Apr. 4, 1964 - General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, slipping ever deeper into a “peaceful coma,” was reported today in such an “ominous” condition that only a miracle could spare his life.
Lieut. Gen. Leonard Heaton, Army surgeon general, announced that the 84-year-old warrior’s coma was due primarily to liver failure. This was the first word about this complaint, which Heaton said had been a matter of grave concern since MacArthur underwent the first of three operations at Walter Reed Army Hospital March 6.
The latest bulletin on his condition said that, in addition to the liver failure, MacArthur’s “other major vital functions are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.”
Heaton refused to speculate about MacArthur’s chances of recovery, saying only that “miracles always can occur.” Asked whether he believed death was near, Heaton said: “It’s certainly not a matter of weeks.”
Attending specialists did not consider undertaking a liver transplant because such an operation is highly experimental at present.
MacArthur, who Heaton said had enthralled the medical staff with his reminiscences of his service with General of the Armies John J. Pershing in World I and of his exploits in World War II, continued today to get the same treatment he had been receiving. This included intravenous injections and peritoneal dialysis — a chemical procedure with results similar to those achieved by an artificial kidney.
His heart, whose strength amazed doctors, was showing the strain of the valiant fight. Heaton said it was increasingly difficult to sustain his pulse and blood pressure.
When MacArthur was flown to Washington from his New York home March 2, his illness was diagnosed as severe jaundice. His gall bladder and a number of obstructing gallstones were removed in the first operation. In later surgery, his spleen and eight feet of intestine were removed, and action was taken to control bleeding in his esophagus.
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