The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-09
Suggested that Consultation BE Held
with Outsiders Who Are Persona
Non Grata at the Vatican.
RAMPoLLA THEIR SPOKESMAN
WISHES OF THE PECCI FAMILY To
BE GRANTED TODAY.
DIR. Cardarelii to he Called i'm by Drs.
MaxzOni and LappOni-"Rebellion
of Cardinals"

ROME, July s, 6:25 p. ma few moments
ago DR.. Mazzoni was suddenly called out OF
the sick chamber by Cardinal Rampolla
and hurried. whispered conversation en-
sued. This gave rise to all kinds of rumors,
but it was soon explained that Cardinal
Rampolla had taken upon himself the duty
of acting mouthpiece for some of the in
innate friends and relatives of the Pope,
who suggested the advisability of calling
certain other doctors in consultation. DR..
Mazzoni replied that he had not the least
objection to such consultation. but that
the symptoms and course of the disease
were so clear and well defined as to leave
no doubt as to the diagnosis. He therefore
was unable to see the necessity for the step
proposed.
1t became known later that the motive
for Cardinal Rampolla's suggestion orig
mated in what Vatican circles have already
baptized as 'the rebellion of the cardinals"
against Dr. Lapponi 1t appears that some
of the cardinals complained of the doctors
treatment of the patient, thinking that DR..
Lapponi has not since the beginning detect
ed that the Pope was suffering from an af-
lection of the pleura, and thus, they said.
allowing the disease to assume a gravity
which otherwise might have been avoided.
DIR. Lapponi, who is supported by DR.. MAJ
zoni, Indignantly repudiated the idea. Both
of the doctors declare that barely five days
nave elapsed since the Pope became ILL., and
they claim that three DAYS ago they detect
ed water in the pleura, and add that 1t was
not possible, considering the age and weak
ness of the Pontiff, to risk a test puncture
presence of serum. However, the CRITICS.
ing cardinals not only maintained their
view, but succeeded in reaching the ear of
Cardinal Rampolla. Besides this the Pope's
relatives proposed that consultation be
held with the most illustrious physicians,
naming DR.. Antonio Gardarelli and DIR.
Guido Baccelli. But, aside from hurting
DR.. Lapponi'S feelings, further difficulty
thereupon arose, owing to the existing rela-
lions between church and state. DIR. Carda-
relli was member of the Chamber of
senator; that is to say. he fills a position
which has necessitated not only taking the
oath OF allegiance to the King and to sup
port the Constitution, but he has also sworn
to obey the Italian laws, including the
Papal guarantees, which regulate the posi-
ton Of the Papacy in regard TO the Italian
state. thus making him obnoxious to the
Papal party.
DIR. Baccelli's position is even more diff
cult In addition to having been a member
of the Chamber of Deputies for thirty
years, he is actually minister of the
crown OF Italy, being minister of commerce.
industry and agriculture. DR.. Baccelli oc-
cupies such a high position in medical
science that. notwithstanding his political
principles, he has often been called to the
deathbed of prominent ecclesiastics and
was even consulted during the last illness
of Pope Plus TX, but then he was not a
minister and never had been one. In spite
of these objections, the wishes of the Pecci
family were respected, and IL was an
nounced that Drs. Lapponi and Mazzoni
would consult with DIR. Cardarelli to-mor-
row morning.
The Vatican rejected the idea of a con-
sultation with DR.. Baccelli because of his
position as member of the Italian Cabi-
net, although DIR. Mazzoni preferred him.
Several other physicians have been pro-
posed. but Ii Is probable that DIR. Carda-
relli will be chosen. DIR. Baccelli ridcules
the statement attributed to him by the
Petit Parisien that the Pope is affected with
malaria. Malaria. he says. entirely disap-
peared from Rome years ago.