Faraday to Henry Bence Jones   4 July 1854

South Cliff Cottage | Shanklin | Isle of Wight | 4 July 1854

My dear friend

Your letter was very kind and your words & advice of great value to us. The gathering in my wifes ear must have been very serious; occurring chiefly, or at first, in the left ear, - it extended or was joined in by the right ear; and though things are improving, & we believe steadily, yet much fluid or discharge comes from both. She has not been out of this house since we came into it and not much out of her room; but today appearances improve. She has taken one of the pills (on Monday¹), has great faith in them, & takes another tonight:- Your thought even, however distant the possibility was, of coming here was very kind, but to think of such a thing would have grieved us very much. We hope you found Lady Millicent² well & all hearty & happy. We have a surgeon here & a good doctor & surgeon at Ventnor - but a word of yours on paper seems of far more value than a long examination & consideration by a stranger - and so I wrote - for the moral as well as the physical help;- and both came. The pain in the head was at first, & especially at nights, very sharp & great:- it still continues but is changed in character being more of a heavy dull throb but is very distressing at times. We have not poulticed the ears but syringed them with warm water & used the cotton as you said. I suppose we must expect these series of changes as the parts slowly recover their tone. My wife takes the quinine as you directed[.]

Ever My dear friend | Your grateful | M. Faraday

Dr. B. Jones | &c &c &c