The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-07-15
POPE'S END VERY IMMINENT
STRENGTH DIMINISHING sLOW-
 LY BUf CoNTINUOUSLE.

LK BUT CONIINUOUSLx'
 Statement to This Effect Given Out in the Latest Official Bulletin by the Physiclans- -Yesterday's Rally En- tireIy Unexpected and Opposed to Every Medical Theory-Death Ex. pected at Every Moment.
 Rome, July 14-S p. m.-The following bulletin has just been issued: -~
 "The pope passed a fairly quiet day, but had short periods of depression. Pulse SS, weak; respiration S2, temper ature S6.0S centigrade. The strength of the august patient is diminishing slow ly, but continuously. tSignedl
 ''Lapponi,
 s..Mazzoni."
 Rome, July 15-1:2O a. m.-Another re- markable rally in Pope Leo's condition occurred yesterday afternoon after a morning in the course of which his ho- Illness suffered spells of delirium and at times his strength sank to the lowest ebb, and now tonight he lies in no worse condition that he was on Monday evening, except for the steady diminu- tion of his strength. Monsignor Bisletl, master of the chamber, visited the sick room just after midnight and on emerg- ing stated that the pontiff's condition was unchanged. A little later the pope fell into sleep which, it has just been announced. is fairly tranquil. although the patients respiration is troublesome. Yesterdays rally was opposed to every medical theory and consisted in getting out of the bed, on which two hours previously the pope himself had made all preparations for death. Un- satisfied with this exhibition of vitality, he transacted private business and re ceived four cardinals, with whom he talked in an animated way. In fact, Pope Leo's record for yesterday, little of which appeared in last nights official bulletin, would be incredible if it were not confirmed by the doctors and car- dinals present in the sick chamber. None seem more perplexed than the frankly: T cannot imagine how the 55 pope IHdIldS6S IO keep dliVe. According to the physicians, the pom tiff may die at any moment even in the midst of one of those extraordinary in tervals when his mind and body present comparatively sound appearance. All those around the patient have long since ceased to hold definite opinions re- garding the durance of the pontiff's ex- istence.
 The slow but progressive diminution of the august patient foretells the ap- preaching end of the struggle with death, but the doctors will not venture to predict how near the end Is. Con- stant relapses, they say. such as ere ated alarm early yesterday, are gradu- ally wearing down the pope's constitu- ton, which seems immune from any specific disease. Most persons are in cli1ed to the idea that Pope Leo may go through perhaps two or three repeti- tionssof yesterdays ups and downs un- til, as Dr. Rossoni, puts it, This pulse stops forever.
 Three causes accelerate the end, viz, continued inability to take nourishment, which was exhibited today; sudden heart failure, or the progression of pleuric disease. The latter is thought the least probable. As day succeeds day it becomes pathologically clear that it is a case of 8 very old man dying be- cause he has lived his allotted tme.
 The pope himself yesterday afternoon ordered the four cardinals to be admit ted, and received them standing, he, who is supposed to be at the point of i, &t k 11 recounted the impressive ceremony of the morning when he received the ben ediction of the Francescan order The cardinals informed him of the world wide prayers for his life. Pope Leo an- swered that he was much gratifed, but that he was ready for his final depart ure, concluding by saying, Gods will be done.''
 Even more striking was the pope's in terview with his secretary, Monsignor Angeli His holiness sent for him. say $ ing he wished to see certain papers, which the secretary brought. Then af- ter a short legislation Monsignor Angeli ] wished to get the pope's decision on the matter. but Pope Leo said, Well, well; not to-day. We will do that some other time."
 A curious controversy is proceeding between the vatican medical body, com posed of ten doctors of lesser import ance than Dr. Lapponi, and several for eign physicians over the embalming of Pope Leo's body Several foreigners having offered processes of embalming, each more wonderful than the other, the papal doctors unearthed pontifical bulls giving the right to embalm the pope solely to the vatican medical body.
 U. c. I. COMPANY