ummer of 1899 he went out to
South Africa {33} during the Long Vacation. He visited Pretoria and
had an interview with President Kruger and his wife. One of his
letters records his impressions of the President. He was for some time
disposed to believe that the war, which broke out soon after his
return, could and should have been avoided, but he subsequently
modified his views on this point.

Towards the end of August 1903 the pain from which he had suffered
intermittently for years became so much worse that he came up to
consult a London doctor, and by his advice remained in town as a
patient at St. Thomas's Home. When he entered the home he fully
expected to undergo an operation within a fortnight; but the doctor who
had suggested it declared, after further examination, that no operation
was necessary. Meanwhile Forbes lingered on in the home week after
week. Eventually a partial operation was performed, and after he had
spent thirteen weeks in the home the surgeon suggested his removal to a
private nursing home, where he could keep him under closer observation.
Here he performed a second operation. This seemed at first to have
been a success, and after a fortnight in this private home he was well
enough to start for Switzerland again. He went at first to St. Moritz,
where he had been so often before; but, finding that the pain returned
and that he could not sleep, he went down to Alassio on the Riviera.
Here he was for several weeks till his return to England. He reached
Westminster on January 13 and went up to Cambridge on the following
day. For a few days he was well enough to lecture, and it seemed as
though he might be able to {34} resume his old work. On Sunday
evening, January 17, he was 'at home' in his rooms and received over
sixty undergraduates who came to welcome him back. Soon the old
trouble returned, and he rapidly grew worse. His pain became almost
constant, and he was removed with great difficulty to another London
nursing home on January 29. It was then proposed that the original
operation which had been suggested, but had never been performed,
should take place, and he fully expected that this would result in his
restoration to health and to work. A few days later he was threatened
with blood-poisoning, and it became obvious that the operation must be
delayed. On Saturday evening, February 6, he seemed fairly cheerful.
Neither he nor his doctors had any idea that he was in an extreme