The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1903-07-18
END rs APPROACHING
LIFE OF POPE LEO XIII, DRAW.
ING SLOWLY BUT SURELY
TO AN END.

TO AN END.
Strength. Of the Aged Pontiff Steadily
Diminishes, Although He Makes
Wonderful Rallies Which. Astonish
and PerpIex His Suffers
Spells of DeIirium and at Times His
Vitality Is Very Low.
Rome, July 15.-9:50 a. m.-When
DR.. Mazzoni entered the pope's sick
room this morning he found his holi-
ness in almost the same condition as
last night. Pope Leo said:
II feel better than I did yesterday
morning"
On leaving the Vatican DR.. Mazzoni,
in reply to the query, "1s the end i'm
minent?" answered: 1T cannot be
called So" s.
'Then is it near?" was asked, and
DR.. Mazzoni replied:
I'm order not to make mistake let
us say it is not far distant"
Rome. July 15.-9 a. m.-The follow
ing medical bulletin has just been is
sued:
During the night the pope had sew
eral hours rest. His pulsation is 82;
respiration 80; temperature 1862 cent?
grade. There has been no noticeaule
change in the general condition of the
august patient" ,r
Rome, July 15.-1:20 a. m.-An-
other remarkable rally in Pope Leo's
condition occurred yesterday after
noon after a morning in the course.
of which his holiness suffered spells
Of delirium and at times his
strength sank to the lowest ebb,
and now tonight he lies in no
worse condition than he was on Mon
day evening, except for the steady
diminution of his strength. Monsig-
nor Bisleti, master Of the chamber,
visited the sick room just after mid
night and on emerging stated that the
pontiff's condition was unchanged. A
little later the pope fell into a sleep
which 1t has just been announced is
fairly tranquil, although the patients
respiration is troublesome
Yesterdays rally was characteris-
t1cally opposed to every medical theory
and consisted in getting out of bed, on
which two hours previously the pope
himself had
Made All Preparations for Death.
dissatisfied with this exhibition of vi.
tallty, he transacted private business
and received four cardinals, with
whom he talked In an animated way.
In fact, Pope Leo's record for yester.
day, little of which appeared in last
nights official bulletin, would be in
credible If it were not confirmed by
the doctors and cardinals present in
the sick chamber. None seem more
perplexed than the doctors themselves.
DR.. Laponni said frankly: II cannot
imagine how the pope manages to keep
alive" According to the physicians,
the pontiff may die at any moment,
even in the midst of one of those ex.
traordinary intervals when his mind
and body present comparativelv
sound appearance
All those around the patient have
long since ceased to hold definite
opinions regarding the duration of the
pontiff's existence. The slow but pro.
gressive dimunition of the strength of
| the august patient fortells the ap-
preaching
End Of the Struggle With Death,
but the doctors will not yentue
to predict how near the end is. Con-
stant relapses, they say, such as
created alarm early yesterday, are
gradually wearing down the pope's
constitution, which seems immune
from any specific disease. Most per-
sons are inclined to the idea that Pope
Leo may get through perhaps two or
three repetitions of yesterdays ups
and downs. till, as DR.. Rossini puts 1t,
his pulse stops forever"
Three causes may accelerate the
end, viz: Continued inability to take
nourishment, which was exhibited to-
day, sudden heart failure or the pro-
gression Of pleuri diseases.
The latter is thought the least prob
able. AS day succeeds day it becomes
pathologically clearer that 1t is a case
of very old man dying because he
has lived his allotted time
The pope himself yesterday after
noon ordered the four cardinals to be
| admitted and received them standing.
He, who is supposed to be
At the Point Of Death,
! saying: please be seated" He re-
counted the impressive ceremony of
the morning when he received the
benediction Of the Franciscan order.
The cardinals informed him Of the
worldwide prayers for his life. Pope
Leo answered that he was much graft
| fled, but that he was ready for his
final departure, concluding by saying:
Goods will be DONE"
Even more striking was the pope's
interview with his secretary, Mgr. An
geli. His holiness sent for him, saying
that he wished to see certain papers,
which the secretary brought Then,
after short explanation, Mgr. Angel
wished to get the pope's decision on
the matter, but pope Leo said: "'Well,
we'll, not today. We will do that some
other time"
A curious controversy is proceeding
between the vatican medical board,
composed Of ten doctors of less i'm.
pcrtance than DR.. Lapponi. and several
foreign physicians, regarding the en-
balming of Pope Leo's body. Several
foreigners having offered processes of
embalming, each more wonderful than
the other the papal doctors unearthe
pnrtifco1 Iu11c oiyino ho fo oV,