 In 1896 , Cope began suffering from a gastrointestinal illness he said was cystitis . His wife cared for him in Philadelphia when she was able ; at other times , Cope 's university secretary , Anna Brown , tended to him . Cope at this time lived in his Pine Street museum and rested on a cot surrounded by his fossil finds . Cope often prescribed himself medications , including large amounts of morphine , belladonna , and formalin , a substance based on formaldehyde used to preserve specimens . Osborn was horrified by Cope 's actions and made arrangements for surgery , but the plans were put on hold after a temporary improvement in Cope 's health . Cope went to Virginia looking for fossils , became ill again , and returned to his home very weak . Osborn visited Cope on April 5 , inquiring about Cope 's health , but the sick paleontologist pressed his friend for his views on the origin of mammals . Word of Cope 's illness spread , and he was visited by friends and colleagues ; even in a feverish condition Cope delivered lectures from his bed . Cope died on April 12 , 1897 , 16 weeks short of his 57th birthday . 
