1873.] J-^5 [LeContc. 



The labor of teaching such comprehensive branches of science as Physics 

 and Chemistry, became greatly increased by the rapid developments of 

 modern research, and at length the symptoms of over-fatigue manifested 

 themselves. An obscure affection of the liver had afflicted him for several 

 years, causing frequent and constantly increasing fits of fainting, accom- 

 panied with great bodily prostration. In 1836 he was ordered by his 

 physician to seek, in a four months' trip to Europe, a relief which his family 

 and best friends hardly dared to hope would be afforded him. The effect 

 of this brief relaxation was marvellous : not only was he euabled to resume 

 his duties the following autumn with renewed vigor, but the fainting fits 

 did not recur, except iu one or two isolated instances, and the develop- 

 ment of the hepatic disease seemed to be permanently arrested. Other 

 and equally serious affections resulted from the excessive work to which 

 he again applied himself during the next eleven years, so that another 

 trip to Europe was advised in 1867. This time, sixteen months rest from 

 the labor of teaching, and freedom from anxiety so far restored his health, 

 that on his return,, in the autumn of 1868, he was again able to resume 

 the full duties of his chair. 



These he continued, without intermission, other than that afforded by 

 the usual vacations, until October 12, 1872, the day following the inaugu- 

 ration of the new University Building, in West Philadelphia. He had 

 taken great interest in this improvement of the institution to which he 

 had given the best labor of his life, and had patiently looked forward to 

 it for opportunities of larger usefulness. 



Never, as I have been told by those that saw him on that and the pre- 

 ceding day, had he appeared in better spirits, never more cheerful, 

 although the unusual labor connected with the organization of his depart- 

 ments, and the transfer of the apparatus, with his large scientific library 

 to the shelves in the new building, had entirely exhausted him. 



Withaut premonition of cardiac trouble, which, indeed, though suspec- 

 ted, had never given him any serious inconvenience, and was disregarded 

 in consequence of the graver hepatic disease above mentioned, Prof. 

 Frazer, although much fatigued by the ceremonies of the inauguration of 

 the previous day, went to his laboratory, and having ascended a flight of 

 stairs leading to the apparatus room, dropped suddenly from exhaustion 

 of the heart. Death was instantaneous and although assistance was 

 quickly rendered, all attempts to restore life failed.* 



Having thus mentioned the more prominent events in the public life of 

 our deceased associate, it becomes my more difficult and delicate duty to 

 give an analysis of his character, and to exhibit, in however an imperfect 

 manner, the development of the life of usefulness so abruptly terminated. 



*By a melancholy coincidence, this sad event took place on the very day on which the writer 

 of this memoir returned after a three years 7 absence, in the expectation of renewing the warm 

 and long friendship which had thus been interrupted. It was a painful greeting on arriving at 

 home, instead of receiving the hearty grasp of atfection, to see the dismal badge of woe on the 

 residence of this valued friend. 



A. r. S. — VOL. XIII. X 



