DR. BARNARD OFF AIRCRAFT; ARRIVING AT HOSPITAL; CHILD PATIENTS.




Initials PK/V/PW/OS



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Background: SOUTH AFRICAN HEART SURGEON DR. CHRISTIAN BARNARD TODAY (THURSDAY) ARRIVED IN ROME TO EXAMINE A GROUP OF AILING ITALIAN CHILDREN. HIS VISIT FOLLOWED AN APPEAL FROM ACTRESS SOPHIA LOREN.

DR. BARNARD LATER WENT TO THE MOSCATI CLINIC, WHERE HE SAW SEVEN CHILD PATIENTS, ALL SAID TO BE SUFFERING FROM HEART AILMENTS.

THE DOCTOR TOLD PRESSMEN HE WAS SURE THE CONDITIONS OF ALL EXCEPT TWO OF THE CHILDREN HE EXAMINED COULD BE CORRECTED.

HE ADVISED THE PARENTS OF ONE NINE-YEAR-OLD "BLUE BABY", PAOLO FIOCCA, TO SEND HIM TO CAPE TOWN FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. MISS LOREN HAD PREVIOUSLY TOLD AN UNCLE OF THE CHILD TO WRITE TO DR. BARNARD, WHOM SHE HAD MET LAST JANUARY, APPEALING FOR HELP.