The Detroit times., 1910-05-26
CAUSE OF KINGS
DEATH DESCRIBED
Smokers Throat Had Gradually
Given the Heart Too Much Work To
Do-Could Have Lived Longer.


authoritative medical history OF King
Edwards illness and death is taken
FROM the British Medical Journal ana
may be taken as authoritative:
From a medical point OF view the
case was perfectly simple, and the
stopping OF the machinery of life was
due 10 causes about which there lie
nothing doubtful or mysterious. We
think II necessary to point this OUT,
since the appearance on the bulletins
OF the name OF leading iaryngoioiS.
gave rise TO a revival OF unfounded
rumors which were current even ps-
fore the deceased monarch came W
the throne.
Professor st. Clair Thompson had,
however attended him on several oc-
casions during the last eignteen
months; before that time Sir fenx
Semon had often been called on 10
advise the king about his throat; "
may be added that more than ~ years
ago he had been seen by the late SIT
Morell Mackenzie.
Cracking Sound In Lungs.
For years the king had suffered
from emphysema Ca distension OF the
cellular tissue) and a tendency 10
more or less acute bronchitis, with
the usual symptoms Of distressing and
ineffective cough and difficulty OF
breathing. There was crepitaton
(crackling sound) at the bases Oh
both lungs, indicating chronic I'M
pediment to the free passage OF air
lin the smaller bronchial tubes.
He was subject to attacks OF laryn-
gifts, producing a slight spasm OF the
vocal chords; but. except for some In
fammatory thickening at the hinder
part of the CLOTHS and chronic ca
tarrh of the throat, there was. we are
i'm a position to state, no trace OF ois-
ease in the upper air passages.
The king, in short, had what Is
known as a smokers throat. and this
land the congestion and thickentng due
10 this cause. combined with the loss
pf elasticity In the lungs, made IL IN
creasingly difficult for him TO clear
his chest. The strain thrown upon the
heart by the obstruction to the pas
Sage of blood through the lungs caus-
ed bv the collection OF secretion In the
bronchial tubes had It's natural sequel
m dilatation of the right ventricle, and
The actual cause of death was heart
Failure due to the increasing dihiculty
n the pulmonary circulation. IL was.
n short a case OF type seen every
iay In thousands of elderly persons.
The cause OF death In such cases Is
purely mechanical. the action OF the
bver-laden heart being gradually stop
ned by increasing resistance In the
lungs. Could the king have been In
huced to spare himself more he would
probably have lived many years long
er.
Weak Spot After Operation.
His majesty had indeed suffered
Prom glycosuria Condition resembling
ilabetes) OF varying degree for a long
ime. but thiA did not, as far az Fcap
"a Judged, tend to the shortening OF
his life. Another condition which
must have caused considerable dis
comfort at times was certain weak
ness In the abdominal wall at the site
BIZ the operation for appendicitis,
which was performed In 1902.
We only mention these infirmitles
as the knowledge of what he had to
ndure must Increase the admiration
which all Britons feel for the high
courage and resolution OF the sover-
On whom they have lost. The state OF
his health would have been a reason
nble excuse for some degree OF valetu-
iinarianism. or this weakness the
ate king showed no trace.
A notable feature In him was the
bluck with which he bore himself not
bniy In the illnesses which have been
mentioned. but during the painful per-
cd when he was recovering from
Fractured patella Ozone OF the knee
kap). Although he always listened to
HE advice OF his physicians with re-
snAct he did not always follow II II
{ seemed to him to stand In the way
BIZ the discharge OF his duty.
II should be comfort to his sub
ects that he passed away peacefuliy.
before he had reached that stage or
nvalidism which Is the frequent Fate
pf sufferers from bronchial asthma.
Except for the conditions which
have been referred to, the king had
kin lately been a remarkably healthy
man. He led a strenuous life. and IT
nav be said that since he assumed
he sceptre he seldom, II ever, had
what the humblest Of his subjects
would call a real holiday. Even his
eocial activity, which he thoroughly
enjoyed, he may be said to have look
ed upon as part Of the days work
There is probably no man in these
realms who worked harder or more
conscientiously than Edward VII
He delighted TO live among his peo-
ME and he shirked no engagement
that might help to promote good will
among the nations. But more than a
wear ago the strain began to tell on
his robust constitution. and from that
time on his recuperative powers grew