ch. xviii.] CONCLUSION. 347 



his steps to my house. However, after he had returned 

 part of the way he seems to have felt better, for he again 

 changed his mind, and proceeded to find a cab." 



During the last week of February and in the beginning 

 of March, attacks of pain in the region of the heart, with 

 irregularity of the pulse, became frequent, coming on in- 

 deed nearly every afternoon. A seizure of this sort occurred 

 about March 7, when he was walking alone at a short dis- 

 tance from the house ; he got home with difficulty, and this 

 was the last time that he was able to reach his favourite 

 1 Sand-walk.' Shortly after this, his illness became obvious- 

 ly more serious and alarming, and he was seen by Sir 

 Andrew Clark, whose treatment was continued by Dr. 

 Norman Moore, of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and Dr. 

 Allfrey, at that time in practice at St. Mary Cray. He 

 suffered from distressing sensations of exhaustion and 

 faintness, and seemed to recognise with deep depression 

 the fact that his working days were over. He gradually 

 recovered from this condition, and became more cheerful 

 and hopeful, as is shown in the following letter to Mr. 

 Huxley, who was anxious that my father should have 

 closer medical supervision than the existing arrangements 

 allowed : 



Down, March 27, 1882. 



My dear Huxley, Your most kind letter has been a 

 real cordial to me. I have felt better to-day than for three 

 weeks, and have felt as yet no pain. Your plan seems an 

 excellent one, and I will probably act upon it, unless I get 

 very much better. Dr. Clark's kindness is unbounded to 

 me, but he is too busy to come here. Once again, accept 

 my cordial thanks, my dear old friend. I wish to God there 

 were more automata* in the world like you. 



Ever yours, 



Ch. Dakwih. 



The allusion to Sir Andrew Clark requires a word of ex- 

 planation. Sir Andrew himself was ever ready to devote 

 himself to my father, who however, could not endure the 

 thought of sending for him, knowing how severely his great 

 practice taxed his strength. 



* The allusion is to Mr. Huxley's address, " On the hypothesis that ani- 

 mals are automata, and its history," given at the Belfast Meeting of the Brit- 

 ish Association, 1874, and republished in Science and Culture. 



