Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-03-04
POPE LEO FRUSTRATED.
The Aged POntiff Undergoes a Sc
rious Surgical Operation.
THE DANGER Is NOT YET OVER

DIR. Mazzoni Declares That Pneumonia
May Yet Develop, and Another Re-
port Has 1t That the Pope's Physi-
clans Fear Blood Poisoning.
Rome. March 2.-The following Of
fetal bulletin has been issued: His
holiness underwent an operation yester-
day for the removal of q long standing
cyst, which suddenly became intiamed.
His holiness bore the operation remark
ably well, although it was impossible to
use chloroform. The pope's condition IS
now fairly satisfactory"
The hematic cyst, which was about the
size of an orange, had been forming,
probably, for 80 years. The only per-
sons present at the O. ation were DR..
Mazzoni, DIR. Lapponi, who assisted, and
DIR. Pic Contra. the popes personal at
tendant. At $50 his holiness was car
ried on litter to window of his apart
ment. Smiling, he said to the doctors:
do you want to play those tricks upon
me at my age?' Then he lay down com
posedly on his right side. Although the
courage which the patient displayed
gave the doctors courage, they feared to
use chloroform, and used instead a
liquid anaesthetic, consisting of cocaine,
chloride of sodium and morphia.
Owing to the size of the growth the
excelsior occupied some time, but DR..
Mazzoni quickly traced the extent of the
growth, and the actual operation lasted
II minutes. The pope displayed great
fortitude. After the bandaging he was
carried back to the bed. and, once the
- f,t. 1s,n 70 Ell xofy nd
loss of blood had passed away, he APP
peared quite calm. The fever quickly
subsidized, confirming the diagnosis Of the
doctors.
According to Itale, his holiness suf-
fered great pain during the operation.
and remarked afterward to his doctor:
Il understand now the seriousness of my
illness. You must have great courage to
operate upon an old man like myself"
When he consented to the operation
his holiness said to DIR. Lapponi. ut is
truly disagreeable thing to me to sepa-
rate myself from this cyst just when |
am about to go. after having had its com
pany for third of my life"
During the operation the pope asked
his private chaplain. Father Angel, to
say mass. After the surgeons had COM
pleted their task he was in excellent
spirits, and even ioked with them. His
holiness slept two hours during the day.
At 6 o'clock Drs. Mazzoni and Lap
poni again visited him and found that
the pain caused by the operation had so
far abated as to allow his holiness to lie
on his back. At that hour his tempera-
ture was lower and his general condi-
ton satisfactory.
1t was ascertained on inquiry at the
Vatican at midnight that the pope was
resting TRANQUILITY. The wound contin-
ues healthy. and the pain has diminished.
After the operation, it appears, the weak
ness, due TO loss of blood, became ex-
IRENE, and his holiness lost conscious
ness and muttered unintelligible Latin
phrases. Cordials, broths and cham
payne were administered with good
effect.
In other quarters it is asserted that
the pope is still suffering from difficulty
in respiration and from pain in the lum-
bar region. DR.. Mazzoni says that it is
possible pneumonia may disclose itself
Altogether the progress of the disorder
is problematical. There is rumor to-
day that the pope's physicians fear blood
poisoning.