The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-31
CONDITION
IS CALLED
CRAVE

Continued from First Page.)
him, the President sent out for
the morning papers shortly after
2 o'clock, and, propped up by a
pair of pillows, he read with in
terest the gloomy accounts Of his
Illness as they appeared here.
Reads The Papers.
News of his last nights condi-
ton was conveyed to him in double
decked headlines of large type,
strung across eight columns.
President has pneumonia; his
condition grave" said one.
''Har1ing,s condition serious, !"
said another.
And down the center Of the pages
ran in heavy black-faced type the
official bulletins Of yesterday and
last night.
If Mr.. Harding had any comment
on the news he must have withheld
It.
Oxygen Tanks Ready.
Oxygen tanks were lined up In the
Presidential suite this morning Tor
The placing of these life-saving
tanks I'm readiness Is significant OF
the fears Of the doctors.
The pneumonia symptoms ap-
peared in the last twenty-four huors.
They were not there at IL a. m. Mon
day, the official bulletin signed by
the five attending physicians stat
ing:
There are no peritoneal symp-
toms: the lungs are clear"
The slight congestion Of one lung
was noticeable to the experienced
eyes of the doctors seven hours
later, and early this morning the
X-fay plates disclosed definitely the
feared patches. It was then the
oxygen tanks were moved In.
Takes NOurishment.
The physicians are vitality con-
cerned today with building up the
Presidents shattered strength for a
fight against the pneumonia infec-
ton, and they found considerable
satisfaction in the fact that their
patient was able to partake Of some
nourishment and to get an appre-
ciable amount of refreshing sleep.
1t was reported early this morning
that DIR. Charles Mayo. of Rochester,
Mimi, one of the most noted surg
cons in the United States, had been
summoned to San Francisco to
stand by for q possible operation
should the need for one develop as
q result Of the pneumonia develop
ment.
The Presfden. Is considered by
his physicians to be temperamentally
well fitted for a battle against
pneumonia, but less well adapted
from a purely physical standpoint.
The drainage Of his resistal powers
by the long days and nights Of con-
slant travel on his history-mahng
trip have been pronounced, and in
the final analysis, they say, 1t Is
determines battles OF this character.
Vitality Exhausted.
Ordinarily the Presidents great
natural strength and vigor could be
counted upon to put up a great
fight against the advances Of in
flammation Of the lungs. However,
In the present case, this great nat
ural reservoir of strength has been
subjected to constant drainage by
the exertion Of travelling and speak
ing for forty days and nights. but
the digestive disturbances which
serious illness. and by the strain
upon his heart that was COM
mented upon in the last bulletins
issued by his physicians.
'In the Presidents condition,
anything can happen" said DIR.
Charles e. Sawyer. chief Of the
attending physicians.
THE Presidents resistance Is low.
He has expended his natural
powers. as revealed by his inability
to speedily throw off the poisons
taken into his system.
Happily, however. the lung usu-
ally is capable Of resisting disease.
1t was a quiet but. nevertheless.
tense night around the President q
quarters in the Palace Hotel. The
development of lung infection was a
severe blow to the physicians, who
ton would not be added to their
other enemies of weakness, heart
strain, and digestive disorders.
Mrs. Harding was about the
Presidents room until after mid
night. Then she retired to her own
room to obtain sleep. Her cheer
full demeanor and unfailing optim
ism did much to relieve the OBJ
Vious concern Of the physicians
after the discovery made on the
X-ray plates. Her confidence in
the Presidents complete recovery IL
mistaken.
DR.. Sawyer was loud in praise OF
the manner in which Mrs Harding
is standing the ordeal Of the Presi
dents illness.
"She Is one Of those creatures. =
he said. who Is best under fire"
DIR. Joel T. Boone. jr.. medical of.
fcer at the White House, and holder
OF the Congressional Medal OF Honor,
won as chief surgeon of the famous
marine brigade at Chateau Thterrv.
was on duty in the Presidential suite
all night.
During the early hours of the
morning. the President slept and DR..
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