The Washington times., 1922-09-11
CONDITION
|PREVEN IS
PROPOSED
0PERAT|0
Latest Bulletin Shows De-
crease in Temperature and
Rate of Heart Beats.

While the forenoon bulletin on
the condition of Mrs. Harding in
dicated improvement, the staff of
physicians are gravely concerned
over a threatened recurrence of
complications, which may make
an operation necessary.
It was announced that "opera-
tive procedure is deferred" but
the real danger is that the slight
improvement will not continue
and a major operation requiring
the removal of the diseased kid
ney, the one causing the toxin
poisoning of the patient, will be
necessary to avert fatal results.
In Weakened Condition.
Drs. Charles Mayo, of Rochester.
Mimi, and John Finney, of Balti-
more, the two noted surgeons. are
agreed that the mere tapping" or
attempt to drain, the more disor-
dered kidney would be futile. Moth
ing but removal of the menacinR
organ will suffice II surgical relief
becomes imperative, II is understood.
Mrs. Harding is in a weakened
physical condition and has what is
described as a "treacherous" heart.
The heart condition has been aggra-
waited by the administration of the
opiates during the past few days to
check the ravages of the malady,' SO
operations of any sort are regarded
as Derilous under the circumstances.
The pail of gloom and sorrow
which has hung over the White
House for three days lifted some
what when the encouraging report
of DR.. c. E. Sawyer was issued
at 1920 o'clock this morning.
It was the basis Of optimism
which was reflected by the Presi-
dental family and friends early
this afternoon.
II is realized by all. however:
that Mrs. Harding is still in n most
precarious state and her recovery
Is by no means assured.
Secretary Christian, Secretary OF
War and Mrs. Weeks. Senator Hale
and Mr.. and Mrs. Edward B. Nc
Lean were among the first to call
at the White House this morning.
Personal friends OF the President
and Mrs. Harding. who spent many
hours at the White House Sunday,
left early this morning with opti-
mistic reports of Mrs. Harding's con-
dition, although the most hopeful of
these were discounted by Brig. Gen.
Charles e. Sawyer. the White House
physician. DR.. Sawyer still regards
Mrs. Harding's condition as critical.
II was explained that an opera
ton, II il is decided upon, will con.
sist OF tapping the kidney to drain
the poison that has accumulated, re.
sulting in Mrs. Harding's illness.
It was a bleak Sabbath at the
White House.
The hopes and prayers Of the ma.
tion-of the whole civilized world, In
fact-were centered upon the little
woman who lay at the point OF
death.
A steady stream Of well.wishe-s,
recruited from every walk of life,
came personally or telephoned their
sympathies. Among these were high
Government officials, members OF
the House and Senate, and officials
of the various embassies and lega-
tions in Washington.
President Harding is bearing up
remarkably under the strain Of
anxiety. For The past fifty.two
hours he has been almost constantly
at his wife's bedside, occasionally
going into his study to confer with
physicians.
Floral Tributes.
Noon yesterday saw a conference
in the White House OF some of the
country's leading physicians and sur.
geons, all discussing the best meth.
ods OF procedure to be followed.
Among the conferees were DR..
Charles Mayo, of Rochester, Mimi,
/ world celebrated surgeon, who ar.
rived at 10 o'clock after a trip from
Chicago by special train; Brig. Gen.
G. f. Sawyer, the Presidents ply.
sician; DR.. Carl w. Sawyer, son of
the brigadier general; DR.. George T.
Harding, jr., Of Columbus, Ohio,
brother Of the President; DR.. Joel T.
Boone, naval physician on the May
flower, and DIR. John Finney, a Bal.
timore specialist.
Floral tributes were received in
large quantities from friends and
weli.wishers Of Mrs. Harding, and
| hundreds of kilograms of sympathy
reached the executive offices.
Mrs. Edward B. Mclean, who
came to Washington from her sum
mer home at Bar Harbor, Me-. In Q
special train upon learning Of her
friends illness. visited the sick room
yesterday morning. As she was
leaving the White House she told
correspondents that Mrs. Harding's
conditicn had improved 70 such an
! extent that. she felt warranted In