Hirohito’s Condition Worsens Slightly

Emperor Hirohito’s condition took a slight turn for the worse Wednesday as doctors attempted to give the 87-year-old monarch two blood transfusions but had to cut the second one short when his body rejected it.

Court physicians gave Hirohito a half pint of blood in the afternoon but stopped a second transfusion in the evening after only a quarter pint because of a sudden rise in his pulse and blood pressure, a palace spokesman said.

Hirohito, the oldest of the world’s living monarchs, is battling a relapse of presumed abdominal cancer that began with heavy internal bleeding Sept. 19.