Thanks FCD for information, which will make him "strike out a good deal".
Has received German pamphlet.
Will read work by John Soelberg Wells [? A treatise on the diseases of the eye (1869, 1870)].
Discusses his work on expression.
Showing 1–17 of 17 items
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 FCD for information, which will make him "strike out a good deal".
Has received German pamphlet.
Will read work by John Soelberg Wells [? A treatise on the diseases of the eye (1869, 1870)].
Discusses his work on expression.
Expresses gratitude on election to Royal Netherlands Academy.
Would be impractical to have FCD check references to physiology in proofs [of Expression]. William Bowman has checked chapter on weeping.
Invites FCD to visit Down when he comes to England in July.
Mentions publication of Expression.
Asks whether children born blind ever frown, shed tears, or contract orbicular muscles.
Congratulates FCD on his anniversary [as Professor at Utrecht].
Asks about the effect of atropine on the eye. Is interested in parallel case: influence of phosphate of ammonia on glands of Drosera.
The illness and death of his daughter have delayed his answers to CD’s queries. He has, however, worked on the circulation of the eye and has almost finished a paper on it, which he will send to CD. In general, the views of Charles Bell are confirmed.
As for CD’s second query, he doubts that the relationship exists, but will answer fully in next letter.
Has finished the article [on the action of the eyelids in Ned. Arch. Geneeskd. & Natuurkd. 5 (1870), also see 7238]; summarises: the occlusion of the eyelids protects the vessels, and the eye itself, against the danger of pressure caused by excessive expiratory action. The weakness of the conclusion is that the extent of the danger caused by the pressure to the normal state of the eye is not precisely known.
A detailed description of the physiological and anatomical processes related to the prolonged involuntary contraction of the orbicular muscles and the secretion of tears (as in retching, violent coughing, or laughing). [See Expression, p. 160.].
Thanks CD for Descent.
Sends a copy of his oratio inauguralis on De harmonie van het dierlijke leven [1848] in which he espoused evolution, but did not see the influence of natural selection.
Answers to CD’s queries will take time. CD may not be aware of the influence of accommodation on the diameter of the pupil of the eye. Parrots, for example, contract or dilate the pupil independently of amount of light [see Expression, p. 304]. Sends his book on the subject [On the anomalies of accommodation and refraction of the eye (1864)].
Replies to CD’s queries on movement of the eyes in meditation, and changes in the iris in rage and terror [see Expression, pp. 229, 304].
His analysis and explanation of the fact, observed by Charles Bell, that the eyeballs are turned upwards and inwards when consciousness begins to fail.
Protests against CD’s statement that FCD’s letter will make him "strike out a good deal". He would never pardon himself for being the cause of any suppression by CD. It is for specialists to put their knowledge at CD’s service. He is mistaken if he thinks a knowledge of physiology is sufficient for writing a book on expression. It is CD’s conception and spirit that all await. Offers to read those parts of the proofs of Expression dealing with physiology.
Royal Netherlands Academy of Science has elected CD.
Thanks CD for invitation but declines because of his need for a rest instead of coming to England in July.
Repeats his offer to help CD at any time. "I am always learning by trying to answer your questions."
Thanks CD for copy of Expression.
Agrees to observe expression in children born blind.
On hearing of CD’s work with Drosera, tells of his experiment showing extreme sensitivity of the iris of a dog’s eye to atropine. [See Insectivorous plants, p. 173.]