Ch. XVHL] CONCLUSION. 327 



March 7, when he was walking alone at a short distance 

 from the house ; he got home with difficulty, and this was 

 the last time that ho was able to reach his favourite * Sand- 

 walk.' Shortly after this, his illness became obviously more 

 serious and alarming, and he was seen by Sir Andrew Clark, 

 whose treatment was continued by Dr. Norman Moore, of 

 St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and Dr. Allfrey, at that time 

 in practice at St. Mary Cray. He suffered from distressing 

 sensations of exhaustion and faintness, and seemed to recognise 

 with deep depression the fact that his working days were 

 over. He gradually recovered fr&m this condition, and became 

 more cheerful and hopeful, as is shown in the following letter 

 to Mr. Huxley, who was anxious that my father should have 

 closer medical supervision than the existing arrangements 

 allowed : — 



« Down, March 27, 1882. 

 " My dear Huxley, — Your most kind letter has been a real 

 cordial to me. I have felt better to-day than for three weeks, 

 and have felt as yet no pain. Your plan seems an excellent 

 one, and I will probably act upon it, unless I get very much 

 better. Dr. Clark's kindness is unbounded to me, but he is 

 too busy to come here. Once again, accept my cordial thanks, 

 my dear old friend. I wish to God there were more automata * 

 in the world like you. 



" Ever yours, 



" Ch. Dabwin." 



The allusion to Sir Andrew Clark requires a word of ex- 

 planation. Sir Andrew himself was ever ready to devote him- 

 self to my father, who however, could not endure the thought 

 of sending for him, knowing how severely his great practice 

 taxed his strength. 



No especial change occurred during the beginning of April, 

 but on Saturday 15th he was seized with giddiness while 

 sitting at dinner in the evening, and fainted in an attempt to 

 reach his sofa. On the 17th he was again better, and in my 

 temporary absence recorded for me the progress of an experi- 

 ment in which I was engaged. During the night of April 

 18th, about a quarter to twelve, he had a severe attack and 

 passed into a faint, from which he was brought back to 

 consciousness with great difficulty. He seemed to recognise 

 the approach of death, and said, " I am not the least afraid to 



* The allusion is to Mr. Huxley's address, " On the hypothesis that 

 animals are automata, and its history," given at the Belfast Meeting of 

 the British Association, 1874, and republished in Science and Culture. 



