THE SECRETARY, 1878-1887 405 
and the new officials had to be confirmed by the Senate, 
the erring auditor found that confirmation could not be 
had as a matter of course. Baird was well known, admired 
and respected by members of both parties, who resented 
the slanders which had been flung broadcast with the 
knowledge, if not the guilty connivance, of the auditor. 
It is alleged that he even was told that without the sup- 
port of Professor Baird his appointment would not be 
confirmed. At any rate, on December 12th, 1885, this 
person called on Professor Baird at his residence, apolo- 
gized for the false reports, avowed he was not responsible 
for them, and successfully begged the intervention of the 
Professor to secure his confirmation by the Senate. There 
was no further unwarranted interference with the Com- 
mission and no more printed slanders. 
All this had told severely on the Professor’s strength. 
His periods of illness were more frequent. In December 
he went to New York to consult the best specialists. He 
was warned to avoid overwork. When he returned he 
notes in the Journal that he had decided to do no more 
work after his (6 p.m.) dinner! 
In 1886 the burden had to be lightened. February 
18th he turned over the management of his pet carp-ponds 
to the Assistant Commissioner. Early in May he went 
to a consultation with Dr. Weir Mitchell and Dr. Osler in 
Philadelphia. Massage, electricity, drives in the open 
air, and, above all, as little work as possible, were recom- 
mended. In July the party went to Wood’s Hole as usual. 
Here, for the members of his working staff, their families 
and visiting friends, he held informal receptions at the 
residence for four successive Mondays, perhaps the last 
social events of the kind in which he was to join. He left 
Wood’s Hole and reached Washington on the 25th of 
