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CHAPTER XIII. 



CONCLUSION. 



SOME idea of the general course of my father's health may 

 have been gathered from the letters given in the preceding 

 pages. The subject of health appears more prominently 

 than is often necessary in a Biography, because it was, 

 unfortunately, so real an element in determining the outward 

 form of his life. 



During the last ten years of his life the state of his health 

 was a cause of satisfaction and hope to his family. His con- 

 dition showed signs of amendment in several particulars. 

 He suffered less distress and discomfort, and was able to 

 work more steadily. Something has been already said of 

 Dr. Bence Jones's treatment, from which my father certainly 

 derived benefit. In later years he became a patient of 

 Sir Andrew Clark, under whose care he improved greatly 

 in general health. It was not only for his generously ren- 

 dered service that my father felt a debt of gratitude towards 

 Sir Andrew Clark. He owed to his cheering personal 

 influence an often-repeated encouragement, which latterly 

 added something real to his happiness, and he found sincere 

 pleasure in Sir Andrew's friendship and kindness towards 

 himself and his children. 



Scattered through the past pages are one or two references 

 to pain or uneasiness felt in the region of the heart. How 

 far these indicate that the heart was affected early in life, 

 I cannot pretend to say ; in any case it is certain that he 

 had no serious or permanent trouble of this nature until 



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