Darwin, C. R. to Chapman, John
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Reports on progress of ice treatment.
Summary Add
Transcription
Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.
June 7. 1865
My dear Sir
On the whole I can give a pretty good report especially of the 2 last days;
but I had acid vomiting in the evening of June 3
I think I have gained in general vigour; but I have had 3 or 4 fits of flatulence every day.
It is certain that the ice does not stop either flatulence or sickness at the time. I
enclose a table of rate of pulse just before & after the ice. You may see in this table how wrong I was in saying that my pulse is now
generally about 60. I am certain that formerly this was the case; but am not so certain
whether this has been the rate during the last 2 years since I have been
weaker; yet generally I feel sure it has been 60 or under. If you have known
cases in which the ice has accelerated the pulse, I sh
I apply the ice 3 times daily but never for 1
Pray do not trouble your self to write unless you have fresh orders to give.
Pray believe me my dear Sir | yours very faithfully | and obliged | Ch. Darwin
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CD had been undergoing Chapman's ice treatment since 20 May 1865; Chapman had last visited CD on 28 May 1865 (Emma Darwin's diary (DAR 242)). See letter to John Chapman, 16 May [1865] and nn. 3 and 4, and letter to J. D. Hooker, 1 June [1865] and n. 5. The entries in Emma Darwin's diary (DAR 242) include the notes `sickness at night' for 3 June 1865, `slight sick' for 4 June, and `good day' for both 5 and 6 June. CD had suffered from acid vomiting for some time (see Correspondence vol. 12, letter to J. D. Hooker, [20--]22 February [1864]). - +
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The table of pulse rates has not been found, and Emma Darwin's diary (DAR 242) does not record CD's pulse rate during the ice treatment, except for 10 June 1865, which includes the note `Very languid & low pulse'. The list of symptoms that CD prepared for Chapman (see Correspondence vol. 13, Appendix IV) included acid vomiting and flatulence.