CHAPTER V 



Leo Metchnikofl's illness Private tutors Botanical studies 

 A memorable birthday. 



IN 1851, in the middle of the winter, the Metchni- 

 koffs heard that Leo, their second son, was suffering 

 from hip-disease, and the doctors advised that he should 

 be taken away from Petersburg. Poor Emilia Lvovna 

 was in great despair and shed many tears ; her 

 brother-in-law, Dmitri Ivanovitch, calmly announced 

 that he was going to fetch Leo. He took his great 

 fur coat, his fur cap and fur-lined boots, and started 

 that very day for Petersburg by coach. He took but 

 the necessary time to go and to bring Leo back, only 

 stopping at relays to change horses. 



The boy was then thirteen years old, handsome, 

 gifted, and intelligent ; he walked with crutches, but 

 his general health seemed good, and it was decided 

 that he should work at home to prepare for the Lycee, 

 under the tuition of students as tutors. Thus a new 

 element was introduced into the family life. 



In 1853 Leo had as a tutor a student named 

 Hodounof , a very intelligent young man, who wished 

 not merely to teach him but to impart to him the 

 love of science. Leo was extremely gifted and worked 

 with great facility, but he lacked concentration and 

 was therefore somewhat superficial. This cooled his 

 tutor's enthusiasm, whilst on the other hand he 



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