Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-06-28
EDWARD VII
CRITICALLY ILL
His Majesty Operated on For
Appendicitis.
CORONATION is POSTPONED
Physicians Announce His Condition
as Satisfactory.
ENGLAND STAGGERED BY NEWS

A Large Abseess Was Successfully
Removed From the Kings Abdomen.
and the Belief Is Strong That His
Majesty Will Recover-Fore;en
ENJOYS Ready to Start Home-coro-
nation Stands Being Torn Down.
London. June % With dramatic
suddenness the king has been stricken
down upon the eve OF his coronation
Today he lies in a critical state at
Buckingham Palace.
In spite of the intensity OF this ira
gic interruption the lower elements
of London last night marched through
the fiag-decked streets and portion
of society in coronation gowns and
Jewels gathered at what is called
gala coronation dinner at one of the
fashionable hotels. Even at the gates
of Buckingham Palace, within which
the ablest surgeons and physicians
remained in the hope Of saving the SOW
ereign's life, the footing of horns and
the sound of other revelries could be
plainly heard. IL must be admitted
that the jewellers were misled by the
technical language OF the bulletins;
they having no conception of the gray
ity of King Edwards condition. The
thinking portion of the nation, how
ever. went home numbed by the events
which the day had brought forth. In
describable CONSERVATION prevails
throughout the country. and this con-
sternation is reflected in the cable.
grams received from oil the centres OF
the universe.
King Ed ard is in a room facing the
beautiful gardens OF Buckingham Pal
ace and far from the streets and the
crowd. If last nights progress is main
tanned he will probably tide over the
effects Of his severe operation. which
has successfully removed the local
trouble. But should any complications
occur, sucn as peritonitis or blood poi
soning, IL is feared his majesty's pres
ent physical and nervous condition
would provo unequal TO the strain In
volved. There is consequently intense
anxiety as to the outcome. The kings
doctors believe that His Majesty would
have been dead before now except for
the operation. His condition became
so alarming Monday night that at one
time ii was feared death might ensue
before the surgeons knife could AFFORD
him relief. Intense swelling of the ex-
tremities, accompanied by alarming
symptoms of modification, constituted
the emergency which demanded an i'm
mediate operation. To the last the
III N-fa
willing to be carried TO the Abbey for
the coronation ceremony in order that
1T should occur as arranged. The infiu-
ence OF Queen Alexandra was enlisted.
however, and at an early hoar yester-
day morniI & the royal patient vas pre-
pared for the operation which, even In
the skilled hands of Knglands best sur
geons, was fraught with grave danger.
Shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday az
ternoon His Majesty was moved from
his couch to the operating table andI
the anaesthetic was administered SE
Frederick Treves made the incision
near the p tents groin and carried 1t
upwards, with an outward slant for
nearly four inches. The obstruction
was removed and a tubing was paced
an the aHecteo intestine.
King Edwards first words when he
returned to consciousness were to ask
for George" and the Prince of Wales
who was waiting in the next room was
Immediately admitted to his fathers
presence.
While the operation was being per
formed the great central court yard OF
Buckingham Palace was utterly de-
serted and an impressive silence reign.
ed throughout the building. The
equerries talked in whispers. servants
tiptOed about and the tension grew al
most unbearable. Then the word was
passed around AL had gone we'll"
Operation Successful.
At-2.4o p. m. yesterday the following
bulletin was posted at Buckingham
Palace rega riding the condition of king
Edward, who was operated on for
perityphlitis:
The operation has been successfully
performed. A large abscess has been
evacuated. The king has borne the
operation we'll and is in a satisfactory
condition"
Perityphlitis. which is an old name
for a form OF appendicitis. is the IN.
fiammation of the tissues surrounding
the caeeum or blind pouch situated
between the large and small intestines.
The king had fallen into quiet sleep
after the operation, showing no signs
of sinking from the shock OF the opera
ton.
The following bulletin was issued At
p lilo o'clock last night:
The kings condition is as good as
could be expected after so serious an
operation. His strength Is maintained.
there is less pain. and his majesty has
taken little nourishment. 1t will be
some days before It viii be possible to
say that King Edward ts out OF danger.
! 'TREvES.
~! "LkKING.
- sAAsA~O W.