CHAPTER XVI. 



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, un- 

 fortunately, so real an element in determining the outward 

 form of his life. 



During the last ten years of his life the condition of his 

 health was a cause of satisfaction and hope to his family. 

 His condition showed signs of amendment in several particu- 

 lars. 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 influ- 

 ence an often-repeated encouragement, which latterly added 

 something real to his happiness, and he found sincere pleas- 

 ure in Sir Andrew's friendship and kindness towards himself 

 and his children. 



Scattered through the past pages are one or two refer- 

 ences 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 



