Evening star., 1922-09-10
MRS. HARDING STILL
HOLDING HER OWN
IN FIGHT FOR LIFE
Statement by Or. Sawyer
Says Patients Condition
Remains Critical.
PRESIDENT is CHEERED
BY VISIT OF WILSON'S
Many Others Offer Sympathy to
Chief Executive in Hour
of Trial.

The situation at the White House
at 2s25 o'clock this morning re-
mained unchanged since state
meats were Informally made by Of
Aclals who called around mid
night Mrs. Harding was UNDER
stood to be In about the same COM
dition as described in the o0cial
bulletin ISSUED last evening. The
watch at the bedside continued, but
NO statement on the situation was
issued.
The condition of Mrs. Harding was
declared to be "still critical in a
bulletin issued by Brig. Gen. c. e.
Sawyer. the family physician. at $40
o'clock last night.
The oiicial statement, which was
timed 1880 o'clock. gave the patients
condition as follows:
Temperature. 1922: respiration, se;
pulse, 112 Excretion by kidneys
somewhat increased. Laboratory
findings indicate less autointoxica-
ton. Pain in abdomen diminished
Patient has been able to take and re-
tain some nourishment Condition
still critical"
"Dr G. T. Harding, jr.. President
Harding's brother, joined the medical
council Saturday morning" the state
ment continued. 'Dr. Charles Mayo.
who has been called to confer on
surgical aspects of case. will arrive
in Washington at am. Sunday.
&C. E. SAWYER, N. D."
els No Worse"
The condition of Mrs. Harding at Il
o'clock last night was said by Sec
retary Christian to be about the same
as when the Official bulletin was is
sued earlier in the evening.
The most encouraging thing" he
declared, sis that Mrs. Harding Is no
worse" x.s..y, = ) 49,.
Chairman Lasker Of the Shipping
Board was a late caller at the white
House and said DR.. George r. Hard
ing. the Presidents brother and one
of the consulting physicianss had told
him he WAS mot without hope" for
the recovery of Mrs. Harding.
President Harding was still at the
bedside. He had been greatly cheered,
it was declared, by the visit to the
White House during the day Of for
mer President and Mrs. Wilson. They
had been most gracious" and the
President was deeply appreciative OF
their words, it was added.
Secretary Weeks, who was among
the late visitors, conferred with the
President for twenty minutes, and on
leaving said he had found Mr.. Hard
ing much heartened by the trend OF
the patients condition since the issu-
ance of the night bulletin. The Sec
retary said those at Mrs. HardinSs
bedside thought she had shown us-
cided improvement in the interxx-
The statement from DIR. Sawyer
last night was the first formal
one issued since 9 O'Clock yesterday
morning, when Mrs. Harding was said
to be as we'll "as could be expected"
This was supplemented later in the
day with the informal assurance that
the patient was holding her own
in her fight against the disease AS
a result a more hopeful feeling char
acferized those in attendance. espe-
cially after the tense hours of Friday
night.
Operation Last Resort.
Just before the formal bulletin was
issued last night, however. Secretary
Christian, upon leaving his office in
company with Rear Admiral Cary T.
Grayson, stated to newspaper corre-
spondents that "all signs still are
very distressing" 1t was then indi-
Gated that an operation would be per-
formed only as a last resort. Admiral
Grayson, who attended President Will
son during his illness. had called at
the White House to inquire as to Mrs.
Harding's condition, as he had during
the afternoon
The spirit of optimism evident was
apparently due to the plucky fight the
patient is making. and which has
aroused the admiration of the group
of physicians and attendants ever
since the recurring malady, this time
with complications, due to a cold. be-
came serious several days ago. Even
Yesterday, when a sudden rise in her
temperature caused some momentary
concern and Mrs. Harding plainly was
suffering acutely, she continued to
display her usual fortitude and un-
failing courage.
President Harding laid aside all but
the most vital affairs of state yester-
day and went to the spacious chamber
overlooking Lafayette Park where
the first lady Of the land lay to be
with her, and last night was there
constantly. From time to time the
physicians and nurses withdrew. leav-
ing the two alone.
Many Express Sympathy.
Throughout the day there was .
continuous line Of carriages and auto
mobiles bringing cabinet of1cers and
representatives Of foreign govern
ments to inquire for the latest news
from the sick chamber. Former
President Wilson and Mrs. Wilson
came during the afternoon and left
their cards Rear Admiral Cary T.
Grayson. who attended Mr.. Wilson
during his critical Illness In the white
House; the nav German ambassador,
CONTINUED % PaSe Z. Column -