My dear Sir

I am now writing my essay on expression, having finished the “Descent of Man”, which will be published in about a fortnight. I will send you a copy, but I fear that only parts of it will be of any interest to you.¹ I have been studying your MS. on the expression of the insane, and your observations are invaluable to me. Almost every sentence is of use, and I shall quote considerable portions.² I know how hard worked you are, and that it is a shame to trouble you; but I am very anxious for information on one or two little points, which I think cannot entail a long letter.

(1) I find that savages, even the men, weep for very small causes:³ is it common for insane, melancholic men to weep copiously? Can unrestrained weeping be said to be characteristic of the insane of this class? or any class?

(2) I have met with one account of idiots, when pleased, laughing much.⁴ Is this at all common? Do even the extremely idiotic laugh, when in any way pleased, and in whose minds ludicrous ideas cannot occur. With idiots is it a sign merely of happiness?

(3) You were so kind as to send me 2 small photographs of insane women, with their hair extraordinarily rough, almost like mulattress. Is it credible that their hair ever was, or could again become, smooth?⁵

(4) Are the large photographs of the insane which you lent me, and others which you said were to be made, to be purchased in London? or could I purchase them through you at the Asylum? I should like to get one or two with the corners of the mouth depressed, in order to be engraved as woodcuts. Possibly others might be of service to me for the same end, if I could see them. Lastly, you told me that photographs had been taken of patients suffering from “general paralysis of the insane”, in which a smiling benevolent expression occurs. Your account of this form of insanity comes in excellently for me to quote.⁶ My questions have run out to a greater length than I expected. I have just finished D^r. Maudsley’s new book, and it has interested me to an extraordinary degree.⁷ How vigorously and well he writes, or rather thinks! If you read the lst chap. of my book, pray observe what I have said about reversion, and the little points to the ears.⁸ From D^r. Maudsley’s incidental statement about the ears of the insane, it would be curious to note whether vestiges of pointed ears often occur in them.⁹ I hope this letter will not give you much trouble.

Yours very sincerely obliged | Ch. Darwin