Le Gentil, a dedicated astronomer, faced significant challenges during his journey as he attempted to observe a solar eclipse. Despite his determination and stoic attitude, he encountered a major setback when he fell ill with dysentery. This illness forced him to halt his progress and kept him incapacitated for almost a year.

The experience highlighted the unpredictable nature of scientific exploration during his time. Despite the hardships, Le Gentil's commitment to his work exemplifies the perseverance often required in the pursuit of knowledge, illustrating the lengths to which scientists would go to achieve their goals.