The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-09
POPE HAS RELAPSE
AND CONDITION IS
REGARDED SERIOUS
Claim No Ground for Alarm,
but Physicians in Con-
slant Attendance
GREAT ANXIETY IS
FELT FOR PONTlFF
Sisters Visit Him and He Is
Greatly Cheered by Their
Presence---Pilgrims
Are Denied

ROME. April s.--Pope Plus y SUI
fered a relapse last night, and MS
condition tonight la regarded as eN-
treneiy serious. although the Osser-
vatore Romano. the official organ OF
the Vatican. says there is no ground
for alarm. Nevertheless. his physi-
cians. Professor Marchiafaxa and Dr.
Auici, are In constant attendance on
the pontiff, and many members of the
sacred college are greatly alarmed
over his condition.
After their visit to the pope this
morning Drs. Marchiafava and Amici
called again at noon. They made an
other visit at o'clock, and tonight
after diagnosing the case the ply
sjcians issued an official statement, in
which they stated that the pope had
suffered a relapse of influenza, which
was complicated by catarrh and
fever.
1t is learned indirectly that the
pontifT is also suffering from uremic
crisis with fainting fits, which threaten
utter collapse, but so far this has
been combRtfed successfully by sub
.cutaneous injections Of caffeine and
theo-bromine. and frequent doses of
bitter water.
Great Anxiety Felt.
There Is great anxiety over the con-
dition of the pontiff owing to his
weakness and his age. seventy eight.
troublesome attack Of catarrh ts
fearel and this is apt IN develop a
bronchial character. Beside that his
heart ,s weak and II is feared that
he may not be able to resist the hard
strain. The doctors, however. are
hopeful as the pope overcame the first
crisis. which was very alarming. and
consequently they do not exclude the
possibility Of his recovery
Tonight the OSservatore Romano.
while admitting great care and pre-
cautions are necessary, and that 1t
viii take a long time TO cure the
pope's present Illness. maintains that
there is no ground for apprehension
On the other hand. several of the
cardinals do not conceal their anxiety
as 10 his condition, and the diplomats
assigned to the Vatican have tele-
graphed their governments that Car
dinal Merry Del Val the papal secre-
tary of state. admits that the -eandi-
ton OF the pontiff is serious.
No Public Prayer
Alarming reports are in circulation
The optimism of the Vatican. as re-
fected by the statements IN the ofYl-
ciaf newspaper. is regarded as be-
ing in accordance with its policy Of
hiding even the slightest particulars
or any pope's sickness until he Is ac-
tually dying. Last March when the
doctors were alarmed at the pope's
depression and weakness, his entour-
age denied that there was any cause
for anxiety, and tried to hasten the
resumption of his audiences SO as to
diScredit the reports. Their attitude
now is due to the orders of Plus X
that he does not wish TO alarm the
faithful until his recovery is hope
less, and for this reason he has given
instructions that there shall be no
public prayers for his recovery.
me other day the pope told a
friend that he must work to the ut
most so long as he was able to stand
tfs gave several audiences on April
4th and was tired in the evening.
Nevertheless at o'clock that night
ne began reading his correspondence
and debating replies, He signed a
number of briefs. but was unable 10
resist the fatigue and tainted He
was unconscious for several minutes.
tfis secretaries summoned the vati-
can apothecary who revived the pope
with smelling salts and ether.
Carried to Room.
The attendants persuaded the mona
TO allow himself 10 be carried to his
room. While being undressed he
tainted again. This time his col
lapse was followed by extreme pros
fration. quick pulse and difficult res
piration. The attendants became
panic-stricken, and Cardinal Merry
gel Val took prompt measures TO al
lay this, and prevent the alarm from
spreading. DR.. Amici was summon
ed. and Professor Marchiafava came
later on. He endorsed the treatment
which Dr. Amici had given OF sub
scutaneous Injections of caffeine and
heo-bromina
Professor Marchiafava. although he
regarded the condition OF the pope a.
n ne Mould rely; He held long
Merry Del Val and Insisted thar
period. He threatened TO abandon the
case unless his orders were obeyed
Cheered by Sisters.
Vatican. The pope slept a little. b but
p Was no worse worse ~. Until O'clock in the
that Or. Amici teiephoned to Professor
Marchiafava. notifying him that there
W Was Increased 1rssa depression. Professor
administered; He visited the Vatican
as O'clock in the morning, and found
ana s snere vas shs sight M, improvement
HIM. They did so. and spent two hours
Il the ne ron peipe's bedside. This cheered
rowf"iv ut them and said:
Alas! l am no longer good either
Tor ms self or others"
More than two thousand pilgrims
arrived for an audience In the fore
noon. but they were informed thar
II was impossible for the pope to re-
ceive them. Then they proceeded Ia
st. Peters and prayed for his recovery.
VIII Issue Bulletins.
The Prussian legation at the Vati-
!. can telegraphed ia Berlin this even
~ hat IN" popc's condition is very
critical, and that his death is only
q 0urstinn If DAYS perhaps OF hours