Thanks CD for a copy of Erasmus Darwin.
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The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Thanks CD for a copy of Erasmus Darwin.
Reports that he has not received JSBS’s book on histology and physiology [Sanderson ed., Handbook for the physiological laboratory (1873)], which Edward Emmanuel Klein told CD’s son was to be sent. He asks for information so that he may thank Dr Klein. [Klein and Michael Foster were co-authors with JSBS.]
He has returned the Gazette to Dr T. L. Brunton. [See 8825.]
Informs CD of the effects of certain salts and other chemicals on animals.
Comments on CD’s results with Drosera. Suggests some experiments.
A hasty answer to CD’s letter [8987] of 25 July. Mentions Dr Osler’s observations on behaviour of colourless blood corpuscles in solutions of sodium and potassium salts of same strength.
Answers CD’s questions of 25 July [8987] about temperatures at which cold-blooded animals are killed.
Doubts heat rigor was induced in Drosera. Gives his view of the relation of excitability to increase in temperature.
Suggests experiment to show that electrical changes in plant are the same as in animal muscle and nerve [see Insectivorous plants, p. 318].
Purpose of experiments was to determine digestive activity of liquids containing pepsin. Gives required amounts of hydrochloric, propionic, butyric and valerianic acids. Describes experiment and gives results. Also experimented on digestive activity of butyric acid at greater temperatures than the termperature of the body.
Reports results of experiments comparing digestibility of gluten and fibrin for CD’s work on Drosera.
Sends CD provisional information that artificial gastric juice dissolves bone entirely and that gluten and fibrin are completely dissolved in hydrochloric, propionic, and butyric acids. [See Insectivorous plants, pp. 118–19.]
Sends cartilage from cat’s ear, the elastic fibres of which will probably resist digestion [by Drosera]. Is preparing fibro-cartilage, which he expects will be digested easily. [See Insectivorous plants, p. 104.]
Is delighted to hear that Pinguicula and Drosera digest fibrin. Suggests diluting gluten in weak hydrochloric acid to remove starch. Enamel was nearly digested [by Drosera] overnight. Would like to try separating the digestive ferment of Pinguicula.
Will prepare experiments with the fatty acids on digestion of gluten. Has found it is digested slowly, but entirely, with pepsin and hydrochloric acid.
Suggests an explanation for difference in excitability of Drosera leaves to meat and albumen on the one hand and, on the other, fibrin, areolar tissue, gelatin, and fibrous basis of bone.
Responds to CD’s questions about relation to gelatin of areolar tissue, fibrous basis of bone, and other substances CD is using in his work on digestion of Drosera.
Sends results of experiments on digestion. Encloses two sets of notes: "Experiments on the digestibility of certain preparations sent by Mr Darwin" and "Note for Mr Darwin" [marked by CD for insertion in ch. 6 of Insectivorous plants].
Reports difficulties in experiments on digestion of fibro-cartilage. Asks about JSBS’s experiments with artificial digestive fluids.
JSBS must read Hooker’s address at Belfast [Rep. BAAS 44 (1874): 103–16] to see what a magnificent digester Nepenthes is.