Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-10
SUFFERS RELAPSE.
Pope Leo Is Slowly but Surely
Nearing the End.
Consultation Of Physicians Result in
Renewal of Grayest Fears.
The Pontiff Resigned and Calmly
Awaits the End.

Rome, July 10.-2 A. M-Another
day of alternate hopes and fears has
passed and Pope Leo's life still hangs
in the balance. Beginning with re-
newed hopes the day closed with the
scales tending slowly but surely down.
wards. How long this agonizing peri
cd of suspense will last not even the
attending doctors dare to say.
No night bulletins were issued, but at
1915, this morning, it was learned
from DR.. Mazzoni that the condition
of the Pontiff had not changed since
the issue of the evening bulletin at 7.3O
O'Clock, which announced that the pa
TENTS state was grave and at which
hour Dr. Lapponi had declared his fear
that there was no hope. but that the
end might not come during the night.
At midnight a report coming from
the Vatican itself, gained currency
that Dr. Muzzoni had again operated
on the Pope and extracted serum which
had gathered in the pleural cavity. The
representative of The Associated Press
Immediately went to see the Industrious
surgeon and found him at his home at
100, this morning. Although extreme
at is untrue that a new operation has
been performed. I was with the Pope
from II P. M. until after midnight and
found his general condition stationary,
no change having taken place since this
afternoon when the consultation with
DR.. Rossoni was held. To strengthen
the patients heart and help the circu-
lation of the blood I injected camphor
and caffeine after which the Pope. who
seemed somewhat relieved, said he re-
membered being treated with rasphal
water on cancer when he was nunclo
at Brussels, 60 years ago"
In reply to question DR.. Mazzoni
replied: II really cannot say whether
the serum in the pleural cavity has in
creased since the consultation, this af-
ternoon, as I did not examine His Ho-
Illness for such purpose. 1t must be
understood that the Pope is too frail
to be handled like other people. Be
sides his thoraX, through old age
has become bent in such a way that
the right side, where pneumonia was
first detected, courses out in very pro-
nounced manner, while the left size
curves in. In tomorrOW's visit atten-
ton will be especially centered on the
progress in the secretion of serum.
Then q decision will be taken as to
whether n new operation is necessary"
Dr. Mazzoni ended by ridiculing the
criticisms, objections and advice which
he said people, most of whom are ia
nous only for never having been heard
Of allow themselves to advance even
Of NC,
having only seen the Pope in photo
graph.
The condition of Pope Leo at times
yesterday morning, seemed so favorable
that the hopeful DR.. Mazzoni and the
more conservative DR.. Lapponi united
in expressing the belief that there was
some prospect of recovery. But Within
a few hours these brighter prospects
disappeared before the most alarming
conclusions, reached after the lengthy
consultations of the doctors. The
earlier hopes had been inspired largely
by the Pontiff's outward evidence of
vigor as he was able to rise and walk
and command all his faculties, but the
later consultation disclosed that these
outward evidences of strength were en-
tirely deceptive as the real danger con-
sisted in the gradual internal progress
of the insidious disease.
Today however, DIR. Rossoni, the dis
tinguished specialist of the. Baccelli
school, was called into consultation
lasting two hours, during which every
phase of the patients case was minutely
gone over The conclusions announced
in the 100 O'Clock bulletin showed that
the fluid is rapidly gathering again in
the pleural cavity and that the Pope's
condition is very grave.
Following the issuance of this bulie-
tin the doctors freely expressed their
personal convictions regarding the ex-
treme gravity of the case. DIR. Lapponi
said, without qualification. that the pa
TENTS condition was beyond hope. He
did not expect a final collapse, tonight,
but rather gradual sinking until the
end came. How long the sufferer may
live. the doctors will not venture to
predict.
Whatever may be the outcome. the
Vatican world has made up its mind
that the demise of the Pope is only a
question of days at the most and prob
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