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Darwin Correspondence Project

From William Jenner   [after 24 November] 18641

⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ 1864

Dear Sir

I have had the urine last sent analysed— it is quite natural— The turbidity on cooling is due merely to urates & indicates rather excess than deficiency of acidity—2 I see no objection to your taking when troubled with acidity of stomach a small dose of chalk-potash & ammonia ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ any magnesia—3 With ⁠⟨⁠that⁠⟩⁠ exception I advise you to abstain from all medicines for a short time—at any rate till you see how you are progressing.

Yours very truly | Wm. Jenner.

P.S. I think you may like to have the result of the analyses   In the event of your consulting anyone other than myself it may be of service— I paid 42/– for the analysis—4

Footnotes

The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from William Jenner, 24 November 1864.
Jenner had prescribed a variety of antacids for CD and was concerned that his urine was too alkaline (see letters from William Jenner, 9 November 1864, 21 November 1864, and 24 November 1864).
See letters from William Jenner, 9 November 1864 and n. 6, and 21 November 1864 and n. 1.
An entry from CD’s Account book–cash account (Down House MS) records payment on 14 December 1864 of £2 2s. to Jenner for the analysis. The payment may have been for both the urine analyses performed in November (see letter from William Jenner, 21 November 1864).

Summary

CD’s urine is normal. He may take antacids for his stomach.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-4367
From
William Jenner
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
unstated
Source of text
DAR 168: 48
Physical description
ALS 3pp damaged

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 4367,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-4367.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 12

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