From Henry Lonsdale   3 May 1871

Sir

Permit me to call your attention to what you say in your first Chapt. (“Descent of Man”) regarding the “Supra Condyloid Foramen.” You give my pupil & friend D^r Struthers the credit which is really due my old teacher D^r Knox.¹ If you c^d. find time to read p 249–252 of my Life of Knox pub^d. by MacMillan & Co last october, you will see the whole subject fully discussed.² Twenty years before Struthers wrote on the subject, Knox had described the “Sup. Condy. process” in the Edin. Med: & Surg. Journal; and considering the mode in which Knox predicted the human homologue I feel certain that you will be ready to do the old anatomist justice.³ Struthers only began to study Anatomy the year (1842) that I said my case; of the same Sup: Condyloid process.

Though I have not the honour of your personal acquaintance I hope I may be permitted to add my hearty congratulations to others of your friends on the rapid growth of your views, of the success of your labours in science.

I am yours truly | Henry Lonsdale | M.D.

P.S. In my biography of John Goodsir I alluded to the happy generalization of Knox (Vol 1. p. 26. Goodsir’s Anatomical Memoirs).⁴

To | Cha^s. Darwin. | Author of the Descent of Man.