Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-08
Collapse at $50

A sinking spell, the fourth he had
| suffered in "a hours. brought death.
| Notwithstanding the use of oxygen
and other restoratives. the courage
| which had withstood crisis after
! crisis and had beaten death off re-
| peatedly, was unable to meet the final
| attack. The collapse began at $50
o'clock and he gradually sank into
eternity. He died at 1890 o'clock.
Every resource of medical science
was brought into play in the vain eff
| fort to save young Calvin's life. An
! operation was performed on the left
/ leg last Saturday night to drain off
| the poison and blood transfusions and
| oxygen were resorted to in the later
| days of his illness.
The natural strength of a boy of
| Is. however, which was counted on
as the most powerful resisting force
to the creeping poison was unable to
| meet the issue and after having
| fought a brave but always losing
! fight he succumbed.
One of the final complications and
| the one which the physicians were
! unable to meet was the formation of
gas on the stomach. The organ was
washed out repeatedly in an effort
to put it in condition to retain
nourishment but the effort was un-
J successful.
Young Calvin was removed to the
hospital Saturday and an operation
on the same night revealed infiamma-
ton of the bone marrow of the left
leg. where the infection first localized
in part A slight rally followed, but
on Sunday night his condition grew
so serious that blood TRANSMISSION and
oxygen administrations were resort :
ed to.
/ Three sinking spells Sunday night
brought him to the point of death. A
slight rally Monday gave slight hope,
but soon thereafter he began again
to lose ground and he never rallied
again.
The infection developed from o.
broken blister on the right foot sus-
tanned during a tennis match with
his brother. John. on the White
House courts last Monday. At first
paying no attention to it, the youth
developed an alarming condition by
Wednesday night and the physicians
were summoned.
The poison. however. once started
had spread so rapidly that medical
skill was without avail A number
OF specialists we're called to act with
White House physicians on the case
and "a desperate fight for life was
made by the boy, who struggled in
great pain and with high fever.
President and Mrs. Coolidge bore
up bravely. Soon after the death
they went to the White House.
where the older brother, John, was
awaiting them.
The spark OF life. Pickering only
family, persisted, ready TO be cx-
tinguished at any minute, but the
VIII to live was very strong and
death was held Off when those at the
bedside had long since abandoned
hope.
z. r. Clark. the presidents perso-
nal secretary. emerging from the
sickroom at 10 o'clock told those
waiting outside that the patient was
sinking but that his stamina was
resisting at every backward step.
Neither President Coolidge, nor
Mrs. Coolidge came OUT and the ply
siciaDs remained TO minister to the
suffering boys last minutes.
The White House. where a staff
had been kept busy while the pres
dental residence was temporarily
removed to Walter Reed hospital
cased to function for the time. md
Secretary Slemp and others rushed
to the hospital
At the hospital groups gathered
outside the grounds. but inside. the
sentries moved their usual way and
there were no visitors to Indicate
anything out OF the ordinary was
taking place. Hundreds Of war vet
(continued ION Pare 2--Cot. -