APPENDIX. 413 



His health, during the few last years, was inter- 

 rupted by several alarming attacks. He was subject 

 to great irregularities of pulse, and there was strong 

 symptoms of disorder in the chest, A collection of 

 water was apprehended. But the fact was, that a 

 small ossification had taken place between two of the 

 semi-lunar valves of the aorta. About the 14th of 

 January last, he was seized with a malignant fever 

 attended with symptoms of typhus. Art proved un- 

 availing, and he sunk under the disease, after an ill- 

 ness of eight days.* 



We have lost him in the strength of life and vigour 

 of intellect — too soon indeed for his family and his 

 country; but not too soon for his own happiness or 

 fame. For, honourable age is not that which is mea- 

 sured by length of time, or counted by number of 

 days. But wisdom is the grey hair unto man, and un- 

 spotted character is fulness of years. Protracted life 

 would have been embittered by bodily pain — the 

 frailties of nature might have dimmed the lustre of 

 brighter years — or death, which had spared him, 

 might have desolated his house, and left him solitary 

 and cheerless to encounter the infirmities of age. Hap- 

 py then wert thou, Wistar, in death as well as life. 



♦ Dr. Wistar died 22d January, 1818. 

 15 



