VICTIM RECOVERS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 5

VICTIM RECOVERS.

Society Woman who was Attacked. A REMARKABLE CASE. (Special to the “ Star.”) SYDNEY, May 6. Mrs Adeline Rebecca Saywell, the 52-year-old society woman, of Bellevue Hill, is recovering from the murderous attack made upon her on the night of April 22, although for three weeks her life was despaired of. Her husband died from the frightful wounds inflicted upon him, but Mrs Saywell has made such a magnificent fight for life that her full recovery is hoped for when she has undergone a serious brain operation. For a week she was unconscious, and even a week ago the three specialists attending her held out only the faintest hope for her life. To-day they are full of hope. After that first week of unconsciousness she lapsed into a state of automatic reflex, and she is still in that condition. She cannot speak, nor can she move unless instructed to do so. Unless the nurse tells her to place her arms beneath the bedclothes she cannot do it. Sign Language. She can convey a few of her desires to the nurse by indirect method. “ Move one finger if you would like a cup of tea, two fingers if you would like coffee, and three if you would like cocoa,” the nurse tells her, and she moves one, two or three fingers, according to the beverage she desires. Her battle for life has been a remarkable one, the specialists say. She was fortunate that the medulla —the portion of the brain which controls the heart and the respiration—was uninjured. This fact, together with her excellent constitution, good luck and skilful medical attention, is responsible for her gradual improvement. Her attacker, and the slayer of her j husband, is still at large.