    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 6, 1991]
    [Pages 478-479]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the President's Health
    May 6, 1991

        President Bush has carried out his normal schedule for the day,
    indicating several times that he felt well and is glad to be back at
    work. The President is cheerful and absorbed by conversations with
    visitors to the Oval Office, often indicating that he feels in the best
    of health. The President's heartbeat remains in normal sinus rhythm,
    which means that there is no irregularity.
        The White House medical staff continues to monitor the President's
    heartbeat on a regular basis. A heart monitor has been set

    [[Page 479]]

    up near the President's study just off the Oval Office. A White House
    nurse checks the President's heartbeat with the monitor between meetings
    and at other times when the President is not otherwise occupied. During
    the course of the day, the President's heartbeat has shown no evidence
    of returning to fibrillation. Monitoring in the days ahead will be done
    by telemetric EKG equipment.
        The intravenous line was removed from the President's arm late this
    afternoon. The bandage remains only to close the point of insertion. The
    President remains on digoxin and procainamide.
        According to the President's Physician, Dr. Burton Lee, ``The
    President's medical day in the White House has been uneventful. He has
    performed the functions of office while maintaining good humor and good
    health. No problems of any kind have arisen since he left the
    hospital.''