CLAUDE BERNARD 577 



in this way two well-furnished laboratories, one at the Sorbonne and the 

 other at the Jardin des Plantes, where he held the chair of general 

 physiology. Thenceforth, his life was full of distinction and honor. 

 In 1868, he was elected to the Academie Franchise and became one of 

 the "Immortals." 



He was separated from his wife and children and lived by himself 

 on the Rue des Ecoles, opposite the chief entrance to the College de 

 France. He was always retiring and shrank from social distinctions. 

 Foster thus describes him: 



Tall in stature, with a fine presence, with a noble head, the eyes full at once 

 of thought and kindness, he drew the look of observers on him wherever he ap- 

 peared. As he walked in the streets passers by might be heard to say, "I 

 wonder who that is; he must be some distinguished man." 



He was a great friend of Berthelot, the chemist, and Eenan, the 

 philosopher, both of whom were his colleagues at the college. Hia 

 pupils worshiped him. 



Bernard was seized by a chill in the laboratory, developed an acute 

 affection of the kidneys, and died, after a lingering illness, February 10, 

 1878. He was accorded a public funeral at the expense of the state, an 

 honor previously bestowed upon none but statesmen, princes and sol- 

 diers. France paid her highest tribute to this quiet man of science who 

 had contributed much, by fact and inspiration, to the advancement of 

 the knowledge of physiological phenomena. 



What were the attributes of mind and character which made Ber- 

 nard a genius as an investigator ? 



His conscientious adherence to truth at all times need not be em- 

 phasized, as that is necessary for all true scientists, great or mediocre. 

 His greatest attribute may have been his fruitful imagination, always 

 under control, active before and after an experiment and asleep when 

 observations were being made. Imagination is necessary to produce 

 original hypotheses and it must be tempered with judgment to produce 

 hypotheses capable of being put to experimental test. Bernard consid- 

 ered none but those of practical value, capable of being proved right or 

 wrong. His readiness to turn aside from a line of research to take up a 

 new inquiry suggested by some observed fact was remarkable for its 

 frequent though opportune use. When to turn aside and when not to 

 do so demands the mind of a genius for solution. 



A thing of practical importance and of great value to him was his 

 manual dexterity. In such experiments as some of his, a poor dissection 

 or bunglesome manipulation might easily have complicated the experi- 

 mental conditions so that the results would have been difficult of cor- 

 rect interpretation and a false step at any point might have led him 

 astray. 



