New-York tribune., 1922-09-12
Condition SO Much Re,
lieved That Operation
May Not Be Necessary.
Is Y lie W o { Physicians
President Watches
With I4addie Bow
DIR. Mayo, Consulting
Surgeon, Says He May
Go Home at ANY Time


Associated Press ).-Tension at the
White House over the illness of Mrs.
Harding was relieved somewhat to-day
by encouraging reports from her bed
side. The five physicians in attend
ance during the day agreed that her
condition had improved and it was in
dicated that, barring fresh complica-
tions, an operation might not be neces-
sary
1t was made plain, however, that the
crisis had not been passed and that
.he patients condition was still crit
ical.
The official bulletin issr by the
attending physicians at o'clock
tonight said that the aad en-
joyed a most comfortab.e xy."
While hor temperature remained at
100, Mrs. Harding's pulse had de-
creased to 80 and her respiration to
%, the night bulletin showed Sur
glcal procedure. it was stated, had
been further deferred awaiting To-
calization of Infection"
Many Favorable Signs
The patients temperature showed an
increase OF one-half degree since
morning, but the physicians have fore
cast that slight increases would be
! met as the treatment goes on. On
the other hand, her pulse showed a
decrease of six points since morning
and of twenty points since last night,
and her respiration of two points since
morning. being nearly normal.
The night bulletin said:
n NJ
M: Temperature, 100; pulse, 90; res,
piration, %. Laboratory observations
show increased elimination and i'm
provement in character of findings
General appearances indicate improve.
ment of complications. Surgical proce.
dure further deferred awaiting local.
ization of infection. Patient has had
most comfortable day during the pres
ent illness. While all indications show
favorable progress, prognosis is still
guarded"
The bulletin issued this morning
said
Mrs. Harding's condition at $3.50 a
M: Temperature, 99k; pulses 90; res
piration, so.
Might less restless. Elimination in.
.creased. Complications subsiding
/; General appearances indicate improve
naent. Operative procedure deferred
Previous to issuance of the morning
bulletin visitors who called at the
White House reported that Mrs. Hard
ing had rested we'll during the night
ard that her condition was believed to
have improved During the day she
continued to gain ground. The steady
improvement, friends of the President
said, had greatly encouraged him.
Discussing the case with newspaper
men late in the afternoon, DR.. C. E.
Sawyer, the White House physician,
declared that the increased elimination
of wastes through the kidneys, noted
attending physicians sense of relief
they had not felt heretofore.
Operation Still Doubtful
Mrs. Harding, according to DR.. Saw
yer, had lower temperature during
able to take nourishanent. He declined
t., state whether it had been definitely
determined not to. perform an opera
tion in the event there was no setback
in the patients condition, but did say
the attending medical staff was un-
willing to add any possible conplica-
tions which might result from an
operation if we can avoid it"
Mrs. Harding was said to be getting
dlUIlg very HiCSiy DyfQi. odli cdWSSf,
son of Brigadier General Sawyer, at
1905 O'Clock tonight. Her improve
ment is continuing"
DR.. Charles Mayo, Rochester, MINI,
specialist, who was called into consul
tatien particularly on the surgical
phases of the cases made no comment
to newspaper men aside from the state
ment that he hoped to be able to start
for home "any time now" He indi-
Gated, however, that he would remain
at. the White House tomorrow, and
longer if it was deemed advisable.
DR.. John Finney, of Baltimore, who
has participated in the consultations,
was not at the White House to-day,
It was regarded as favorable sign by
those watching the case that he did
not consider. it necessary to be at Mrs.
Harding's bedside.
During brief talk with newspaper
men Dr.. George I. Harding jr., of Co
lumbus, Ohio, brother of the Presi-
dent, declared Mrs. Harding not only
was able to take nourishment, but for
the first time since her illness reached
the critical stage she had asked for
(ContInued on page five)