242 JOSEPH HENRY GILBERT 



their experiments on pigs that fat was undoubtedly produced 

 from carbohydrates. The German physiologists doubted this, 

 and for some time there was a wordy warfare between the rival 

 camps. Gradually the experimental evidence for the formation 

 of fats from carbohydrates became overwhelming, and once 

 again the Rothamsted position was vindicated. 



Gilbert maintained throughout his life a close connection 

 with foreign workers, and his holidays were frequently employed 

 in visiting institutions and attending scientific meetings on the 

 Continent. He made three visits to the United States and 

 Canada and delivered several lectures there. 



As he passed into old age his powers seemed to suffer little 

 diminution, and his appearance at the age of eighty showed little 

 indication of physical weakness. The death of Sir John Lawes in 

 August 1900 was a severe blow to him, and soon afterwards his 

 energies began to fail. He had a severe illness whilst away in 

 Scotland in the autumn of 1901, but he recovered sufificiently to 

 be able to return to his work for a short time. With the in- 

 domitable tenacity which had characterised him throughout life 

 he continued actively at work for a few more weeks, eventually 

 succumbing on December 23rd, 1901, in his eighty-fifth year. 



Thanks are due to Dr J. A. Voelcker for kind assistance; 

 and to the Royal Agricultural College Students' Club, Cirencester, 

 for permission to reproduce the accompanying photograph. 



