LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 255 



and it was only on the llth that Dr. Renon could give 

 him a consultation at the Laennec Hospital. He found 

 Metchnikoff's heart very tired and nervous, prescribed a 

 treatment, and told us to come back in twenty-five days. 



But the disease was making giant strides. In the 

 night of the 12th to 13th a first attack of cardiac 

 asthma supervened, an extremely painful one ; we 

 had the impression that the end was near. Elie 

 suffered agonies but remained morally calm and 

 ready for death, as he had ever been since his first 

 heart attack, two years previously. He repeated that 

 he had accomplished his task and run through his 

 vital cycle ; that what he could yet do would be but 

 a supplement, and that it was better to die than to 

 outlive his own decadence. 



He only wished not to suffer too long, but that 

 humble desire was not to be realised. We spent two 

 more nights at Sevres, terrible nights not to be 

 forgotten if one had centuries to live, and we then 

 decided to go to a nursing home in Paris, as it was 

 imprudent to remain any longer isolated as we were. 



Having heard of Metchnikoff's illness, Dr. Roux 

 offered to receive us at the Pasteur Institute in a 

 small lodging which was now free, the house-physician 

 who had occupied it having been killed. 



Dr. Widal, in whom Metchnikoff had absolute con- 

 fidence, came to Sevres on the 14th and found myo- 

 carditis. Thanks to an absolutely incomprehensible 

 phenomenon, Elie had suddenly ceased to realise the 

 rapidity of his pulse ; he had 160 beats in a minute 

 and only perceived less than half ; it was therefore 

 easy to keep the truth from him. 



After a last night of suffering we left our Sevres 

 nest, which we had so loved. Leaning on my arm, 



