THE DISEASES OF SILK WORMS 139 



which promised recovery. Deeply afflicted by these 

 sorrows Pasteur sought consolation in work. The 

 intense and arduous life which he had been leading 

 brought on in 1868 a stroke of paralysis that seri- 

 ously threatened his life. Beginning with a strange 

 tingling on the left side followed by a chill, the 

 attack did not prevent Pasteur from reading a 

 paper before the Academy which he was especially 

 desirous of presenting. In the evening a more 

 severe attack followed which for a time deprived 

 him of speech. The best medical aid was sum- 

 moned, and for several days his family and friends 

 watched him with the greatest anxiety. Intermit- 

 tent states of paralysis alternated with intervals in 

 which his mind was clear. Despondently he said 

 to Deville, who was watching by his bedside, "I 

 am sorry to die; I wanted to render many more 

 services to my country." "Be assured," replied 

 Deville, "you are going to recover; you will make 

 still more marvelous discoveries; you will live 

 happy days. You will live longer than I, for I am 

 your senior. Promise me that you will pronounce 

 my funeral oration. ... I wish you would, be- 

 cause you would speak well of me." Pasteur did 

 not then know that he was to perform this sad 

 service. 



