The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-11
POPE RESTS WELL AFTER OPERATION First Step Toward Recovery
 Is Made TEMPERATURE LOWER
  Physicians Perform Slight Operation Upon Knee of His Holiness and the Pain is Greatly
 Relieved
TEMPERATURE LOWER

Rome. August 1o.-The condition of Pope Plus tonight was better and for the first time since he was taken i'll recently with laryngitis which later became compi- gated by an acute attack Of gout, his holiness was considered as having made a step toward recovery
 Doctors Petacci and Marchiavia visited his temperature was only slightly above normal and that his condition, considering the heat, was satisfactory.
 The physicians called pr. Amco into consultation this afternoon and it was de- cided to puncture the Popes swollen knee. The operation, which was a slight one, resulted in the extraction of a quantity of serum and afterwards his holiness was somewhat relieved from pain.
 The Osservatore Romano, the official organ of the vatican, tonight published the following communication which, even if 1t should be over optimistic, indicates that turn for the better has taken place:
 Contrary to the exaggerated and fan tastic news published by certain Italian and foreign newspapers, we can assure you that the condition of the health of his holiness has ameliorated and that the attack of gout in the right knee has diminished notably and unquestiondbly is yielding to treatment Notwithstanding this, however, especially because of the excessive heat, his holiness still will need 1F
 Pope Plus sat for a while today in an arm chair in his bed chamber. He said he was feeling better and assisted that a temporary altar be arranged in his room At it Monsignor Bressan, his pri- vate secretary, celebrated mass. The prelate made special prayers to St. Law renee, whose feast day it was and whom he particularly venerates because he is supposed to be the protector against great heat. After remaining some time in inc arm chair, feeling a return of the pains in the leg, his holiness again sought his bed
 During the day the spirit of the pom tiff, which previously semingly had been depressed, revived when he saw at his bedside the troubled faces of his sisters.
 Smiling up at them the pope said:
 Courage, my sisters; you shall see that even this illness will pass away"
 His holiness is now satisfied with the change to his new bedroom, as the tenn perature averages about dozen degrees lower than that of his old bed chamber.
 The bed of his holiness stands In the spacious private library, measuring 30 by 60 feet Manager Bressan and Manager Pescini occupy the room where Pope Leo XIII died. Dr. Amico watches at the bedside of his holiness throughout the night.
 c-.ar,,,. ;r +ha ,,oupto;,c oauSad tho temperature to drop to 80 degrees, which gave his holiness some relief from the heat. Only a few times during the night were the prescribed medicines admins tered, Dr. Amico aiming chiefly to keep up the strength of the patients heart. His holiness. however took some broth with the yolk of an egg in it and small glass of old red wine. In the early even ing the patient slept for several hours, awakening about midnight. Shortly aft erwards he again went into a refreshing sleep.
 The Associated Press had an interview with Anna and Maria, the sisters of the pope as they left the vatican this even Ing Both said their brother was much better.
 He Is an old man, poor bepi," added one of the sisters, "but he is stronger than people believe. All of our family have lived to ripe old ages"
 Despite his illness, his holiness today ratified the decision of the Concitorial con- gregation, appointing the Right Rev. J. J. Keane, now bishop of Cheyenne. as archbishop of Dubuque, and the Right Rev. Joseph Schrems, auxiliary bishop Of Grand Rapids. to be bishop of the new diocese established at Toledo, which had been detached from the diocese of Cleve- land.
 The Pope was somewhat worried to- day over the illness of his sister, Rosa, who Is suffering from the effect of the unusually hot weather. He asked Dr. Pet taci to visit her twice daily. The other two sisters, Anna and Maria, and the Pope's niece. Cilda, are caring for both patients, and frequently went from one to the other throughout the day.
 Cardinal Merry del Val, the papal sec retary of state, who went to his summer residence at Monte Marie late yester- day, returned today, not wishing to be long absent from the vatican while the af thn