1868.] ~ Chemistry. 229 
compass of a single, the first, volume of the eight volume edition 
of his works by Dr. Davy. 
In 1839 Dr. Davy again left England to undertake the hope- 
less task of reforming the Turkish hospital system. A tour of 
inspecting service in the West Indies during the years 1845-8 
terminated his active professional career, and he retired to what 
to most men would have been well-earned leisure at Ambleside. 
But leisure with Dr. Davy only meant time to occupy himself with 
his favourite pursuits; and up to the period of his last illness he 
continued an active investigator of facts, and a writer of papers and 
of books. A mere catalogue of the subjects of his investigations, 
and the titles of his papers and books, would occupy too consider- 
able a space. We may mention three, however,—a second series 
of “Anatomical and Physiological Researches ;” another entitled 
“Army Diseases, with Contributions to Pathology,” embodying the 
results of his experience as an army physician; and the “ Frag- 
mentary Remains of Sir Humphry Davy,” from which, as having 
been published in his later years, and including many of his 
earlier papers, an adequate knowledge may be gained of the various 
fields of labour upon which he entered. 
One of his latest publications was a successful vindication in 
the ‘Philosophical Magazine’ of Sir Humphry Davy’s reputation 
from certain assertions made by Mr. Babbage. In this task he 
was assisted by the late Sir James South. His very latest paper, 
“Qn the Temperature of the Common Fowl,” was read before the 
Royal Society of Edinburgh a few weeks after his death. The 
subject of animal temperature occupied him more or less the greater 
part of his life. Wherever he happened to be, he was busy with 
his thermometer, which found its way into the mouths of all sorts of 
animals, including the tiger, the leopard, the Indian elephant, the 
shark, and the adder. 
Dr. Davy was seized with his last illness on January 15th, and 
died on the 24th, at the advanced age of 78. His first paper was 
published in 1811, his last this year. Thus his activity as an ex- 
perimenter and author is seen to have lasted over fifty years. We 
have before expressed our regret that he did not confine himself to 
the study of chemistry. Anatomists and physiologists will probably 
regret that his attention was not concentrated on their sciences. 
He was, indeed, calculated to shine in any pursuit that requires 
patient and laborious investigations, for therein lay his strength. 
For mere hypothesis he had small respect, but spoke in praise of 
theories which in his first paper he defined as “ generalizations 
upon observed facts.” He made it his business, however, to observe 
the facts, and we may rest assured that he who generalizes upon the 
observations of John Davy has a safe foundation. Such as he are 
the men who really advance science. 
