The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-23 00:00:00

THE LATE EMPEROR'S ILLNESS.

The news of the then Crown Prince's illness was
first made public in May, 1887. It was announced
that the Prince fell ill in the previous January of in-
flammation of the throat, the symptoms of which, a
slight cough and great hoarseness, could not be re-
moved by the means hitherto successfully applied in
similar cases. A stay of several weeks at Ems failed
to relieve the local complaint, so that the medical
authorities who were called in in addition to the
ordinary physician agreed to hear the opinion of the
English specialist for diseases of the throat, Dr.
Morell Mackenzie, of London. The latter went
to Berlin, and on the 22nd of May per-
formed an operation on the Crown Prince's
throat, successfully removing some portions of
a growth in the larynx of the patient. The substance
was examined by Professor Virchow, who found that
the affection in the throat was then neither parasitic
nor gangrenous. Subsequently another operation
was performed by Dr. Mackenzie at Potsdam,
and shortly afterwards the Crown Prince came
to England. He spent some time at Norwood,
and, acting under the advice of his physician, went
to the Isle of Wight for the benefit of the climate.
With the same object the Prince visited the High-
lands of Scotland. He appeared to benefit consi-
derably from the change. After leaving England the
Crown Prince went to Baveno, Mr. Mark Hovell
being in constant attendance. Sir Morell Mackenzie,
in a report published at the request of his Imperial
Highness in November, 1887, stated:that up to the
middle of October everything appeared satisfactory.
On the evening of the 17th of that month Mr. Howell
noticed a marked increase in the congestion of the
larynx; but the more urgent symptoms for a time
disappeared. Before the end of the month, however,
a new growth was seen to have occurred. The de-
velopment affected the Prince's voice, which became
very hoarse. Dr. Mackenzie was summoned to San
Remo (whither the Prince had removed), and on the
6th of November he again examined his Imperial High-
ness's larynx. The growth had considerably extended
in an upward direction. In consequence of the serious
nature of the new developments, Professor Schrotter
and Drs. Krause and Moritz Schmidt were called in
and examined the Prince. The acute symptoms sub-
sided, and it was determined to perform no fresh
operation. The symptoms then, according to a
report by Sir /vlorell Mackenzie, "presented an
appearance which was consistent with the diagnosis
of cancer, but although the unfavourable symptoms
were explicable on the ground of the existence of can-
cer, it was clear to the majority of physicians that peri-
chondritis had supervened. In the middle of December
the unfavourable signs had passed away, and there
were no longer any clinical symptoms of cancer.
Microscopical evidence on the subject was furnished
at the end of January, when a slough was expecto-
rated from the spot which had presented a suspicious
appearance in November. This slough was most care-
fully and repeatedly examined by Professor Virchow,
and the result showed that cancer could not be de-
tected." During the early part of February, 1888, the
swelling in the Prince's throat increased considerably,
and on the 9th, his breathing having become exceed-
ingly difficult, it was decided to perform the operation
of tracheotomy. Professor Bergmann was summoned
from Berlin; but it was not considered safe to wait till
he arrived, and the operation was successfully per-
formed by Dr. Bramann. Sir Morel Mackenzie was
among the doctors present, he having returned to San
Remo on the 28th of January. For some time after
the operation the Crown Prince was in a rather
critical state, but during the first few days of March
his condition began to improve. On the 12th of
April it was reported that unfavourable symptoms
had manifested themselves, and renewed anxiety
was awakened regarding the Emperor's condition.
On the 16th of April it was announced that bronchitis
had supervened, accompanied with high fever.
For two or three days the Emperor's condition
caused the gravest anxiety. His Majesty,
however, rallied, and when on the 24th of April
Queen Victoria arrived at Charlottenburg from Italy,
the Emperor, though not allowed to leave his bed,
was well enough to receive her Majesty. The Queen,
who left on the 26th on her return to England, had
repeated interviews with her son-in-law, which pro-
duced no unfavourable effect on his health. On the
4th of May it was announced that the Emperor was
free from fever and able to leave his bed, and that
the issue of daily bulletins would be discontinued.
On the 19th of May he had so far recovered
as to be able to take a drive to Berlin, where he
was enthusiastically received by the pecple. On the
24th of May his Majesty was present at the marriage
of his second son, Prince Henry of Prussia, to the
Princess Irene of Hesse, a daughter of the late Princess
Alice. The ceremony took place in the private chapel
at Charlottenburg. On the 29th the Crown Prince's
brigade defiled twice before his Majesty, who witnessed
the march-past while standing in an open carriage.
On the last day of the month the Emperor paid his
first visit to the mausoleum, where he knelt for some
time before the coffin of his father. The following,
day, June 1, the Emperor removed from Charlotten-
burg to Potsdam. He was greatly fatigued by the
journey, but for the next few days seemed to be gain-
ing strength. On the 11th of June it was announced
that the condition of his Majesty was again very
critical; a perforation had been discovered between
the windpipe and the gullet, endangering the possi-
bility of taking food. On the 12th an official
bulletin stated that the difficulty in swallowing ex-
perienced by the Emperor had increased, and on
Thursday, the day preceding his death, all hope of his
recovery was abandoned.