My dear Sir

I wished to see you to-day to tell you that I have just received a very long & interesting letter from Sir R. Christison, & I am truly obliged to you for all your kind assistance.¹ Sir R. C. says that D^r. Brown, he believes, preceded D^r. Darwin, but as he recommended alcohol for all the diseases under the sun (as Sir J. Paget tells me) his precedence does not seem to me so important as it would otherwise have been—² Could you inform me of the date of D^r. Brown’s work— that is if it will not cause you much trouble—³ Sir R. C. (to whom I have written to thank) seems to think that it would be a most difficult labour & perhaps impossible task to discover who first recommended alcohol in fever.

Pray believe me with many thanks | yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin