Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-09
AWAITING THE END.
Condition Of the Pope Is Simply
a Little Easier.
Physicians and Attendants Astonished
at His Wonderful Vitality.
Monsignor voiponi, an Intimate Friend,
Stricken Down.

Rome, July $50 A. M.-The Pope is
asleep. The condition of his lungs is
not worse. There is as yet no suspicion
of serum gathering again in the pleura,
but the disorder of his kidneys Is dis
quieting. During the early part of the
night His Holiness was somewhat rest
less. The occasional brief periods of
sleep were disturbed by difficulty in
breathing. DR.. Lapponi and Pope
Leo's valet Pho Contra did their best
to nourish the patient at brief inter-
walls. The Pontiff spoke little and
seemed much depressed. Choral and
caffeine were administered with good
effect. About sunrise the Pontiff fell
into more restorative sleep than he
had had all night.
The life of Pope Leo continues to
hang by a thread with the explanation
that any moment may bring the final
catastrophe. The wonderful vitality of
the remarkable old man is combating
q complication of diseases which would
endangey a strong man in the prime of
life. 1t would appear that every one
in the Vatican is obliged to give way to
overpowering fatigue so much more
tranquil is it in the palace than out
side, people still being congregated ON
the piazza of st. Peters as this dis
patch was filed. The corner of the palace,
which remained lighted the longest was
the apartment of Cardinal Rampolla,
where the lights were extinguished on
ly short time after those in the room
where Mgr. Volponi, one of the Pom
tiffs most intimate friends, is lying in
a serious condition as a result of an
attack of syncope that he suffered, to-
day.
Throughout the day the reports from
the sick room have alternated with
fears and hopes. Out of the mass of
contradictory reports the essential fea-
lures of the Popes actual condition are
indicated in the bulletins issued at 9.45,
yesterday morning, and at SIS last
evening, bearing the signatures Of the
two attending doctors. During the
night the Pope had secured but little
refreshing sleep, and with this sleep
lessness was augmented the depression
The difficulty in breathing had in
creased and a arrangement of the kid
neys began to seriously manifest IT.
self.
The official bulletin was supplements
ed in the course of personal conversa-
ton in which the doctors showed that
they entertained scarcely any hope of
recovery. Yet, they always qualified
their statements setting forth the re-.
markable constitutional strength and
,indomitable energy of the patient as
the most striking evidence of his al
most superhuman will. They instanced
the dying man leaving his bed during
l,n, II,
unaided save by a cane to an arm chair.
When this became known many were
disposed to criticise the doctors for per-
hitting such an exhausting effort, but
1t was explained that the entire alb
sence of fever, the temperature being
even below normal, eliminated the dan
ger of syncope from this exertion.
Fortunately, all the climatic condi-
lions in Rome for the time being are
favorable to the sufferer. The air is de-
liciously cool and there is complete
absence of the enervating sirocco which
depresses and kills. The bright sun
shine streams into the Papal apart
ment. The encouraging conditions are
further augmented by the constant use
of artificial means of eXhiliration, in
Guiding supplies of oxygen.
Except for the brief time he passed
in the arm chair the Pope lay in bed
throughout the day, shifting his posi-
ton 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 late official bulletin following a
consultation between Drs. Lapponi and
Mazzoni completely contradicted the
alarmist reports and give most favor
able statement. This was disclosed in
the improved pulse, better respiration
and ameliorated general condition.
DIR. MazZoni said in conversation
following the issue of the SIS p. M.
bulletin. that while the Pope's condi-
ton still continued desperate, recovery
was not entirely impossible. Unfortu-
nately some elements in the population
of Rome including few who are high
in the councils of the Vatican are in
clined to cast doubts on the sincerity
of the bulletins. This led during the
day to a strong movement in favor of
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