My dear Sir

Many thanks for your two last communications.² The case of the pregnant woman is truly wonderful, and I am particularly glad to have read it, as it seems conclusive; but I doubt whether it will do to give it in any work not strictly medical. Perhaps I may manage to give it wrapped up, or anyhow allude to it.³ Dr. Baird the Hypnotist, gives somewhat analogous cases, but I did not dare to trust him.⁴ I have got some other references to Sir H. Holland and D^r. Laycock’s works, and I shall now read them in a more believing spirit.⁵ Very many thanks about the idiots and Blushing.⁶ I rather expected the answer would be as you give it. D^r. Burgess makes the same remark, but in so loose a manner that I am not at all sure that he ever really attended to the point,—only guessed how it would be.⁷ I find that Vogt’s microcephalous idiot was not utterly degraded, as his eyes brightened when pleased or amused: the blush was real, as it was caused by an examination of his naked body, and he tried to turn on one side.⁸ I have received the Photographs and am greatly obliged for all your never-ceasing kindness.⁹ They are not expressive enough for my purpose. I am, however, now rich in photographs, for I have found a photographer in London. Rejlander, who for years has had a passion for photographing all sorts of chance expressions exhibited on various occasions, especially by children, and taken instantaneously.¹⁰ One of the insane woman with bristling hair has been copied by photography on wood, and a most skilful man is now cutting it on wood and is convinced that he will succeed.¹¹

Yours most truly | Ch. Darwin.

I hope your health is not worse.¹²

P.S. A long time ago I asked Prof. Donders of Utrecht (who most kindly aids me in all sorts of ways) about the iris, and a few days ago I received an answer, and a present of a huge book, published by the Sydenham Soc., from which I infer that the contraction and dilation of pupil is a very complex affair depending on many conditions—movements of the eyes, etc. I suspect it will be safest for me just to say what others have said, and then add a caution. Perhaps, however, I may hereafter hear something definite from you, and I shall be able to judge better when I have read parts of Donder’s work.¹³