From William Jenner   [after 24 November] 18641

⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ 1864

Dear Sir

I have had the urine last sent analysed— it is quite natural— The turbidity on cooling is due merely to urates & indicates rather excess than deficiency of acidity—2 I see no objection to your taking when troubled with acidity of stomach a small dose of chalk-potash & ammonia ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ any magnesia—3 With ⁠⟨⁠that⁠⟩⁠ exception I advise you to abstain from all medicines for a short time—at any rate till you see how you are progressing.

Yours very truly | Wm. Jenner.

P.S. I think you may like to have the result of the analyses   In the event of your consulting anyone other than myself it may be of service— I paid 42/– for the analysis—4

1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from William Jenner, 24 November 1864.
2
Jenner had prescribed a variety of antacids for CD and was concerned that his urine was too alkaline (see letters from William Jenner, 9 November 1864, 21 November 1864, and 24 November 1864).
3
See letters from William Jenner, 9 November 1864 and n. 6, and 21 November 1864 and n. 1.
4
An entry from CD’s Account book–cash account (Down House MS) records payment on 14 December 1864 of £2 2s. to Jenner for the analysis. The payment may have been for both the urine analyses performed in November (see letter from William Jenner, 21 November 1864).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-4367,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-4367