GEORGE ENGELMANN, M.D. 9 



tained by himself and his friends that his health had been re- 

 stored and that his life would yet be spared for a number of years 

 of usefulness ; but a severe winter brought on rheumatic aflec- 

 tions and serious disturbances which lasted until the summer of 

 1883, when he concluded to visit Germany once more. The 

 voyage benefitted him greatly, and at Berlin he felt quite re- 

 stored. Overestimating his strength, he engaged himself so deeply 

 in some scientific investigations and interesting- discussions with 

 his botanical friends that he became exhausted, and, in order to 

 regain his strength, he concluded to take a quiet rest at the home 

 of some relatives at Kreuznach, but without the desired result. 

 Notwithstanding, here he still continued to receive and converse 

 with visitors, from Strassbourg and other places, on interesting- 

 questions, until alarming symptoms appeared. He did not want 

 to die in Europe, but longed for his home in America, and the 

 nearer he approached her shores the more improved his health 

 became. At Cambridge he seemed to be restored ; the improve- 

 ment lasted until after his return to St. Louis ; but, when he was 

 again taken down during that fatjl last week of January, he of- 

 fered no resistiuice, and so ended "his honorable and well-filled 

 life." 



Engelmann's literary productions manifested a mind ol close 

 and acute observation, of critical circumspection, and a clear, 

 conscientious judgment of the points upon which scientific 

 determination depended. He investigated systematically, even 

 laboriously, and never allowed any of his discoveries or new 

 observations to appear before the public unless he himself was 

 thoroughly satisfied with their correctness and completeness. 

 On account of this most severe criticism exacted of himself, his 

 first botanical work published in America became an acknowl- 

 edged master-piece. ''A monography of North American C//s- 

 cutince'- created such a lemarkable sensation among the botan- 

 ists of both hemispheres as to cause its immediate republica- 



