The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-16

ROME, July 16, ITO a. m.-Though still
clinging tenaciously to life, Pope Leo has
the appearance of a dead man. Apparently
there has been little change in his condition
in the past twenty-four hours. Soon after
midnight he fell asleep, but his sleep
seemed to be too profound to be natural.
One of the doctors in attendance on the
Pontiff gave a word picture of Pope Leo
as he appeared yesterday. That smile
which lighted up the Pontiff's face, even
in extreme age. had disappeared. probably
forever. The skin was drawn tightly over
the once bright eyes staring dimly from
the deeply-sunken sockets. A grayish pal
lor overspread his countenance. but the
most noticeable ravage wrought by his
present disease was the dropping of the
lower Jaw. which made the Pope's features
take on the fixed rigidity of death.
MERELY DYING OF AGE.
DR.. Mazzoni, in reply to the question,
"Can the Pope recover" last night gave
the following signed statement:
AT the present moment the disease of his
Holiness has lost its character of absolute
gravity which 1T had at its acute period. 1t
might be considered 10 have entered the Pc
riod of possible solution. This might
cur In man of strong fiber and young, but
IL Is impossible TO entertain such hope in
the case of man in his ninety fourth year.
With him the physical energy absolutely
indispensable for recovery is lacking. Pope
Leo's organism Is perfect, and as such
maintains itself after ninety-three years of
never-interrupted work. but his motor force
IS no longer sufficient for the complex func-
tions essential TO life. In other words, the
ninety-three years of Pope Leo XIII brings
him into that category OF extraordinary
longevity when life is destined to flicker
out independent of the action of any patho-
logical complication. The only service that
science and affection can render is that of
STRUGGLING TO have this precious existence
preserved to US as long as possible
Authentic information from the Vatican
is to the effect that in his delrium on
Tuesday the Pope spoke especially of pill
grimages and recited disconnectedly Latin
verses. He often seemed panic-stricken,
crying to DR.. Lapponi his valet Centra and
Monsignor Angeli, one of his secretaries:
Where are your Do not abandon me?"
The delirium ceased entirely at o'clock
u. m, when his Holiness again revived.
Having eaten nothing throughout the day.
he was then gievn four spoonsfuls of meat
broth and masticated some beef without
swallowing IL. From midnight up to 5
O'Clock Wednesday morning the Pope was
less in quantity. The liquid in the pleura
does not show much tendency TO gather,
come through exhaustion and anemia, in
stead OF as result of cardiac paralysis.
Throughout yesterday the precincts of
the Vatican were comparatively quiet and
the immediate vicinity OF the sick room
showed none of the evidences of agitation
and alarm so apparent on Tuesday. In
marked contrast TO previous days, the pa
tient was kept in almost absolute seclusion
only one person besides the physicians in
immediate attendance gaining admission.
This one was Mgr. Pifferi the Pope's con-
antechamber
including Cardinals Satolli and Serafino
Vannutelli. but they did not press for ad-
doctors earnest wish to afford the patient
every opportunity Of avoiding exertion and
mental effort
LAST OFFICIAL BULLETIN.
During the day the Pope took a small
amount of nourishment. Through the morn
ing he was restless. shifting uneasily on his
bed and complaining of inability to secure
an easy position. Later he became drowsy
and during the afternoon had some sleep
The assembling OF Drs. Lapponi. Mazzoni
and Rossoni at half-past 5 o'clock. two
hours before the usual time. was not due
10 any alarming turn in the Popes condi-
ton. but through the wish to go thoroughly
over every detail OF the situation. The bull
letin issued soon afterward follows:
During the day no special phenomena
were noticed in the general condition of the
august patient. The depression I'm his
strength was not augmented. Respiration
pulse and temperature about stationary
Respiration. 30; temperature, 36.6 cent?
grade: pulse, 81
The moderate tone OF the bulletin gave an
assurance that the patients condition was
practically unchanged, while the expression
that 1.-The depression In his strength has not
increased enorded slight note of relief.
Last evening his Holiness complained of
slight uneasiness in the chest but that he
had not yet completely given up hope was
indicated by his remark that he expected
the oppression or his chest TO pass off in a
few days. During the day the Pope drank
few drops OF the healing waters from the
shrine at Lourdes, several bottles of which
were sent to the Vatican by the French
bishop in whose see Lourdes Is situated
local paper gravely announced that from
the moment Pope Leo swallowed the water
an Improvement in his condition became
apparent.
The doctors are well-ngh exhausted with
their unceasing cares DIR. Lapponi i'm mar
ticuar spends his entire nights as well as
days In the sick room. Just before mid
night his wife. wishing To him, went to
the Vatican. She was taken to a corridor
near the sick room. where she saw her
husband for few minutes. An important
case now before the British consular court
in Rome requires the presence OF Or. Lap
poni but this is impossible because OF the
Pope's condition and also because the Vat
lean affords extraterritoriai privileges to
All within rs precincts.
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