Anna was always a very active person. Not only did she have a medical practice, she also undertook lecture tours to Switzerland, Scotland and around England, campaigning for vegetarianism and against vivisection. She wrote various papers and letters on these subjects. In addition she pursued her esoteric interests. In November 1886 while paying a visit to Pasteur’s laboratory in Paris, she was caught in a torrential downpour and spent some hours in wet clothing. This brought on pneumonia which developed into pulmonary consumption. She travelled with Maitland, and sometimes her husband, to the Riviera and Italy in a vain hope to recover. In July 1887 she settled in London, simply waiting to die. Her mind was active to the last, but the body was ravaged by consumption, which we now call TB. She passed over on 22 February 1888. Her funeral was held at St Eata, her husband’s church at Atcham, and she was buried in the churchyard beside the River Severn.
Anna's grave beside the River Severn, 2005
(Courtesy of Sue and Brian Poulson)