CHAP. XIIL EDWARD'S HEALTH FAILS. 277 



all his labours, to endure privation, even to the 

 extent of want of oatmeal, that it is scarcely to be 

 wondered at if, at that time, his constitution should 

 have begun to show marks of decay. He had been 

 frequently laid up by colds and rheumatism. Yet, 

 when able to go out again, he usually returned to his 

 old courses. 



At last his health gave way altogether. He was 

 compelled to indulge in the luxury of a doctor. The 

 doctor was called in, and found Edward in a rheu- 

 matic fever, with an ulcerated sore throat. There he 

 lay, poor man, his mind wandering about his birds. 

 He lay for a month. He got over his fever, but he 

 recovered his health slowly. The doctor had a 

 serious talk with him. Edward was warned against 

 returning to his old habits. He was told that al- 

 though his constitution had originally been sound and 

 healthy, it had, by constant exertion and exposure to 

 cold and wet, become impaired to a much greater 

 degree than had at first been supposed. Edward was 

 also distinctly informed that if he did not at once 

 desist from his nightly wanderings, his life would not 

 be worth a farthing. Here, it appeared, was to be 

 the end of his labours in Natural History. 



Next came the question of family expenditure and 

 doctor's bills. Edward had been ill for a month, 

 and the debts incurred during that time must neces- 

 sarily be paid. There was his only Savings Bank 

 his collection of birds to meet the difficulty. He 



