My dear Sir,
I enclose a slip of Litmus paper, from which you will observe that the fluid contained in the phial you have sent to me, is acid—2
A great part of the tenacious mass contained in the phial consists of bundles of that filamentous structure, to which I alluded in my account of your slide; but which I could ⟨not⟩ define or account ⟨for the⟩ putrifactive chang⟨es that⟩ had taken place. These bundles of minute filaments, appear to me to be referable to some form of Leptothrix; probably L buccalis, which is an Alga found on the mucous membrane of the Tongue and mouth, but accumulating occasionally in the stomach and bowels.3
I see these bundles of filaments on my slides ⟨along⟩ with numerous epi⟨theliu⟩m scales from the ⟨mouth⟩— These scales are seen enve⟨loped by⟩ molecular ma⟨tter and⟩ debris from w⟨hich⟩ bundles of filaments ⟨ ⟩cied
I enclose a rough sketch of a bundle attached to molecular matter investing an epithelium scale; a⟨nd⟩ of a group of Torula cell⟨s,⟩ two buccal or saliva cells, and the minute cells, probably the spores of Leptothrix.4
As I have already stated—medical opinion ⟨2 words⟩ to any ⟨2 words⟩ as to the ⟨ ⟩ of decreasing those parasites—5
Believe me— | my dear Sir— | sincerely yours | John Goodsir.
Charles Darwin Esq.
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-4281,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on