New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-04-14
Tenor Fighting for Life
With Infection Blamed
TO Old Attack of Laryn.
gifts; 3 Doctors Near
Vocal Cords Said
To Be Unaffected
Unable to Speak Above a
Whisper; Solid Food
Withheld Since SUNDAY

John Mccormack, the tenor, is dang
erously i'll at his home, 270 Park Ave
nue.. He was near death Monday and
Tuesday night. His physicians said
last night that he had possibly passed
the crisis Wednesday, but that his con
dition still is critical.
| The singer is suffering from strcp-
toccocic, or infective, sore throat, some
times known as a septic sore throat
1t is said positively that the vocal
chords are not affected. His throat,
however, is almost closed and he can
speak only in whispers. He has not
had solid food since Sunday. His i'll
| ness, no matter how rapid his recovery
might be, means that he cannot sing
again for at least three months.
Monsignor Dineen at His Side
Monsignor Joseph Dineen, secretary
to Archbishop Hayes, was at the bed
side of the singer Monday and Tues
day nights. but it was not disclosed
! yesterday whether the last rites of the
Church were administered. There will
be prayers for Mr.. Mccormack to-day
in every Catholic Church in the arch
| diocese
Mr.. Mccormack is being attended by
three throat specialists and four
nurses. His wife, his three children
and his brother, James, are with HIM
His physicians are DR.. Alfred Ca
mile Du Pont, Mr.. Harman Smith and
DR.. Cornelius G. CoakIey. Dr.. Smith
said last night that it was not possible
| to say what the outcome would be- but
that the patients condition gives cause
for alarm.
The tenor became i'll at 10:3o o'clock
Saturday night and developed tenn
/ perature of 101. He awoke Sunday
morning with a fever of 103, and was
unable to appear at the Hippodrome
for his scheduled concert in the even
| ing. 1t was the first time in thirteen
years of operatic and concert appear
ances that the singer had missed an
engagement. Mr.. McCormack's condi-
ton grew worse and DR.. Du Pont, who is
his personal physician, called in Dr.
Smith and DR.. Coakley for consulta-
/ ton. Since then DR.. Smith has been
constantly at the bedside.
More than G month ago the tenor
suffered an reAack of acute laryngitis
at Minneapolis, and it is believed his
present infection is development Of
that seizure. Since Sunday his throat
has been lanced. His inability to par
take of solid food has caused him to
| suffer a loss Of twenty pounds in FIVE
| days. His normal weight is about 22O.
The illness has not affected his cheer
full spirit
Balks at TonsiIs Removal
1t is said that Mr.. Mccormack has
persistently refused to have his tonsils
removed, although many specialists
were of the opinion that this should be
done. The tenor, it is said, has taken
the position that organs in his throat
put there by nature were intended to
stay there, and his views in this regard
have remained unchanged.
Mr.. Mccormack will be thirty eight
years old on June IA. He had planned
trip abroad this summer, and was to
have sailed May 2 with Archbishop
going with the intention of joining the
Archbishop later at Rome.
Archbishop Curley is boyhood
friend of the singer, and they had
planned to travel through several Euro
pean countries together. The Arch
bishop will make the trip abroad unac-
companied.
The decision to make an announce
ment of the true condition of the pa
tlent was reached after a conference of
his manager. Dennis F. MacSweeney,
and the attending physicians
| Close Friends in Many Circles
Some friends of the singer had
learned of his illness and have kept
constantly in touch with the McCor-
mack apartment. Monsignor Dneen
has called several times since Tues
day night. Close friends of the tenor
include persons prominent in many
walks of life.
Relatives in Ireland have been mott
fed of the illness of Mr.. Mccormack
| The Mccormack children. Gwendoyn,
Cyril and the adopted child, Kelvin
Foley Mccormack, we're hurried from
school early in the week when the
| physicians became aware Of the seri-
BUSINESS Of his condition.
Mccormack concerts have been ar
ranged from October ! until April
| 1923, and it cannot yet be said
whether even in event of speedy re-
covery his illness would interfere with
| hic p1o