Evening star., 1924-07-07
PRESIDENTS SON
7. ON NBR|NK Of DEATH
AS POISON SPREADS
Parents Cling to Hope, But
Fading Strength RouseS
Physicians Fear.
BOY BRAVELY RALLIES
AS EXHAUSTION NEARs
Courage Lone Factor That Wards
OFF Collapse After Medical
Skill Proves Unavailing.

The condition of Calvin Coolidge.
jr., sixteen-year son of President
Coolidge, who is victim Of septic
poisoning and who for three days has
been battling for his life. is more
at Walter Reed Hospital following a
consultation Of physicians.
Little hope is held by the physl-
clans for his recovery, and what hope
they do have is based almost entirely
upon the youthful vigor of the pa
tient and what they term his wonder
full tenacity, which practically has
kept him alive to date.
Reaction of the patients condition
today was attributed by physicians
to the development of gas in the
stomach which has prevented the ad-
ministration of food through that
channel This is looked upon as ex
has been able to take no nourish-
ment during the past two or three
days. all Of which has contributed
heavily to his weak and exhausted
condition.
Parents Disappointed.
1t was explained that the attend
ing doctors have resorted to washing
the stomach with the hope that this
will afford some relief and will make
it possible to extend to the boy some
nourishment.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge
waited anxiously for the outcome of
this consultation, and it appeared to
those who saw them they were dread
fully disappointed that the physicians
could not give them more encourage
ment Shortly afterward they mo-
tored TO the White House for luncheon,
returning to the hospital almost with
in the hour.
1t was said that the ravages of this
disease. which has spread throughout
the boys system unchecked for five
days. and against which he has so
bravely and courageously battled, are
fast exhausing his strength.
Attending physicians announced
late last night that the boy was
very low ana thd1 only miracle
could save him" He rallied twice
between midnight and dawn and
once or twice since. but, taking
everything into consideration. there
is at present nothing about the pa
TENTS condition today to cause en-
couragement.
The boys chances for recovering
from this poisoning are not as good
as one in thousand. one of the
physicians said in giving an opinion.
Cling to Hope.
Despite the lacking encouragement,
the parents of the sick boy, who
have moved from the White House to
the Hospital to be near him, how
ever. continue to be hopeful. They
have faith in the boy-they know his
stamina and his courage. Notuith-
standing that everything that the
most advanced medical science can
offer has failed thus far and that
they realize that the fact that their
son is alive today has been due to
his youthful vitality and courage.
they will not abandon their hope.
Probably nothing impressed these
almost distracted parents more than
shortly after midnight last night
when Calvin regained consciousness
after a long period during which it
was thought his life was fast ebbing
and looked up at his father and
mother. who we're standing anxiously
beside his bed, and assured them to
not worry. A few moments later. as
they were retiring from his room he
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