Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/27

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gested the impression that his health was far from robust, but it seemed mostly to preserve an equable tenor till the first violent seizure which prostrated his strength, so that it never could be fully restored. This was an attack of angina pectoris, which came upon him (with nothing obvious to account for it) early in November 1861. For several hours he was considered to be in imminent danger, but the vital power was not entirely shattered; a temporary recovery took place, but the weakness which followed prevented him from continuing his lectures till some weeks later. At that time the largest apartment in his house was fitted up as a lecture-room, where his students met, it being judged unsafe for him to undergo the fatigue of moving daily as far as the College class-room. The date of several of his lectures on Greek philosophy shows how little he relaxed his exertions for the instruction of his class, notwithstanding this shock to his physical powers. And indeed those who conversed with him after this date on his favourite topics were aware that his subtlety and penetrating energy of thought were as vivid as ever. But it could hardly escape their notice that bodily infirmity was fast gaining ground upon him; his power of walking became less and less; a very short distance at times seemed to be too much for him; the ascent of a staircase would make him pant and appear overcome almost to exhaustion. Tendencies to asthma had long been observed; dropsical symptoms and affection of the heart assumed a threatening form.