Imperial Valley press., 1923-07-31
Continued From Page One)

adapted to make a strong fight
against the infection.
"Pulse, temperature and respi-
ration are about the same as shown
in the previous report
The precious report referred to
was an official bulletin ISSUED at
$50 p. m. in which Mr.. Harding S
condition was described as "ser-
ious.' That statement said:
"The president s condition is as
follows: Temperature 1906 degrees,
pulse l25, respiration "A and some
what irregular. There is some
cough and evidence of congestion III
one lung. He has taken some
nourishment. Except for weakness
and restlessness, he has been fairly
comfortable during the day. His
condition is serious one.
Admit Serious Condition
That bulletin in turn, had sue
ceeded an optimistic one issued be-
fore noon. The tone of the $3.50
bulletin caused apprehension, be-
cause it contained the first admis-
sion that Mr.. Harding was in a
serious condition.
About 7:3G p. m. Dr. Sawyer, his
chief physician, in a frank state
ment said that almost any sort of
complication, Was possible. He
said pneumonia inflammation was
among the possibilities though ar
that hour he would not class it as
likely. He said the X-ray exam
ination had been made to deter
mine just what the possible devel-
opments of the next few hours
would be and to check up On the
clinical observations. made during
the day relative to the condition
of lungs and heart.
DR.. Sawyer said then that the
case was clearly serious, but not
grave and that if the physicians
used the word "grave' it would
be advisedly and would Indicate Il
distinct turn for the worse.
1t was less than two hours un-
til Sawyer signed his name to the
bulletin announcing that the presi-
dent s condition was "grave.'
Physically Exhausted
The effect of this announcement
was to plunge the presidents S party
into deep gloom and fear. This
was heightened by the carefully
worded reference to the fact that
he was "temperamentally well
adapted' to fight off the mfec-
ton. Nothing was said as to his
physical equipment for the battle
with death, for his doctors knew
he had virtually exhausted his ply
steal resistance. That was apparent
to them when their 5:3O eXamina-
tion showed a drop i'll temperature
accompanied by Il sharp increase
in purse and respiration. Ordin-
arily, increased pulse and respi-
ration would have been marked by
rising rather than falling temper
ature. The fact that the temperature
went down indicated extremely low
resistance and it was obvious then
to the physicians that the danger
of pneumonia inflammation was in
cre&sing.
Then the X-ray confirmed their
apprehensions in that regard. The
"definite central patches, spoken
of in the bulletin were small and
not in themselves indicative of
great. danger, it was explained. If
the president had store of vitality
he might easily have thrown off
such an infection, it was stated.
But what his doctors feared to
find this morning was that those
patches had spread and grown into
one patch. That would mean, it
was explained, that the president
had pneumonia i'll dire earnesty and
his condition then would have been
referred to as critical.
Cheerful and Fighting
But during the night he fell as
leep. That was taken as n hope
full sign, an indication that nature
might be rallying the last re-
serves to route the toxins. Before
he went to sleep the president had
Il little milk toast. He seemed to
enjoy it. He was cheerful. He was
fighting.
A few months ago he stood by
the bedside of Mrs. Harding while
she fought out, single handed, her
own grim battle. lie could do
nothing then. The doctors told him
so and begged him to go to bed.
He shook his head and paced hour
by hour up and down the rug III
his room at the white house, trying |
to add his strength to hers and help |
her through the crisis. The doctors |
said afterward that Mrs. Harding :
splendid will beat off death.
Today that same splendid will
was being exerted, much, as Mr..
was in the lorg nights
of that other critical time. Mrs.
whom DR.. Sawyer dcscrib-
ed simply as cone of those ere
atures who shows up best under
fire. was standing by, keeping her
head up and her eyes dry and
facing all the cold medical facts
as they were brought to her by DIR.
Sawyer. She knew the fight her
man was facing; she knew that he
who is seldom alone, was alone al.
last and that she could do nothing
but pray and smile. And those with
her said she was doing both.
Citizens Shows Sympathy
Hundreds of baskets foS gorge
Gus hued flowers were taken to
the presidential suite so there was
not room for them all.
Mo, and yompn want I'm to tha