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Darwin Correspondence Project

From James Paget   30 May 1876

London

May 30. 1876.

My dear Darwin

I have advised your son to take a complete vacation to the end of not less than three months from the time of the injury—1 The concussion must have been fully severe enough to justify at least this amount of care; and he had better not return to active life, even at the end of the time I have named, unless he be free from all signs of trouble in the head— I would advise him not to travel far, or go abroad, for the next three weeks: but at the end of this time, if he be as well as now, he may go (as he wishes) to Switzerland, wherever in it the air is good & the food not bad—

Of course, he cannot do nothing: and his best rule may be to read or write the least important things for short times; and after each short time to take long rest.— For a single rule, he should avoid fatigue of mind & body— He may fully expect that his case will follow the usual rule—safe to get well with time & rest; certain not to get well without them—

Sincerely your’s | James Paget.

Charles Darwin Esq.

Footnotes

William Erasmus Darwin had a riding accident on 10 May (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)).

Summary

Instructs CD that his son [William] should take a holiday following his concussion.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-10518
From
James Paget, 1st baronet
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
London, Harewood Place, 1
Source of text
DAR 210.9: 12
Physical description
ALS 3pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10518,” accessed on 6 October 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10518.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 24

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