Norwich bulletin., 1912-07-30
Brigbt's Disease
 Claims Mikado
EMPEROR OF JAPAN DIES AFTER
 LONG ILLNEss
SUCCEEDED BY HIS SON
Accession csrsmoniss Begun Imme-
 diatsIy After Announcement of Mu+suhitO's Dsath-FamiIy Present.

Tokio, July s0-Mutsuhito, for forty four years emperor of Japan. died at 12.4S o'clock this morning. Yoshihito Haru-No- -Miya reigns under the for mula provided by the constitution promulgated by Mutsuhito. "The king Is dead. Long live the king"
 Mutsuhito, who was the .121st en- peror of Japan. passed gently away. lie had been unconscious for many hours before death, and the empress. the crown prince and the prominent officials of the household and govern mont were at the bedside.
 Dowaser Empress Loyal to End.
 Haruko Now, dowager empress. yields to Princess Sadako. the young empress, who is the mother of three sons. Haruko has won universal sym pathy because of her untiring vigil in the sick room, where she remained continuously for ten days. Even on the last day she pitifully begged the physicians to secure & short respite for the dying emperor
 Everything known to science was done to prolong the life of the en- peror. The whole nation watched pa- thetically, because the death of the sovereign would establish a new rec ord in the history of Japan. and the people clung almost fiereely to the tra- ditions with which the dying monarch appeared indissolubly linked.
 Death Due to 6right's Disease.
 The outcome was in evidence from the first acute developments on July l9. Death was due to acute nephritis, otherwise known as Bright's disease. This was complicated by diabetes and an intestinal affection. As is usual in such cases, the patient on occasions showed marked signs of improvement, followed by relapse. After July 25 the condition of the emperor gradually became worse, with high fever, weak and irregular pulse and shallow respi- ration.
 Preparations for the End.
 When the physicians recognized the hopelessness of the case, every prep aration was made for the end. The imperial princess, the ministers and notability were summoned to the pal ace and remained, in the outer rooms for hours. A few of the oldest, who have been closely associated with the empire, were permitted to see the en- peror, while the public. contrary to custom, were taken into the confidence VI bAAC pAlSblCid1lo, WHO lSSu6Q DulleLlnE hourly, giving details of the progress of the disease. Even the last announce ment-that of the death of the emperor was made within an hour.
 2o,0oo Subjects Outside the Gate.
 At the end, more than twenty thou sand subjects silently paid their last homage outside the palace gates. It was a marvellous scene when messen- gers silently mingled with the crowds and posted announcements of the em- peror's death. Deep emotion swept the multitude, but there was no evidence of excitement, the only sound was a long drawn sigh of sorrow. Within the palace the waiting imperial princes and notabilities were informed of the death, whereupon without delay the accession ceremonies were begun at the imperial sanctuary.
 The Accession Ceremonies.
 At 1 o'clock the shrine was dec orated, according to the Shinto rites. Prince Iwakura, the chief ritualist, of ficiated, laying the offering on the sa- cred altar. He was assisted by a sub ordinate. who rang a bell while the offerings were being placed.
 The oath was read in the presence of the ministers of state, the counsel lors and other dignitaries.