The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-10
Alfred Frick Takes NourISh-
ment, Then Goes to Sleep
81 Force Lungs to
Function.
DOCTORS MERELY WAIT
Predict Definite Trend Like
ly Within Half a
Day.
BIZ United Press

Bp united Press
EVANSTON, ILL.,, March 10.
Mans fight to beat the death
that threatens Alfred Frick,
who is suffering from pa
ralysis, was gaining slightly as
the ninety-ffth hour of the
scientific battle was passed.
"The paralysis of the palate is
slightly receding, giving a faint ray
Of hope" DIR. Charles f. Read, nerve
specialist, announced.
There has been no recession Of the
paralysis which grips tho muscles
OF Frick's diaphragm making
breathing impossible and necessitat.
ing artificial respiration by ffty-
seven of Frick's comrades-but doc.
tors are hopeful there viii be relief
within the next twelve hours.
I'VE hope that the receding OF the
paralysis of the palate will continue
to the diaphragm" DIR. Read said.
Frick went into a natural sleep
today-the first since paralysis set
In Sunday-and this was considered
a good sign" by his doctors.
Early this morning doctors gave
the patient a quantity of milk. II
seemed to revive him somewhat.
AS the morning progressed his pulse
became more natural. and his tenn.
perature-which during the first crl-
sis had mounted-began to wane
somewhat.
Doctors Puzzled
"There is no way in which we
can predict what will happen" doc
tors announced. "It may be twenty.
four hours and Il may be two or
three days yet before there win be
a change"
When F'rick became paralyzed
even his vocal chords were affected
but he has since regained partial use
OF them and can sbeak in n low
half.gasping and throaty voice. He
rarely speaks, however, owing 10
the waste OF the precious air that
is being pumped into his system.
Doctors say the case has no prec.
edent In medical annals,
A relapse occurred during the
night. causing worry TO the doctors
and attendants, but there was no
change In the rhythm OF the at.
tempts at artificial respiration. The
steady rhythm was continued and
the first OF the many crises through
which Fricl must pass ended in a
victory over the death that threat
ems.
In an ante.room Just on the bare
little room 10s. where the patient
sits strapped up at 45-degree angle,
the volunteers await their turns.
They laugh. they smoke. play cards,
chat of workout always watch
clock. Then one speaks;
"Three minutes now. You, Terry
and Ed. this Is your shift"
The two men rise. feel the ban.
dages around their right arms, then
walk into the room where Frick Is
making his flght against death. With
out touching the bed on which the
patient rests, the two men slide into
the places OF the men they are re-
lievlng. and without lost motion start
their fifteen minutes Of work.
Patient Indifferent
Now and then Fricls eyes tho
newcomers with some sign Of rec
oognition, but for the most part he
lies with eyes half closed, paying lit
tie attention to the work going on
about him.
Occasionally the workers use both
hands in n web-chain over Frick's
chest in order TO provide him with n
little longer intake OF air. Occasion
ally the patient must cough.
Now. harder, fellows" he VIII
murmur.
The two workers give three or
four fairly heavy shoves. thus en-
abling the patient 10 cough slightly.
Since Sunday, when an infection
caused him TO become Ill and sub
sequently TO lose control Of his body
and his diaphragm, this same pro-
gram has been going on.
once laSt night IL appeared the
battle had been lost. Shortly before
II p. m. the patients flesh turned
blue, a cyanotic condition, indicating
poor circulation. Doctors admins.
tered morphine. which brought on
sleep.
Despite the tenseness OF the mo-
ment there was no change in the
steady pumping on his chest. With
in an hour a rally set in and doctors
said the worst OF that crisis had been
passed.