To James Crichton-Browne 17 April [1873]1
Down,
April 17,
My dear Sir
You are always most kind. The photographs are very curious and show great power of acting; but still I think that I should have known that the expressions were acted, if I had not read your letter first. If you will not think me unreasonable I should like to see the remaining ones.2 Prof. Ferrier’s researches sound most wonderful and interesting. There is nothing like impudence in the world, and I hope that you will add to your kindness by sending me a copy of his paper when published.3 I shall be very curious to learn whether he believes that he excites an idea and that this leads to the movements, or that he acts directly on the motor nerves.4
With many thanks | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Young, Robert M. 1968. The functions of the brain: Gall to Ferrier (1808–1886). Isis 59: 250–68.
Summary
Photographs sent by JC-B show great power of acting.
David Ferrier’s researches sound wonderful. Does he believe that he excites an idea and this leads to the movement, or that he acts directly on the motor nerves?
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8865
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- James Crichton-Browne
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 143: 344
- Physical description
- C 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8865,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8865.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21