From James Crichton-Browne   27 December 1873

My dear Sir,

I venture to make a request which you must not hesitate to refuse should you see any objection to acquiescence in it. Impatient of the slowness of the advance which is made in our knowledge of the Pathology and Treatment of Nervous Diseases, I am about to try a new method of dealing with these subjects. Instead of trusting any longer to independent exertions scattered over a wide area, I propose to test the efficacy of combined effort upon one point. Having selected one well marked variety of mental disease—General Paralysis—throughout the whole course of which physical and mental symptoms progress pari passu I have induced a number of able and distinguished friends to undertake its investigation in different aspects. Thus one will work out the Microscopic Anatomy, another—the Chemistry of the urine, another the variation of temperature another the appearances of the retinae. &c &c. Each investigator will briefly and clearly set forth the results at which he arrives and the monographs thus produced, will I believe when collected together form a complete natural history of the disease and greatly elucidate its causes, course and treatment   Now it has occured to me that you might immensley aid us in our work if you would consent to give us a very few remarks on the Physiognomy of the Disease. I could submit to you a series of photographs illustrating its various stages, and a very few words of yours would I am certain embody the true significance of the whole. I am aware that it is a very audacious request that I am making and nothing could justify it but the motive which is an earnest desire to advance Medical Science. You will at least forgive my boldness &c¹

Believe me to be with profound esteem and all seasonable good wishes. | Yours very faithfully | J. Crichton Browne

Charles Darwin Esq | &c &c

P.S. Among my fellow labourers in this work are to be Prof. Ferrier. Dr Hughlings Jackson. D^r. Clifford Allbutt. D^r. Brunton² &c &c | J. C. B.