The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-10
AGED PONTIFF COMBATING Dis
EASES WHICH MIGHT KILL
A YOUNG MAN.
CONDITION is PRETTY GOOD
PHYSICIANS SAY PATIENT PASSED
A TRANQUIL NIGHT AND
RESTED WELL.

s~t' S~T
1910 o'clock this morning by the
pope's physicians says:
1.-THE night was tranquil and the pa
tent rested we'll, the pneumonia fol-
lowing the ordinary course in that part
Of the lung not covered by the little
LIQUID still existing in the pleura. The
general condition remains pretty
GOOD"
Rome, July 9.-5:25 a. m.-The pope
is asleep. The condition of his lungs
is not worse. There is as yet no sus-
picion of serums gathering again in
the pleura, but the disorder of his kid
neys is disquieting.
During the early part of the night
his Holiness was somewhat restless.
The occasional brief periods Of sleep
We're disturbed by difficulty in breath
ing. Dr.. Lapponi and Pope Leo's valet,
Pho Contra, did their best to nourish
the patient at brief intervals. The
pontiif spoke little ald seemed much
depressed. Choral and caffeine were
administered with good effects. About
sunrise the pontiff fell into a more
restorative sleep than he had had all
night.
Rome. July 9.-The life of Pope Leo
continues to hang by a thread, with
the expectation that any moment may
bring death. Yet the wonderful vi
tally of the remarkable cid man is
combating a complication of diseases
which would endanger a strong mar
in the prime of life. 1t appears that
everyone in the vatican is obliged to
give way to overpowering fatigue, SO
much more tranquil is it in the palace
than outside. where people still con
gregate on the piazza of st. Peters.
The corner of the palace which re-
NAMED lighted the longest was the
apartment of Cardinal Rampolla.
where the lights were eytinguished
only a short time after those in the
room where Mgr. Volponi, one of the
pontiff's most intimate friends, is lying
in a serious condition as a result of
the attack of syncope that he suffered
yesterday. Pope Leo, as though he
had second sight. has asked several
times why Mgr. Volponi has not been
to see him. Naturally the condition
Of Mgr. Volponi has been kept from
the pope.
Between Hope and Fear.
Throughout yesterday the reports
from the sick room alternated with
fears and hopes. At times rumors of
the gravest character gaine1 currencv.
Out of the mass of contradictory re-
ports, the essential features of the
roDe's actual condition are indicated
in the bulletins issued at 9:45 yester.
day morning and at 9:15 last evening,
bearing the signatures of the two at
tending doctors. The early bulletin
was %noticeably free from technical
language. During the night the pope
had secured little refreshing sleep, and
with this sleenlessroes was augmented
depression. The difficulty in breath
irg had increased and a arrangement
of the kidneys began to manifest it.
self. These complications were fully
end frankly stated by the doctors.
Their official bulletin was supplement-
in the course of personal converse
ton in which thew showed that they
entertained scarcely n hopes of re-
covery. Yet they always qualified
their statements. setting forth the re-
markahle constitutional strength and
indomitable energy Of the patient as
the most striking evidence of
His Almost superhuman Will.
They instanced the dying mans leav.
ing, his bed during the morning ana
taking several steps, unaided save by
a cane, to an armchair. When this
became known many were disposed to
criticize the doctors for permitting
such an exhausting effort, but it was
explained that the entire absence of
fever, the temperature being even be.
low normal, eliminated the danger of
syncope from this exertion. More.
over, the attending physicians recos
nized that they were battling with a
man of iron will who does not know
the meaning of estlaint. Fortunate.
ly, all the climatic conditions in Rome
for the time being are favorable to the |
sufferer. The air is deliciously cooll
and there is a complete absence of the
%enervating s:rocco, which depresses
and kills. The bright sunshine
streams into the papal apartment. The
encouraging conditions are further
augmented by the constant use of
artificial mean of exiliration. includ.
ing steady supplies of oxygen.
Takes Little ~Nourishment.
Except for the brief time that he
passed in the armchair, the pops lay
in bed throughout the day. shifting his
position frequently without assistance
and occasionally taking a small!
draught of diluted wine with the yolks
of eggs. The only solid food he has
taken is calves brains and meat
broth.
The later official bulletin. following
q consultation between Doctors Lap
poni and MazZoni, completely contra
dicted the alarmist report and gave a