Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-02
PHYSICIANS FORTUNES.
Estates Left by Medical Men-Last
Words Of Famous Doctors.

Nothnagel. who died alone in his
room, noted his own symptoms to the
last. A letter to his assistant Is said
to have ended as follows: Written late
on the evening of July 6, just after ex-
periencing these severe attacks
died of Qualification of the arteries.
Traube also made observations on HIM
self to the very end. Locock expressed
a wish to be present at the postmortem
examination on himself; and among
Cuvier's last recorded words is re-
mark. as his fingers twitched involun-
tarily, Charles Bell is right: &c sont
les nerfs de la volonte qui sont
maladifs' " Dyce Davidson, professor
at Aberdeen, died Immediately after
saying to his class, speaking of the next
meeting, which was never to take
place, Four o'clock on Monday, gentle
men, o'clock"
Several doctors have taken their
leave with blessing to those around
them. Ashley COoper's last recorded
words are, God bless you and good-by
to you all" He had previously said to
his physicians, Bright and Chambers,
Gods will be done: God bless you
both" adding, you must excuse me,
but I shall take no more medicine"
Benjamin Brodie was heard to mutter:
After all, God is very good" The
saddest of all recorded last words are
probably those Of oliver Goldsmith,
who, when asked by his physician if his
mind was at case, said: mo, it is not"
On the other hand, William Hunters
mind seems to have been full of bright
thoughts at the moment of death, for
he said: IF could hold pen what
book could write"
Pasteur and Darwin, though not be-
longing to the medical profession, are
venerated by it as teachers. Darwin's
last words We're, Il am not the least
afraid to die" Pasteur was offered a
cup of milk, and being unable to swal-
low it, murmured, Il cannot" He
passed away with one hand in his
wife's, the other grasping crucifix.
Lastly are mentioned the last words of
Mirabeau. which are said to have been
addressed to q doctor. He wrote on
slip of paper which he gave to his ply
stefan, the philosopher Cabanis. the
single word "Dormir" Another ac-
count. which may be an expanded YER
sion Of this, is that, after begging for
an dfOOyne, he Sdiu IepIOdCiIlu Hy ~
the doctor: Were you not my physi-
clan and my friend? Did you not pro-
mise to spare me the suffering of such
a death: Must l go away carrying
with me the regret OF having confided
in you?" This is rather a long and
rhetorical speech for a dying man.
1t is given to few men of any profess
sion to accumulate such large fortunes
as the late Lord Brampton and Mr..
Murphy, X c., have left behind them
fortunes amounting to 6 141,O0 and
c $4,000 respectively; but to say, as
stated by contemporary, that such an
achievement is only possible in the law
is scarcely in accordance with the facts.
Three medical men at least have left
estates still larger than the greater OF
these Thirty years ago DR.. Blundeli
died worth more than third of a mil
lion poundS-more exactly, e 5000;
during his fifty-three years Of strenu-
Gus professional life Sir William Jen-
ner accumulated the enormous sum of
e375OOO though it is doubtful If he
ever made more than G12,000 in any
wear: and Sir William Gull left per-
sonalty valued at 6 100000. DIR. 7. r.
Armitage died, at &C, worth G21I, 900;
Sir Erasmus Wilson left G 264,0oO be-
hind him. and Sir Andrew Clarll's saw
ings reached G204 ,000.-British Medi-
cal Journal