ABSTRACT
By June 1892, George Romanes noticed a very worrying symptom. He consulted Mr. Doyne, a well-known oculist in Oxford and told him that he had previously suffered from intermittent headaches. Mr. Doyne found Romanes to have extensive fluid collection at the back of the eye on the retina and took a grave view of the prognosis. Romanes was anxious and bitterly disappointed, realizing he was, as he said, entering a new land of pain and darkness, and was called on to join the great army of those who suffer. Romanes told Galton that he wished he had been less ambitious for scientific applause and worldly success. Romanes had perhaps attached an undue importance to intellect and social status in the early years of his career. As for courage, sooner or later death must come for us all; and Romanes courageously resolved to work as long as he possibly could. Romanes lapsed into a coma and never recovered consciousness again.
