Emperor Of Japan At Point Of Death.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 29, 1912:
All Hope Is Abandoned and Imperial Princes Are Called to Palace.
COLLAPSED IN AFTERNOON
Stimulants Fall to Help Him — Temperature High, Heart Weak, Breathing Shallow.
    TOKIO, Monday. July 20.— The condition of the Emperor of Japan is such as to cause all hope of his recovery to he abandoned. From dawn he has been unconscious. An examination by the Court physicians at 6 o'clock in the morning disclosed a high temperature, weak and rapid pulse, and shallow respiration, which was greatly accelerated from the previous night.
    At 6 o'clock the official bulletin gave the pulse as 120 and respiration 48. At 9 o'clock his pulse had increased to 130 and was extremely weak and irregular.
    The critical condition of the Emperor was announced in a bulletin last evening, and all the Imperial Princes were summoned to the palace. The physicians employed artificial measures to prolong life, but the injection of stimulants seemed to be of little avail. The temperature rose
from 100 to 102.3, which, with the increased heart action and shallow breathing, indicated that the Emperor could not for long withstand the calls upon his strength.
    The Crown Prince and the Princes of the Imperial family, the members of the Cabinet, and Councillors remained at the palace throughout the night. The Ministers gathered in a room adjoining the sick chamber. The Empress retained her post at the bedside. Her unremitting vigil commands admiration everywhere.
    Throughout the night diplomats and officials visited the palace. The American Ambassador, Charles Page Bryan, called at midnight.
A great multitude of people gathered in the outside park, praying and crying. The noise of their wooden clogs on the loose pebbles in the roadways was audible within the palace itself.
    Since July 19, the date of the first serious attack, the Emperor has been in a critical condition, and his life has been maintained only by the use of injections, oxygen, and hot and cold packs. Reports from the sick room on several occasions brought hope to the people that the life of the Emperor might be prolonged, but the physicians issued a warning that a considerable period of time would have to elapse before assurances could be given regarding the outcome of the disease from which he was suffering.
    The collapse of the Emperor became noticeable yesterday afternoon. An official bulletin announced that his pulse and respiration had become so irregular that it was impossible to take a count. The cramp had also developed in the arms and legs, and the injections of medicine were proving wholly ineffective. It was recognized then that the Emperor was sinking rapidly.
    The manner in which the public has been taken into confidence by the officials regarding the Emperor's condition is an entirely new phase, and is much appreciated. One of the most prominent writers and a high authority on the history of Japan says that in 2,500 years the nation was never so close to the Emperor.
    There is some indication of discontent with the attending physicians who are charged with adhering too closely to the convention surrounding the person of his Majesty, but prominent physician's outside the Court believe that everything possible has been done of late, though possibly in the earlier stages of the disease the Court physicians, who are of the old school, hesitated to place too strict injunctions upon the Emperor.
    The authorities are urging the people not to neglect their business or the necessary activities of life. As a result, except for the theatres and musical entertainments, the life of the city moves almost normally, but there is a perceptible depression among even the lowest subjects.