My dear Sir

You are very kind, & I am sure have not the least cause to apologise for delay in writing.²

The globules in the residue from the milk certainly had exactly the same appearance before any balsam was near the slide. Hence I will assume that the globules were oil. I am not surprised at the presence of bacteria or any other organisms, as the milk was sometimes digesting on the open leaves.—

I am particularly obliged for the information about the strength of the acids & albumen: I doubted at the time whether the cause might not be that the leaves were injured by $\frac{1}{100}$ of acid, as the glands were a little discoloured; & I have now no doubt that this is the explanation.—³

I shall be glad to hear about the pepsin: I used some which was called pure & made for me by D^r. Moore of Brixton R^d. & Drosera certainly could dissolve very little of this, though the associated albumen or the pepsin itself excited the leaves.⁴

With very many thanks | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I shall be curious to hear about the papaw juice.—⁵