The New York herald., 1921-02-17
Holding His Own at Mid
night, but Physicians Can
Give No Assurance That
He Will Live.
RALLIES. BUT IS WEAK
Shows Great Determination
to RecOver-Smiles at Wife
and Baby During In
tervals of Coma.
INTEREST IS WIDESPREAD
Vanderbilt Hotel Receives Ten
Telephone Calls a Minute
Asking of the Singers
Condition.

Enrico Caruso lay last night in
zenith floor OF the Hotel Vanderbilt
making a gallant fight for his life.
with the odds stacked against him
While 1t was announced that his con-
dition was unchanged. and that hopes
we're held out for his recovery, ply
sicians admitted that the case was
practically out of the hands of science
and that they could give no assur-
ance that he would live.
Yesterday was a critical day for
Caruso. Following the serious break
down which occurred late Tuesday
night he rallied. but remained very
weak From 10 o'clock yesterday
morning until late last night there
was little change in his condition. He
was In a coma most of the time. Now
and then he rallied enough to smile
at his wife, who has been at his bed
side since his relapse. or TO allow his
face to light up at the sight or his
ey. Gloria, who was brought into
the room several times and whose
presence cncered him noticeably.
After consultation at lo:45 o'clock
last night the attending physicians is
sued the following bulletin:
"Caruso has passed Il critical day.
His condition is unchanged The Sc
rious collapse OF last night has not
been repeated"
| The bulletin was signed by Or. John
=. Erdnann, Or. Samuel W. Lambert,
DIR. Evan NJ Evans. DIR. Antonio Stella
and DR.. Francis.J. Murray.
The Midnight Bulletin.
At I2 rs this morning Bruno Zirato.
secretary to Caruso gave out the fol-
lowing:
This Is the last news I am able 70
give you. Mr.. Caruso Is unchanged. He
is fighting bravely and he Is holding his
own. DR.. Stella and Dr. Murray arc et
his bedside. So is Mrs Caruso. We cx-
pect his boy from Culver nj Q 80 a. ".
Nobody ever sees Mr.. Csruso except his
physicians. the nurses. Mrs. Caruso. his
two Wallets and myself. Thank YOU and
pray hard for him.
At a:45 DR.. Stella gave out state
nent. In which DR.. Evans concurred.
describing carusos condition and ex-
planning the collapse.
Mr.. and Mrs rsrk Benjamin. Jr.. and
Romaine BENJAMIN were in the room ad-
joining the sick room.
There was a hushed atmosphere about
the Vanderbilt. Little groups In the
lobby stood with their heads together.
talking about Caruso; a line Of opcratic
stars. including Titta Ruffo. Mario
Guardabassi and Ricardo Martin. in
qured about his condition. the bcllboys
vent through the lobby paging people.
but in whispers. And off 10 one side the
hotel orchestra played operatic airs
When they struck an aria from Pag-
liacci, the eyes OF many persons went
wet.
The o O'Clock Bulletin.
Or. Stella's bulletin. given out at BIS
o'clock last night, follows:
"Caruso's condition is very much more
favorable tonight than this morning.
His pulse is better and h.s temperature
two degrees lower than this morning
We have great hopes for his recovery.
although he is still very sick man
Part OF this Improvement Is due 70 his
strong constitution. his mental attituds
and the fact that his wife has been con-
sanity at his bedside since last night
He has been IN and on. OF coma all day
long Suppuraticn has weakened hin,
and has affected his heart. A relapse
like this is TO be expected IN forty per
cent of pleurIsy cases. Oxygen was
administered as a therapeutic to ease in
flammation OF the lungs. What words
he has spoken show great determine
tion TO live
AZ 80 O'Clock four additional tanks
Of oxygen were brought In at the Thirty
Third street entrance OF the hotel lt
was feared that this supply might be
needed at any time during the night
Cntil Dr. Stella's statement there was a
general impression that the oxygen was
given 10 stimulate heart action. but Il
really was given to heal the wound ia
the lungs and TO reduce Inflammation.
Antonio scotti, barytonc Of the Metro
politan Opera Company and a closs
friend cf Caruso's. came into the lobby
cf the Vanderbilt at ? O'Clock. From
the first the hcartbrokcn Scott whose
only New Years wish was that the great
Caruso might be we'll and sing again,
has believed that the tenor would re-
cover Scott smiled when approached
by reporters and declared again that
Caruso would live even though the crit
lcal period had not yet been passed.
Recognizes Hts Fricud.
Scotti was at Csruso'e bedside for
long periods since o'clock yesterday
morning. Two or three times the tene-
smiled at his friend. recognizing him.
but he was unable 70 speak.
At $40 O'Clock last night close
friend OF the family said that he had
found Caruso resting comfortably. Mre