From Julius Althaus 16 December 1872
18, Bryanston Street, | Portman Square. W.
Dec. 16. 1872.
Dear Sir.
Having just read your admirable work on expression, it has struck me that you have left out the influence which the sensitive fibres of the fifth pair of cerebral nerves, which are dispersed in the facial muscles, have in conveying the influence of the mind to the portio dura and the muscles animated by it.
Perhaps you will allow me to call your attention to a paper which appeared in the 52d volume of the Transactions of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, for the year 1869 (published by Longmans)—(p.27). It is entitled: ‘on certain points in the physiology and pathology of the fifth pair of cerebral nerves’— I have described a case of disease in it, in which the influence of this fifth nerve was withdrawn, without any affection of the portio dura or the facial muscles being present. Nevertheless, there were striking changes in the physiognomy of the patient (p. 30).1
I regret I have no copy of the paper, otherwise I should send it to you. Hoping that your time will allow you to read the paper, I remain, with great respect, | Yours truly | J Althaus.
Ch. Darwin Esq.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Althaus, Julius. 1868. On certain points in the physiology and pathology of the fifth pair of cerebral nerves. [Read 24 November 1868.] Medico-Chirurgical Transactions 52: 27–42.
Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Summary
In his admirable work on expression CD has left out influence of fifth pair of cerebral nerves on the portiodura and on physiognomy; sends reference to his paper on this subject ["On certain points in the physiology and pathology of the fifth pair of cerebral nerves", Med.-Chir. Trans. 52 (1869): 27–42].
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8681
- From
- Julius Althaus
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Bryanston St, 18
- Source of text
- DAR 159: 56
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8681,” accessed on 25 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8681.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20