The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-13
'POPE'S CONDITION
 SLOWLY IMPROVES
Distinguished Churchman
 Not COnvalescent
RELAPSE IS POSSIBLE
Depression Which Has Come Over pontiff's Spirits Causes Anxiety to His Physicians s--Continucd
 Hot Weather Dangerous

Rome, August 12-The feeling of ex- treme pessinsm that prevailed with the IT masses until Thursday concerning the health of Pope Plus has now given way to one of great optimism. Up to Thurs day, when a change for the better was noticed, there were those who believed the end was approaching. Today the same people are responsible for reports that the holy father is almost wel--that he is walking about his room and even work ing
 Those reports are absurd. The violence of paints in the gouty leg has decreased. While the swelling of the effected mem Der is less than during the early part of as to prevent the normal use of the leg. Above all, however. the weakness of the pontiff and the depression that has fallen uron him are far from having been over come and in the opinion of the physici- ans remains the greatest drawback to his recovery.
 It all goes well. the doctors say, and especially if the weather remains cool two weeks must elapse before the pontin enters into the period of convalescence. If there should be a return of the ex- cessive heat, serious fears, are entertained of a relapse. Their orders are that the patient shall remain within his cham ber practically upon his bed. That he is pe rmitted now and then to sit in his arm chair is because of a desire to relieve rest lessness.
 This afternoon the Pope in conversa- ton more prolonged than usual during the past several days. urged Cardinal Merry del Val. the papal secretary of state, to go as he had planned to his villa at Monte Mario tomorrow.
 Dr. Pettacci and Professor Marchia tava were at the bedside for more than an hour this forenoon. The kidneys were examined, but nothing unfavorable in this respect being discovered, except of insig- nificant cases of calculai.
 The Pope did not get up this morning, asserting he felt better in bed than in the chair which he had occupied at times yesterday.
 The pontiff. however had a rather restless night and towards midnight was awakened by return of the burning sensation in his gouty knee The doctors were able to relieve him and two hours later he was said to be sleep ing well. The physicians thought the heat and over-exertion of yesterday aft ernoon when he felt so much better were chiefly the causes of his residences.
 This afternoon the approach of a vio- lent electrical storm caused the pope a headache and feeling of oppression.
 It is reported that Cardinal Rampolla, while at Einsdelin, Switzerland, met a prominent Austrian. who notified him that independent of the bull issued by Pope Plus forbidding Catholic powers to veto Candidates for the papacy. should a conclave be held. Austria would op- pose the election of Rampolla.
 Cardinal Rampolla was secretary of state for Pope Leo XIII and was fre- quently mentioned as his successor in the pontifcate. It was reported that his candidacy was vetoed py Austria. In the first year of his reign Pope Plus X pronounced denunciation and pro- hibition of every kind of intrusion oi civil authority or influence in the cleo ton of a Roman pontiff.
 The Popes eldest brother, Angelo, who is living in northern Italy, is anxious concerning his borther's con- dition, and today telegrapred that he was about to start to Rome to em- brace my beloved Giuseppe" should he be near death. His sisters replied that the pontin was wholly out of danger. The Pope's sister Rosa. who has been affected by the warm weather, was better today, and this news re- lieved the pontiff.