214 LOUIS AGASSIZ. [CHAP. xxm. 



the larynx rapidly developed ; and all the care and skill 

 of Dr. Brown-Sequard, then in New York, who came 

 at once to the side of his friend, and of another friend, 

 Dr. Morrill Wyman, could not stay the mortal disease. 



Agassiz had been in great dread of softening of the 

 brain, of which his friend, Professor Bache, had died in 

 1866, after a very long and most painful illness. He 

 often expressed the hope that he should disappear sud- 

 denly ; and his wish was in great part realized, for he 

 lingered only eight days. It was, however, hard for 

 him to die just when fortune had at last smiled on 

 him and all his children ; and when everything was 

 ready for the realization of the two dreams of his life, 

 a great museum and a practical school of zoology ; 

 but the old Arab proverb proved true also for him : 

 "When the house is ready, death walks in." 



He had so many schemes, and was so full of projects, 

 that desire to prolong life was still very strong in him, 

 even after he was stricken by such a grave illness. The 

 presence at his bedside of the great physiologist, Dr. 

 Brown-Sequard, encouraged him, and it was not until 

 the last clay that he gave up all hope. During his 

 short illness, which was undisturbed by acute suffer- 

 ing, he received every comfort which his family could 

 divine. 



Agassiz resumed his native language as soon as Dr. 

 Brown-Sequard came, and used it until the end. When 

 all hope of recovery was given up, during the last eigh- 

 teen hours, he often said, " Tout est fini ! " And when 

 the last moments came, all retired to the adjoining 

 room to let him finish his life in complete quietness; 



