The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-30
A ROYAL CRIPPLE.
WHY A CROWN PRINCE HAS A
SHORTENED ARM.
A German Doctor Who Felt In
suited by Foreign Interference
An Arm That Was Fractured
Through Carelessness.

There appears in the New York
Medical Record, which has given thu
subject of the late Emperor Williams
and the present German Emperor's ILL
ness more than ordinary attention, an
account of Crown Prince William and
the causes to which are due his crippled
arm. 1t will 60 far, says the New York
Herald, toward disabusing people of the
belief that Prince William is afflicted
with any disease of scrofulous nature,
reports to that effect having recently
been sent to English and American
papers from Berlin.
DR.. George F. Shrady, the editor of
the Record, said, when called upon at his
residence: "Yes, we have very inter
esting story, and I don't mind telling it
to the Herald. Its author doesn't wish
to. be known, but he is physician who
attended the gymnasium with the Crown
Prince William, and his information is
entirely trustworthy.
"The present difficulty of the Crown
Prince William dates from his birth,
when fracture of the left arm occurred
which resulted in that member being
about two inches shorter than the other.
'sPrior to the birth of her child En-
press Victoria, the then Crown Princess,
was seriously ill, and her mother, Queen
Victoria, despatched from London two
English obstetricians to attend to her.
These physicians found themselves un-
able to cope with the difficulty that pre-
sented itself and then arrived the neces-
sity for consultation.
ga messenger was despatched for
Professor Martin, the elder, since dead,
who at the time was high in the circles
of the court and president Of one of the
universities. Piqued at the introduc-
ton of the Englishman in the case, to
the exclusion of those of the Fatherland,
the eminent scientist returned this an
swer: IF I was not able to attend to the
Crown Princess in the first place I am
not able to do it now.'
Uniformed of this brusque reply Of
Professor Martin, Emperor William, at
that time King of Prussia. issued an i'm.
perial edict ordering the obdurate physi-
clan to attend the Crown Princess.
Such summons had to be obeyed.
Professor Martin went to the palace. He
was conducted into the presence of the
Crown Princess, where were the two
English obstetricians. Saluting the
Crown Prince, who was in the apart
mept, the German physician silently
gave his attention to the royal mother,
oyercame the difficulty that had puzzled
the London doctors, placed the new
born infant in the arms of nurse,
bowed stiffly to the two professional
gentlemen from England and retired
from the apartment without uttering a
word.
"Here was the spectacle of proud,
scientific man who would not unbend
for royalty. He. had performed his
duty, in taciturn manner it is true, but
that was all.
professor Martin was dismissed from
court. g..
''When the little Prince was three or
four days old it was discovered that his
left arm was fractured short distance
from the shoulder.
"Who broke it2 Did the accident
occur through the agency of Professor
Martin, or while the babe was in the care
of its English attendants2 That ques-
ton has never been answered, probably
never will be. The doctor who broke
the arm felt the snap of the infantlle
bone. From the nature of things he
would keep the news to himself, fearing
to have it known that to him belonged
the blame.
"The fracture of a newly born infants
arm is not an unusual occurrence, and ls
not regarded in the medical profession
as serious or attended by great danger.
In this case, however, when the bones
knit the left arm of the Prince was
shorter than the right, and it has ever
since so remained.
sIt has been stated at different times
that Prince Villa ms eyes were bad.
Had this been the case he could never
have passed through the gymnasium.
When he graduated, the young Prince,
though bright and possessed of q
thorough education, yet stood No. II
in his class. This shows the impartiality
of the German professors in dealing with
students Of the royal blood.
eFrom this story there can be no
wonder at the deep rooted prejudice in
the Princes mind against what he natur-
ally considers the interference offoreign,
particularly English, doctors in the case
of his father. Whenever he glances
down at his shortened left arm there
must occur to him the thought that but
for the meddling in his case it might
have been as perfect as he is in every
other particular"