CHAPTEK 



DR. KANE'S LAST LABORS, ILLNESS, AND DEATH. 



THE mental and physical labor involved in the 

 preparation of the narrative of his second Arctic 

 Expedition exerted a pernicious influence on Dr. 

 Kane's health. His active habits had rendered him 

 in a great measure unfit for the confining and 

 sedentary toil involved in such an undertaking. 

 After suffering severely from the scurvy during 

 many months of his absence, the first necessity of 

 his system was relaxation and amusement ; instead 

 of which he devoted himself continuously and labo- 

 riously to the completion of the task which he had 

 designated for himself. 



The anxieties attendant upon the composition of 

 this work were increased by the attempt which was 

 made by those pecuniarily interested in its future sale, 

 to obtain an appropriation from Congress for the 

 purchase of a large number of copies. The represen- 

 tatives from Philadelphia, Messrs. Tyson and Flo- 

 rence, particularly interested themselves in this 

 effort. They were aided by other statesmen of 



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