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THE NEW YORK TIMES October 25, 1926 Page , Column
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HOUDINI NEAR DEATH AFTER AN OPERATION
Magician Stricken With Acute Appendicitis During Performance
Peritonitis Develops.
Special to The New York Times.
DETROIT, Mich., Oct. 25Harry Houdini, famous magician, was reported near death in Grace Hospital tonight several hours after an operation for removal of the appendix had been performed.
The statement issued by physicians attending the magician said:
Mr. Houdini was operated on at Grace Hospital at 3 oclock this afternoon for an obscure abdominal condition which proved to be anomalous appendicitis. The appendix had ruptured far over on the left side of the abdomen and a strepococcic peritonis [sic] has developed as a result of the rupture. Grave doubts are entertained for his recovery.
The bulletin was signed by John Taylor Watkins, Charles S. Kennedy, Herbert W. Hewitt and Daniel Cohen.
Houdini was taken ill Sunday afternoon, but insisted on going through with his performances at the Garrick Theatre in the evening despite the fact that his temperature was 104 and that a physician who examined him at the time declared that he was suffering from appendicitis.
According to Houdinis manager, the magician complained of severe abdominal pains on the train while traveling to Detroit from Montreal Sunday. The first twinge of pain was felt last week after he had engaged in a friendly sparring match with a newspaper man in his dressing room in a Montreal theatre.
Detroit physicians say this may have brought on complications that developed into acute appendicitis, although Houdini suffered no inconvenience at the time.
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