The World - News from Sept. 29, 1988

Japanese Emperor Hirohito received another blood transfusion and more intravenous doses of nutrients, and a Tokyo newspaper said the 87-year-old monarch’s strength was waning dangerously after nine days without solid food. The .43-pint transfusion was Hirohito’s eighth in six days and brought the total since his condition worsened on Sept. 19 to 6.8 pints. Palace officials said earlier that the emperor had discharged a small amount of blood, a sign his internal bleeding had not stopped. Chief palace physician Akira Takagi said the large transfusions apparently do not harm Hirohito’s heart or kidney functions.