THE KING’S ILLNESS

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 4 January 1929, Page 5

THE KING’S ILLNESS

NO STATEMENT ISSUED. EASIER FEELING AT PALACE. (Per Press Association —Copyright Australian Press Association. Received this day, 9.30 a.rn. LONDON, Jan. X The King’s restless night caused! no misgivings at the Palace. Despite the fact of two such nights recently His Majesty maintained his condition, which appears to indicate that he has now more reserve strength. The doctors’ morning condition was shorter than usual. Lord Dawson visited the King in the afternoon, but no statement was issued. • AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. THE. ILLNESS DESCRIBED. Australian Press Association. United Service. Received this day, 10.45 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 3. An authoritative statement addressed to the medical profession for publication in the Lancet, the British medical journal, was issued from the Palace to-night. It stated: “For a true understanding of the position it must be emphasised that neither in its inception nor in its subsequent course, has the illness conformed. with what is called pleuropneumonia. Rather was it streptococcal septicemia, which by fortunate happening was localised at the base of the right lung, at first imper-

fectly, later as an empyema bracket, the fixation of the abscess bracket forming between the base of the lung and the diaphragm in the second stage of the illness (vide report of Dee. 22nd).

In a clinical picture the bracket is of dusky appearance, with a dry and cracked tongue, delirium subsultus and exhaustion. The bracket was that of severe toxema resembling

that of a ease of severe typhoid fever and so the new picture is that of an aftermath of severe general infection.

The empyema wound is now clean and is steadily diminishing in size ■■.nd Hie discharge from the plueral cavity is a small amount and the streptococcus has grown from the pus bracket and is identical with that originally found in the blood bracket and is diminishing in potency. Ensol has been effective in local application though through the courtesy of an American colleague, Dr. Sherman,, of Pittsburgh, the supply of Dakins’ solution electrolytically prepared has been recently received. There has been no opportunity to use it because the necessity for any such local application has passed. Ou the contrary, the disinclination to take food, the dryness of the tongue, the low blood pressure, weakness and wasting and notably exhaustion, though slowly improving, will long be an anxious problem. It will be readily understood that while the exhaustion state is pronounced the margin of reserve power must be narrow and small setbacks are inevitable at this stage, and have a correspondingly more se-

vere effect. It is important that the public should not interpret such setbacks or reports of no change as relapses During each week there will be ups and downs. Progress will consist of slow and increasing predominance

of ups over downs. One of the inevitable difficulties of the illness is to convey to the public a true picture — neither too bright nor too dark.

L«RD MAYOR’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE. THE QUEEN’S THANKS. RUGBY, January 2. The following message has been addressed by the Queen to the Lord Mayor of London: “I have received the message which on New Year’s Day the Lord Mayor never fails to address io rhe King. This message, with its expression of loyalty, devotion, and sympathy from the citizens of London, comes to me at a time of great anxiety. The King’s illness must take its long and arduous course, but, please God, I mav look forward to

lifting clouds and the happy realisation of the nation’s faith and hope. The love and affection extended to me and my children throughout these dark days have indeed been a sup-

port to me and to chose near and dear to me, and, when health and strength shall be, as we hope, vouchsafed again to the King it will be a source of happiness to him to know that in his suffering he was ever in the thoughts of the citizens of London. I pray you, my Lord Mayor, to convey to one and all my heartfelt thanks.

EVENING BULLETIN.

NO CHANGE' IN CONDITION".. Australian Press Association. United Service. Received this day, 11 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 3. A bulletin issued at 8 p.m. stated that the King had a fair day. There was no change in his condition.