The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-04
Day of Deep Concern Fol-
lowed by Better Feeling
as Night Falls.
CRISIS is NOT PASSED
Mr.. Wilson Said to Expert
ence Some Difficulty in
His Articulation.
NOW WILLING TO RELAX
Constitutional Authorities
Worried as to Procedure in
Case Of Long Illness.
.OW WILLING TO RELAX
Special Despatch to THE sus.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 8. President
Wilson's condition continues very
grave and virtually unchanged,
though a slight improvement was re-
corded by Rear Admiral Gary T.
Grayson IN the 10 o'clock bulletin is
sued tonight. The slight change for
the better came at the end Of a day
of deep concern and brought some re-
lief, though the crisis by no means
has passed.
The nervous exhaustion from
which the President is suffering can
not yet be said to be yielding tu
treatment, but the President him
self Is understood now to understand
fully his condition and to show signs
of willingness to relax completely and
place himself in the hands of his
physicians. Until to-day the Presi-
dents desire to fight against the COM
plete abandonment of his cares and
worries has been a difficult factor III
the case, but DR.. Grayson is said now
to have succeeded in persuading the
President that absolute rest and re-
taxation are of the most pressing i'm
portance.
The Presidents physical condi-
tion remains about as 1t was Thurs
day, with pulse normal, no tempera-
ture and heart action good. He ex-
perienced to-day some difficulty in
articulation. but this has not been
matter Of deep concern.
DR.. Francis X. Dercum, the Phila-
delphia medical authority and nell
! rologist, was consulted by long dis
tance telephone to-day by DR.. Gray
son. 1t is intended to keep in
constant touch with him, apprising
him of every item of the Presidents
condition, so that he may hasten here
in an emergency.
A two hour consultation of ply
sicians was held to-day among Or.
Grayson, Rear Admiral Stitt, head of
the Naval Hospital here, and DR..
, Sterling Ruffin, the personal ply
siclan of Mrs. Wilson. Drs. Stltt and
Ruffin had participated in the CON
sultation at the White House yester-
day
Trained Nurses in Charge.
Trained nurses have been called
I in to assist Mrs. Wilson and
Miss Margaret Wilson, who have been
! oh ipn
Adoo, one of the Presidents daugh.
| ters, arrived during the afternoon and
Mrs. Francis b. Sayre, another daugh-
| ter, arrived during the eyering.
! Mr.. McAdoo, who arrived from ths
West yesterday, expected to leave for
New York this evening, but changed
his plans after talking with DR.. Gray
son. He will remain here until to-
morrow afternoon. Mr.. McAdoo was
not permitted to see the President.
The seriousness of the Presidents
illness lies primarily in the fact that
nervous exhaustion of the type from
which he is suffering is extremely diff
! ticult to combat and tends to get pro-
| gressively worse unless the patient
has enough reserve stamina to checls
| it. As the President is nearly 6j
| years old and finds the utmost dif-
| ficulty in getting his mind Off the
cares and worries which have been
taking up all his attention, the neces+
sary complete relaxation and rest ars
! difficult and at times impossible ID
secure. 1t may be several days be!
fore DIR. Grayson will be in a posi-
tion to Judge whether the President
is on the road to recovery, and in the
meantime there necessarily must be
period of the most pronounced
anxiety.
The chief danger is that the Presl-
dents nerves may entirely give way,
| in which case it might be a question
of months at least before lie could
regain his health. There does not
appear to be cause for immediate
alarm. although the possibility Of
complications is present.
Many Messages of Sympathy
Suppiementing the first bulletin Is.
sued to-day DIR. Grayson said that
| the Presidents mind was clear and
alert and that his physical condition
| was fairly good that he had been
able to take some nourishment. It
is understood that the Presidents
condition varies considerably through.
out the day, and that he has good
periods and unfayorable ones but