From William Jenner   9 November 1864

8 Harley St.

Novr 9th. 1864

My dear Sir

The preparation to which you refer is “Syrup of Phosphate of Iron”—1 I think that as the turbidity continues you may find benefit from taking after each pill—10 drops of dilute phosphoric acid in water—2

I would not advis⁠⟨⁠e⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ to drink more water3 ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠   The Phosphoric acid (if ⁠⟨⁠as⁠⟩⁠ I suppose the turbidity of urine is as it was when I last saw it)4 will diminish & not produce the deposit.

I think you had better let me have a bottle of the urine & I will have it analysed—5

Yours very truly | Wm. Jenner.

⁠⟨⁠Co⁠⟩⁠ntinue the phosphate ⁠⟨⁠of⁠⟩⁠ Iron.

Is the urine alkaline when passed? if so you must omit the potash from magn. soda & potash powder—6

Your last was address 8 Gower St.7

1
No letter from CD to Jenner on syrup of phosphate of iron has been found; however, CD had recently learned from Mary Elizabeth Lyell that dyspeptic symptoms might be relieved by the preparation (see letter to Asa Gray, 29 October [1864]). On syrup of phosphate of iron, see British pharmacopœia 1864, pp. 334–5, and Royle and Headland 1865, p. 156. For Jenner’s discussion of CD’s use of phosphate of iron, see the letter from William Jenner, 15 October and n. 2.
2
CD evidently took phosphate of iron in pill form.
3
Jenner had advised CD to drink little water when he first began treating him in March (see letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 April [1864] and n. 6).
4
For Jenner’s last recorded examination of CD’s urine, see the letter from William Jenner, 14 August 1864.
6
Jenner had prescribed a combination of antacids, including chalk, magnesia, and carbonate of ammonia, in March (see letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 April [1864] and n. 6). Potash was an alkali used in the treatment of dyspepsia and gastric acidity (see Beasley 1865, pp. 392–7, and O. D. Owen 1868, p. 538).
7
Jenner resided at 8 Harley Street, Cavendish Square, London (Post Office London directory 1865).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-4666,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-4666