SIR - MORELL MACKENZIE AND THE EMPEROR FREDERICK
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—With regard to the charges made, in the ex-Kaiser's memoirs, against the late Sir Morel! Mackenzie, it is interesting to recall that Sir Morell himself dealt in exhaustive detail with the subject, in his book, The Fatal Illness of Frederick the Noble (Sampson Low. 1888). In that very interesting volume the illness of the Emperor was described from its origin to its end, with diagrams, tables, personal details, &c. May I quote two passages ?
Referring to the allegation that he concealed the gravity of the malady, Sir Morell said (p. 185) " Among the many false charges which have been brought against me in connexion with this case, there is one which for obvious reasons I could not take any notice of while the Emperor was still alive. It was said that I deliberately deceived him as to his condition, and buoyed him up with false hopes, leading him to believe that he would recover. Now, as to the first point, I will frankly say at once that I did not over say bluntly to the Emperor, You are suffering from cancer, Sir ; you are a doomed man.' I did not do so in the earlier stages of his malady, because the nature of the case appeared to me to be doubtful. . . . At a later period, when the case had assumed a more serious asps t, my readers will recollect that I was perfectly open with the illustrious patient, who thanked me for being frank with him."
With regard to the actual diagnosis of the disease as being cancer, Sir Morell said (p. 198) :— " Even Gerhardt does not profess to have been certain about the diagnosis in May, and as for Professor von Bergmann, I have already said that before my first visit to Berlin he did not even pretend to have any opinion at all as to the nature of the disease. . . . The true nature of the growth could only be proved by microscopic examination, and, as we have seen, none of the German doctors had been able to extract a piece of it for this purpose." [Then, after giving details, he added (p. 199)] " It will be seen, therefore, that I had every reason to hope that the disease was not malignant."
The weak part of Sir Morel's book seems to be the extent to which he alleged actual personal conspiracy against him, nearly all the German medical attendants on the Emperor being involved therein. However, the technical argument of the book is so close and detailed as to carry conviction, even allowing for controversial bias. In any event, it should be read in connexion with the ex-Kaiser's statements.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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