News In Brief

Artificial-heart recipient gets solid food and is alert

William Schroeder, who received an artificial heart transplant Nov. 25, was given his first solid food Wednesday and was described as ''alert and cooperative.'' Dr. Robert Goodin, director of cardiology at the Humana Heart Institute International, said he was ''amazed that (Schroeder) has this kind of strength and progress.''

Meanwhile, doctors at Humana are evaluating a small number of candidates for the next artificial heart implantation but have decided that a Minnesota man admitted to the hospital for screening this week is not ready.