THE ROYAL PATIENT

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17587, 17 December 1928, Page 5

THE ROYAL PATIENT

A RESTLESS NIGHT.

BUT CONDITION IMPROVED. GOOD RESERVE OP STRENGTH. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) LONDON, Dec. 16. The King's doctors, Sir Stanley Hewett, Sir Hugh Rigby, and Lord Dawson of Penn, issued the following bulletin at 11 a.m. to-day:— In spite of a restless night His Majesty's general condition has slightly improved. Received Dec. 17, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 16. At the Palace the bulletin is regarded as reassuring. The fact that there is an improvement in His Majesty's condition after a restless nigbt indicates that the King has still a good reserve of strength with which to continue the fight against general infection. It is regarded as satisfactory that the temperature and pulse were not mentioned. The doctors consulted for an hour and a-half before issuing the bulletin. The Duke and Duchess of York called at the Palace and accompanied the Queen and Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles to a service at the Ghapcl.

The following messages were received prior to the foregoing:—

THE RECENT OPERATION.

MORE DOCTORS SUMMONED.

ALL RESOURCES MARSHALLED. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (liy Telegraph—Press Assn.—-Copyrig-ht.) LONDON, Dec. 16. An official statement from the Palace says the recent operation did not involve the removal of a section of a rib. A usually well-informed authority, writing in the News of the World, says: •'The danger is that the King's heart may fail." Another bulletin was issued at 7.30 p.m. (7..'JD a.m. Sunday, New Zealand time) as follows: "His Majesty has had a quiet day with some sleep. Although his pulse remains steady, and the fever is now moderate, the exhaustion persists. It lias been decided to employ ray-therapy as part of the treatment." The fourth week of the Illness of King George finds the situation still very anxious, as it was in the previous three weeks. Yet the illness lias undergone many changes and developments. The public is buoyed up with hope one day, and reduced to grave anxiety on the next, as it follows the bulletins.

The general poisoning of the King's whole blood system, which was so alarming in the first stage, has slowly localised itself into a collection of noxious matter affecting the lung, for which the operation was performed. Such an operation is often followed in 24 hours by a rapid marked improvement, owing to the relief experienced. This has, unfortunately, not yet been recorded in the case of the King, presumably because the hold of the infection on his system was so widespread, and his condition was so weakened before the operation was possible. The bulletins, nevertheless, warrant the hope that progress, although slow and difficult, may persist. The call on the sympathies and prayers of the King's subjects is 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 he does, the'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 summoning 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 Ilowitt. Dr. Woods is an eminent eleetrologist and radiologist. He is in charge of the department of physical clectrology at the London Hospital. He is part author of the treatise " Pericarditis with Effusion." Dr. Ilowitt is an eminent Harley Street specialist. He is the chief clinical assistant in the actio-therapy department of Guy's Hospital, physician-in-charse of the physio-therapy and massage departments of the Prince of Wales' Hospital, Tottenham, and part author of " Observations on Light Sensitisation." There was no surprise, therefore, when the bulletin revealed Ihe adoption of a new method of attack, with the .names of Dr. Woods and Dr. Ilowitt, who are the best known experts on ray-therapy treatment, and presumably are responsible for the new treatment. The doctors have marshalled all the resources of medical science on behalf of their Royal patient, bacteriology, radiology, surgery, oxygen, and electro-therapy. . , The Prince of Wales has intimated that he will be unable at present to undertake any public engagement Queen Mary did not go for her usual drive. Princess Mary stayed at the Palace, as " the condition of the King is very grave and she does not care to be awav very long from the Palace."

PUBLIC SYMPATHY

LABOUR LEADER'S TRIBUTE. DEVOTION TO DUTY. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association). LONDON, Dec. 15. The Leader of the Labour Parly, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, speaking at a dinner this evening, said: " I should like to say how moved we have all been by the King's illness. Sympathy is not a question of sycophancy. Those persons who have had the great pleasure of knowing King George personally, and iiow sincerely and devotedly he has done his duly willi constitutional impartiality, feel, when he is walking through Ihe deep shadows, how extraordinarily well His .Majesty has always done his work, and

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how in doing so he has knit us to him, not as an odicial or the great dignified head of the State, hut as one who helongs lo the nation. The King has tried all his life, in all his actions, to carry out his national responsibility and Lo advance the national interests. There is not a member of the former Labour Cabinet who would not join me in a prayer for His Majesty's complete recovery."

There was an impressive scene at the -Marine Barracks at Portsmouth. Gene Tunney, the boxer, who is a captain in Ihe United States Naval Reserve, before presenting the football cup given by American naval men, said he would like lo ask the privilege of bowing his head in prayer for the speedy recovery of tiie King. The whole assemblage prayed for two minutes. In response to a message from the Boy Scouls' Association expressing sympathy.' for Ihe King, on behalf of the movement in all parts of the Empire the Queen replied with thanks, and 'an assurance thai Ihe King would appreciate their good wishes. It is announced olllcially from Buckingham Palace that it is the King's wish that his illness shall not interfere willi the annual Christmas party of 600 disabled soldiers, for which the King lias lent the riding sehool at the Palace. , , u There was a family luncheon at the. Palace yesterday, which was the Duke of York's birthday. Those present were the oueen, the Prince of Wales, Ihe Huchess of York, Princess Mary, Viscount Lascelles, Princess Victoria and the Princess Royal. After luncheon the Duke went to his Piccadilly residence.