Dear M^rs Dowie

I hope that you will excuse my troubling you, & grant me a favour about which I feel deep interest. I gave an account of the regrowth of an extra digit in my Variation under Domestication, communicated to me by your Father; & I enclose an old proof sheet.¹ Recently the possibility of such regrowth has been disputed at a public meeting in Munich,² & Sir J. Paget has searched all Surgical works & consulted many surgeons, & is evidently very sceptical on the subject.³ I understand from your Father that M^r Syme was the ‘eminent surgeon’ who removed the digit for the first time.⁴ Now what I want especially to know is

(1) Was the hand shown to M^r Syme, after the digit had regrown; & who removed it on the second occasion?

(2) Can you tell me whether on this second growth the digit enclosed a bone, & was there any nail?

(3) After the digit had grown for the third time, did it contain a bone & was it furnished with a nail?⁵

(4) Has the digit since I published my book⁶ been removed for the third time; & has it grown again?

I feel how unreasonable I am to give so much trouble on a subject which may be painful to you; but I am correcting a new Edit & feel bound to get as correct information as possible.⁷ I hope I need not say that names shall not be mentioned by me. Might I write (if it seems advisable) to the surgeon who removed the digit on the second & third occasion to learn any surgical details; & in this case can you give the name & address of such surgeons.

I earnestly hope that you will do me this great kindness, & I remain | dear M^rs Dowie | Yours sincerely & obliged | Charles Darwin