My Dear Sir,

I cannot tell you how much your kind letter has gratified me.¹

That the unopened pitchers of the Nepenthes’ do contain the ferment sometimes, is indisputable; and after all not more wonderful than that the gastric mucous membrane always contains pepsin, the amount being increased by the presence of food.²

The whole question wants very carefully going over, and it is my intention to give some time to it as soon as a run of ovariotomies is over with which I am now engaged.³

These cases are such a terrible strain that I am always unable to do anything else when I have a number. Then, I see my way to quite a book on tails, which will be more to interest the public, as I find my little paper on the cat has made quite a sensation.⁴

I trust you will take really a long rest. How you can do such work as you get through is to me a marvel. I stayed a day with D^r. Andrew Clark at his country place a short time ago & was delighted to hear him speak encouragingly of your health.⁵

Yours sincerely | Lawson Tait