Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-19
(BY the Associated Pressl

The condition of the presidents
father first attracted public attention
early IN April of last year, about
month after he had returned from
Washington where he had attended the
inauguration of his son. His condi-
ton gave such concern to his physi-
clan. DR.. A. NJ Cram, that it was ar
ranged for him to come to Boston on
May for an examination at the Mass
achusetts General Hospital.
There Drs. Paul D. White and Ar
thur Chute, Boston experts, in consul
tation with DR.. Cram, diagnosed Col
oncl Coolidge's ailn1ent as heart
block" a condition characterized by
slow pulse. Otherwise, however,
, searching examination revealed that
despite his years the aged patient was
in good health.
Later, on May IL, there came a re-
port that he had suffered fainting
spell but the accuracy of this report
was never determined definitely. The
colonel himself joculariy told inquir
ers that if he had been i'll he hadn't
known of it himself.
Despite this, however, his condition
took a turn for the worse on June q
apd he was reported in serious condi-
ton. Attorney General j. G. Sargent
drove over from Ludlow and visited
him, and DR.. Cram, who was in al
most constant attendance. reported
. that he had developed slight tenn
, perature around 100 and that he was
| in considerable pain.
/ DR.. Cram said that the colonel had
! gas on the stomach and bowels and
that an ihfiammatory condition had
set in but that the heart action re-
manned good. Nevertheless, he order
ed his patient to bed. Coincident with
, the news of these developments, Presi-
dent Coolidge, who was Summering at
White Court in Swampscott, directed
his personal physician. Major ]. f.
! Coupal. to his fathers bedside.
In the meantime, DIR. White of
Boston had arrived and on the af-
ternoon of June % he operated on
the patient, who lay stretched on
table in the same room in which
= on that historic day, August 3, 1928,
he had sworn his son into office as
the President of the United tSates. A
local anaesthetic was all that was
used and the operation lasted 38
minutes. The sick man stood it we'll
and felt greatly relieve. 1t was re-
/ ported that the operat on was to
| clear an abscess of the PROSTATE
/ gland. At that time the attending
physicians reported that second
major operation for the removal of
the PROSTATE gland would be advis-
able when the patient had sufficient
i ~ recovered his strength. This,
+ however, has never been attempted.
Apprised of his fathers condition
and the impending operation, the
President and Mrs. Coolidge together
with his friend Frank w. Stearns
rushed from Boston to Ludlow, VT,
on a special train which bettered by
many minutes the usual railroad
schedule. AT Ludlow the party was
met by Attorney General Sargent
and driven here a distance of about
IL miles.
Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge found the
| patent already on the way to re-
| covery and his improvement was SO
, rapid that they were enabled to re-
| turn TO Boston a few days later in
order that the President might keen
an important speaking engagement
! Colonel Coolidge himself urged that
this be done. His grandson John
who had been with him since schooj
closed, remained here.
since that time the colonel has been
reported Ill on several occasions. I'm
I'll during the Christmas season he
continued to perform the Chores
ABOUT the place, but at that time he
lost he use of his legs and has since
been confined to his bed.
His earlier refusal to accept a less
rigorous routine than his customary
one, coupled with the strain that has
come from an attempt to keep uI
with the vOluminous correspondence
to which he has been subjected since
the elevation of his son to the presi-
dency, was long cause of concern
to his well wishers. He was forced
frequently to forsake a habit of a
lifetime to remain up late into the
night answering inconsequential let.
ters which have poured in upon him
and has daily been subjected to I'M
welcome scrutiny from motor tour.
lists and souvenir pests who have
f1ocked here in ever increasing num-
bers.