1904-5. ] NIELS R. FinsEN—HiIs LIFE AND WORK. 131 
to hisfame But he who did so much for others was himself a sufferer from 
a disease which baffled medical men. A few days before his death he 
requested his physicians and friends to perform an autopsy on his body in 
order that, even in death, he might serve his profession. The dissection 
revealed the fact that he had been suffering from slow ossification of the 
heart membrane, a rare disease, which generally results fatally after a much 
shorter period than it did in Finsen’s case. His remarkable will-power 
no doubt prolonged his life for several years; he simply could not leave 
the labour he loved.’’* | 
And so, on Saturday, September 24th, 1904, the ‘‘wolf-slayer’”’ went 
home to rest at last. 
Copenhagen mourned as completely as when six years before her 
beloved Queen Louise died. The whole two miles of the procession was 
lined with respectful, silent crowds. The ceremony took place in the 
Marble Church. The services were attended by King Christian of Den- 
mark, King George of Greece, Her Majesty Queen Alexandra and the 
Princess Victoria, the Dowager Empress of Russia, the Crown Princess of 
Denmark, all the Royalties in Copenhagen at the time. Queen Alexandra 
brought a beautiful wreath, and King Edward sent another from England. 
A deep impression was made when some two hundred persons who had been 
cured of lupus by the late Professor, took their seats among the 
mourners. f 
This paper cannot more appropriately be brought to a close than by 
quoting again from The Spectator: ‘‘One passage out of the many fine 
passages in which Robert Louis Stevenson has written of life and death, 
rises to the memory as a comment on the life of Professor Finsen. 
‘It is better to lose health like a spendthrift than to waste it like a miser. 
It is better to live and be done with it, than to die daily in the sickroom. 
By all means begin your folio; even if the doctor does not give you a year, 
even if he hesitates about a month, make one brave push and see what can 
be accomplished in a week. It is not only in finished undertakings that we 
ought to honour useful labour. A spirit goes out of a man who means exe- 
cution, which outlives the most untimely ending. All who have meant 
good work with their whole hearts, have done good work, although they 
may die before they have the time to sign it. Every heart that has beat 
strong and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, 
and bettered the traditions of mankind.’”’ 
* Quoted in ‘Literary Digest.’ 
+ ‘‘The Graphic,”’ Oct. 8, 1904 
