"I am at work on the nervous mimicry of organic disease: I have some hope that, during my work, I may fall on some facts which may be of interest to you, and you may be sure that I shall send them to you."

"Sir William Gull has just brought me the enclosed quotations from Chaucer, as illustrations of the closure of the eyes in effort. [In "The Nun’s priest’s tale" in Canterbury tales the fox tricks Chanticleer into crowing, whereupon Chanticleer closes his eyes to make the effort (and gets seized by the fox).] He begs me to send them to you.

I have lately seen a terrier who very distinctly frowns during mental excitement – not always with anger, but often, I think, with anxiety, as in expecting food."

Describes a patient’s ears with peculiar tufts of hair in places where he has never seen them before. Encloses sketch.

A letter introducing T. F. Burgers, President of the Transvaal Republic.

Thanks for Insectivorous plants.

Intrigued by the analogy between fairy-rings and annular skin diseases, e.g., herpes and psoriasis.

Encloses copy of description of an outgrown stump. Refers to letter [missing] in which CD reports on a case of amputation. Would like to check J. Simpson’s cases before thinking everything is settled.

Instructs CD that his son [William] should take a holiday following his concussion.

Regrets that he cannot send the promised volume [Biographie médicale, 7 vols, 1820–5, biographical appendix to Dictionaire des sciences medicales]. Offers to have his son make an abstract of the biography [of Erasmus Darwin].

Thanks for Erasmus Darwin. It is a rare life and an unmatched illustration of the transmission of intellectual strength.