From R. A. Vance   10 November 1879

My dear Sir;

I have by no means forgotten the kindly manner in which you responded to my inquiries relative to certain points in the anatomy of the lining membrane of that portion of the intestinal canal in the lower animals which corresponds, in man, to the mucous membrane of the rectum, and, as several y⁠⟨⁠ea⁠⟩⁠rs may elapse before I revisit England, I beg you to accept the copy of my monograph on the Rectum and its Diseases which will be handed you by the bearer, my friend J. H. Letcher, M.D., of Henderson, Kentucky.¹ I beg to call your attention to the IXth article, entitled: “Observations on those Structures in the Mucous Membrane of the Human Rectum known as the Valves of Houston”.² Now that the profits of Chirurgery have seduced me from the more pleasing pursuits of Physiology, I may be unable t⁠⟨⁠o⁠⟩⁠ follow out the path those cur⁠⟨⁠i⁠⟩⁠ous structures opened before me, but I can never forget the kindly manner in which you encouraged and aided me at a time, when the merest reference to the line of inquiry I was following but too frequently evoked incredulity or contempt—and that too on the part of those whose position and character should have been a guaranty of other and better things.

My friend Doctor Letcher, the bearer, has been a deeply interested student in the same line, and now visits London for professional improvement. The Doctor will bear me out in this; Should you ever visit us here in America you would find how highly you are revered, how warmly you are esteemed—not by any one profession nor the representatives of any one branch of research but—by all intelligent men as the representative and recognised leader in Science!

Trusting many years of active usefulness are yet before you in which to enjoy your well-earned honors, I am, | My dear Sir, | Very truly and sincerely | Your Obdt Servt, | Reuben A. Vance