The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-15
MCCORMACK FIGHTS
TO AVOID RELAPSE
Physicians See Improvement
in Condition of Tenor, Ill
With Sore Throat.
SINGERS STRENGTH Low
Messages Of Sympathy Come
From High and Low All
Over Country.

John Mccormack. tenor. lying last
night in his apartment ar 40 Park
avenue. fought against turn for the
worse in his condition with the small
reserve OF strength left to him after
weeks illness. The throat ailnent with
which he was stricken last Saturday
night has so depleted his vitality that
grave concern still is felt by rs friends
for his ability to rally.
None of the throat specialists attend
ing him would say last night that the
crisis definitely was past. While his
condition Is not as serious As II was
Tuesday and Wednesday nights, when
he almost stopped breathing several
times. the Illness has battered down his
naturally strong body until he is all
but helpless. Those near HIN say he
takes little or no interest In anything
that goes on about him.
The following bulletin was issued late
yesterday by the three specialists:
mr. Mccormack. after a comfortable
Fight. shows great improvement both
temperamentally and physically. His
prognosis is more favorable"
The bulletin was signed by DR.. AL
fred c. du Pont. DR.. Harmon Smith and
DR.. Cornelius G. Coakley.
The three physicians went again to
Mr.. McCormack's apartment a few min
utes before IL o'clock. They held long
consultation. and said afterward that
there was nothing to add to the previous
bulletin. Mr.. McCormacks throat still
is swollen and infiamed to such an ex-
tent that 1t causes him great pair. at all
times. His present serious condition
was brought about by an acute attack
OF tonsilitis, from which septic sore
throat developed. Technically it is dag
nosed as "streptococcic infective sore
throat
Despite insistence of physicians that
the outlook was more favorable. 1t was
explained that In such ailments re-
lapse frequently occurs. 1t was pointed
out that the disease is of a peculiarly
delicate ma ture. and that IL is made all
the more dangerous by it's devastating
effects on the constitution and vitality
of the victim.
1t was learned that Mr.. Mccormack
until late yesterday had been unable to
take an ounce OF food in any form since
he became ill., Several times attempts
were made to feed eggs and whisky to
him. but they could not pass his swollen
throat. Late in the day. however. he
took part OF cup of beef broth The
fever and inflammation to take the
fight out of him.
Mrs. Mccormack Exhausted.
One or all of the specialists remained
within close call during the night Mr..
Mccormack is attended by two dsy and
two night nurses. Mrs. Mccormack and
the three children remained in the
apartment. Mrs. Mccormack. worn out
by watching al her husbands bedside
went 10 sleep early in the night ex-
hausted
The nation wide concern for Mr.. Nc
Cormack was shown by the thousands
of kilograms received at the apartment.
u: +. McSweeney, manager for the
singer, said he had read and ac-
knowledged only few of them. but
what he had seen was enough TO con-
vince him that virtually every city in
the United States had sent message.
Some of the messages had ten names
signed. They came from churchmen.
Governors, United States Senator's.
prominent personages In theatrical
circles and from many others whose
interest simply was due to their re-
gard for him anI his voice.
DR.. Smith said the larynx had not
beer affected by the illness and that
therefore Mr.. Mccormack would be able
to sing just as well as ever when he
RECEIVERS. IL is much too early how
ever. to predict when he can fill en-
gagements. Mr. McSweeney said he
would have TO take a long rest, per-
haps for several months. before at
tempting to sing again. His friends be-
lieve his insistence on practicing too
much in preparation for concert that
was TO have been held last Sunday
night at the Hippodrome brought on
his present trouble