Evening star., 1921-08-04
Did All Humanity Possible, Says
Italy's Greatest Surgeon.

ROME. August 4.-The American
| doctors who attended Enrico Caruso
| in New York during his critical i'll
ness last winter did "al1 that was
! humanity possible under the condi-
tions Of the patient; they could not
| do more"
This opinion was given to the As
sociated Press today by DR.. Ranaeie
Bastianelli, reputed to be the great
est surgeon in Italy. who with his
brother Giuseppe attended the famous
singer when he suffered the relapse
last week which led to his death.
Regarding Caruso's Illness In Amerl-
ca, DR.. Bastianelli said. 1T was un-
! Immediately put the patient in such a
| grave condition that it must be con-
| sidered a miracle that the American
doctors succeeded in saving his life"
| Recounts Last Days.
! Recounting the last few days of
Caruso's illness, the femous surgeon
said:
~, with my brother Giuseppe, Wis
tied Caruso professionally on July % at
Sorrento. After a careful examination
we both agreed that the present and
past suffering of the great tenor was
! derived from subrenal abScesS,
probably in the left kidney.
1--WE Immediately decided that Ca
russo should be taken to Rome and
submitted to an X-ray examination in
| order to complete our diagnosis, and
also as guide for the operation
which was to have been executed i'm.
mediately after. At that time Ca
ruso's condition was relatively good.
This was emphasized by the fact that
he laughed and joked with us, ex-
planning by operate motions how he
| sang.
| 80 strong was he then that he
| stood up before us and made a mo-
! ton of singing in the act of reaching
high notes in the midst of dramatic
setting: Then he said. loosely:
"'When l was about to reach
| America something caught me in the
throat. I put my hand to my mouth
in an effort to regain myself, when
out spurted mouthful of blood
"Caruso laughed as he demonstrate
ed this condition to u.s."
Wanted to Resume Career.
His chief thought was that Of re-
suming his career and being able to
return to the stage and sing again.
chatted and talked apparently at ease,
comfortably exhibiting in that big,
robust physique his ideas with ges-
lures and smiles Therefore our
Rome. where the operation could be
performed under conditions where
hospital appliances were more COM
plete and modern to handle his case"
Returning to the subject of Caruso's
illness in America, the surgeon said
that the grave complication of Ca
ruso's ailment at that time absorbed
the entire attention of the doctors,
who could not occupy themselves
with anything else than to attend to
it, but we know that DR.. Erdmann
Gone Of the American physicians who
attended Caruso) realized the exist
ence Of the subrenal abscess.
Showed Greatest Skill.
"The American doctors showed the
greatest professional skill and tech
nique in the operation they performe ed.
Their work commands the greatest
admiration and respect, increasing
the deserved fame which American
doctors enjoy throughout the world"
AS a parting word, the famous
Italian surgeon said to the cor
respondent:
whatever you can say in praise
Of American doctors. say 1t as COM
ing from me-"
His brother. Giuseppe, is known as
Italy's greatest physician. Both spe-
cialists married American women. DR..
Raffaele Bastianellrs wife was Miss
Lucille Loomis Of Oil City, Pa, and
DR.. Giuseppe Bastianellfs wife was
Miss Marion Rawle Of Philadelphia.
SPENT EARNINGS FREELY.