The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-15
Dr. Lapponi Says That He Gan Not Imagine How Leo
 Keeps Alive
POPE'S RECORD DURING
 YESTERDAY INCREDIBLE
Those About the August Patient Have Ceased to Hold Any Definite opln- lon Regarding the Length
 of His Existence.

Rome, July 15.-Q2:9O a. m)-Another remarkable rally in Pope Leo's condition occurred yesterday evening after a morn ing in the course of which his holiness suffered spells of delirium and at times his strength sank to the lowest ebb and tonight he lies in no worse condition than he was on Monday evening, except for the steady diminution of his strength. Monsignor Bisleti master of the cham ber visited the sick rom just after mid night and on emerging stated that the pontiffs condition was unchanged. A It. tie later the pope fell Into a sleep which it has just been announced is fairly tram gull. although the patients respiration is troublesome.
 Yesterdays rally was characteristically opposed to every medical theory and con- sisted in getting out of bed on which two hours previously the pope himself had made all preparations for death. Unsatis- fled with this exhibition of vitality he transacted private business and received four cardinals, with whom he talked In an animated way. In fact, Pope Leos record for yesterday, little of which ap- peared in last nights official bulletin, would be incredible if it were not con firmed by the doctors and cardinals pres ent in the sick chamber. None seem more perplexed than the doctors themselves. Dr. Lapponi said frankly
 LapponI Astonshed.
 T cannot imagine how the pope man. ages to keep alive.'
 According to the physicians the pontiff may die at any moment, even in the midst of one of those extraordinary in- tervals when his mind and body present a comparatively sound appearance. All those around the patient have long since ceased to hold definite opinions regard ing the duration of the pontiffs existence. The slow progressive diminution of the strength of the august patient foretells the approaching end of the struggle with death, but doctors will not venture to predict how near the end is Constant re- lapses, they say, such as created alarm yesterday, are gradually we-ring down the popes constitution, which seems im- mune from any specific disease.
 Most persons are inclined to the idea that Pope Leo may go through, perhaps two or three repetitions of yesterdays ups and downs. till, as Dr. Rossoni puts it, "his pulse stops forever" Three causes
 
 inability to take nourishment. which was exhibited today; sudden heart failure or the progression of the pleurea disease.
 The latter is thought the least prob able. As day succeeds day, 1t becomes pathologically clearer that it is a case of very old man dying because he has lived his allotted time. The pope himself yes- terday afternoon ordered the four car dinals to be admitted and received them standing. He. who Is supposed to be at the point of death, said: Please be seated" He recounted the impressive ceremony, of the morning when he re- ceived the benedicton of the Franciscan order The cardinals informed him of the worldwide prayers for his life.
 Gods Will Be Done"
 Pope Leo answered that he was much gratified but that he was ready for his final departure. concluding by saying:
 Gods will be done"
 Even more striking was the pope's inter- view with his secretary, Monsignor Angeli. he wished to see certain papers, which the secretary brought. Then, after a short explanation, Monsignor Angeli wished to get the popes decision on the matter, but Pope Leo said: Well, well, not today. We will do that some other time"
 curious controversy is proceeding be- tween the vatican medical body, com posed of ten doctors of lesser importance than Dr. Lapponi and several foreign physicians over the embalming of Pope Leos body. Several foreigners having of- fered a process of embalming, each more wonderful than the other, the papal doc tors unearthed pontifical bulls giving the right to embalm the pope solely to the vatican medical body