in this way two well-furnished laboratories, one at the Sorbonne and the other at the Jardin des Plantes, where he held the chair of general physiology. Thenceforth, his life was full of distinction and honor. In 1868, he was elected to the Académie Française and became one of the "Immortals."
He was separated from his wife and children and lived by himself on the Rue des Écoles, opposite the chief entrance to the Collège de France. He was always retiring and shrank from social distinctions. Foster thus describes him:
Tall in stature, with a fine presence, with a noble head, the eyes full at once of thought and kindness, he drew the look of observers on him wherever he appeared. As he walked in the streets passers by might be heard to say, "I wonder who that is; he must be some distinguished man."
He was a great friend of Berthelot, the chemist, and Renan, the philosopher, both of whom were his colleagues at the college. His pupils worshiped him.
Bernard was seized by a chill in the laboratory, developed an acute affection of the kidneys, and died, after a lingering illness, February 10, 1878. He was accorded a public funeral at the expense of the state, an honor previously bestowed upon none but statesmen, princes and soldiers. France paid her highest tribute to this quiet man of science who had contributed much, by fact and inspiration, to the advancement of the knowledge of physiological phenomena.
What were the attributes of mind and character which made Bernard a genius as an investigator?
His conscientious adherence to truth at all times need not be emphasized, as that is necessary for all true scientists, great or mediocre. His greatest attribute may have been his fruitful imagination, always under control, active before and after an experiment and asleep when observations were being made. Imagination is necessary to produce original hypotheses and it must be tempered with judgment to produce hypotheses capable of being put to experimental test. Bernard considered none but those of practical value, capable of being proved right or wrong. His readiness to turn aside from a line of research to take up a new inquiry suggested by some observed fact was remarkable for its frequent though opportune use. When to turn aside and when not to do so demands the mind of a genius for solution.
A thing of practical importance and of great value to him was his manual dexterity. In such experiments as some of his, a poor dissection or bunglesome manipulation might easily have complicated the experimental conditions so that the results would have been difficult of correct interpretation and a false step at any point might have led him astray.
