’s serious illness, the consequences of general infection will entail many weeks of slow and anxious progress before convalescence can be reached.” It is authoritatively stated that there is more confidence at the palace, but nevertheless the anxiety continues, for some time. Both the bulletin and the Queen’s message to President Coolidge indicated that the doctors are preparing for a long and difficult struggle. Though much noxious matter has been removed from the body there «are still risks to be faced and 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 was unchanged.

It is officially stated at the palace that the operation did not involve the removal of a rib section. PRINCE GEORGE’S MOVEMENTS. New York, December 14. Prince George arrived at noon on Friday by the cruiser Durban from Bermuda. He sails homeward at midnight on board the Berengaria. -Australian Press AssociationUnited Service