The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-08
THE OPERATION
Pontiff Stood It Well and Was Afforded

! pontltf STOOD II well ana was St1orueC
Great Relief.
tBy Associated Press.)
ROME, July 1.-THE Pope was operated
| OH this afternoon and felt immediate re-
! lief. After the operation the following
bulletin was ssued by his physicians:
"The test pnncture of the pleura has
been made and eight hundred grams of
liquid have been taken off. "A rapid eN-
animation showed that some mucus was
rafting In the lung which was originally
affected
THE Pope underwent the. operation with
courage. His general condition Is now
better and he is resting
DR.. Mazzoni said the danger remained
imminent, but the illness from which the
Pope was suffering was full Of surprses.
His Holiness might even live three DAYS
longer
The calmness with which tho Pope I'M
derwent the ordeal Of the operation was
one of the most remarkable evidences Of
fortitude that he had given In his whole
I:fe After a lengthy conference the doc
tors concluded 1t was advisable to ope--
ate for pleurisy, the primary purpose be-
ing Nto explore the affected parts. They
hoped incidentally to draw off tho colorcd
fluid.
When their determination was conlmr-
nicated to the Pontif he showed no anx-
Lefty. On the contrary, he submitted very
willingly, expressing the hope that good
results might come, recalling the success
ful results following DR.. Mazzonl's opera
ton some years ago for cyst.
NO ANAESTHETIC.
AS the operation was not Of capital
nature, not suggesting the use Of chloro-
form or other anaesthetics, the Pope lay
OH his bed, with his left side exposed be-
low the arm-pit to the waist Only the
two doctors and two personal attendants
were within the chamber.
The immediate direction of the operation
dcvolved on DR.. Mazzon, who handled the
Instruments and made the preparatory
arrangements. First slight incision was
made In the side of the venerable pa
tent a solution of alcohol and corrosive
sublmate was then injected, and cocaine
was used to deaden the sensation. The
point of operation was just below the sew
entll rib, and the operation Itself consisted
in the insertion Of a large praHaz need
ling syringe. This penetrated to the region
where the 4matterrhad accumulated, and
by means OF suction slowly drew 1t off.
Under the skilfu guidance Of DR.. MAJ
zcni the operation scarcely occupied over
four minutes. The Pope manifested no
pain whatever, neither was there tile
slightest culver from moral dread Of the
operation. III the language Of one Of the
doctors, the cocaine so deadeNed the parts
that tho Pontiff felt no more than n Slight
pin prick. SO soon as the liquid was
drawn off by the suction needle the pa
tent felt great relief, owing TO the re-
moval OF the pressure of the liquid on the
lung. and simultaneously the doctors
could hear air passing through that zone
which this morning was declared to DO
impcrvious, owing to congestion.
GREAT RELIEF.
: From a pathological standpoint, tho
free passage of air was considered sat
isfactory but more SO were the results,
the mental and physical relief which ~
brought to the Pope. He Immediately
showed an exhillratinE spirit, With n
slight smile on his pallid face he whis-
pered his thankfulness and bestowed ben
edictions on the doctors bending over
him. Tho Pontif even stroked Dr. MAJ
Eoni's face IN the benevolent way which
Is characteristic Of him. Then with one
hand he renrranged his position. closed
his eyes and in a few minutes passed into
calm hcalthful sleep. The doctors re-
manned by the 'Pone's side, noting the reg
ularity Of his breathing, and pronounced
the operation TO have been IN every way
successful. and leaving no perceptDle
adverse results.