Summary

"As the disease hypermetropia is not very rare, & as it is known to be hereditary, I will not give the case (about which I was very doubtful) & am glad to decide in the negative".

Summary

Asks for precise reference in Charles Bell to subject of CD’s question. Agrees to assist CD’s investigation. Asks about Bell’s observations on eyes engorged with blood. Has noticed that eyes of children with excessive photophobia tend to be pale when forced open.

Summary

Will supply CD with information "as far as my knowledge extends".

Suggests CD visit him.

Summary

Thanks for reply to queries. Spectroscope an instance of unimagined glorious prospects of science.

Summary

Returns borrowed book. Is surprised that any of us have eyes "seeing what a frightful number of horrid diseases the eye is liable to".

Summary

Thanks CD for the gift of his new work [Variation].

Summary

Thanks WB for his paper ["Address in surgery", Br. Med. J. (1866): 186–97, read at British Medical Association annual meeting, 9 Aug 1866].

Summary

Is pleased CD approved of his effort ["Address in surgery", see 5219] in which he alluded to CD’s views.

Summary

Asks whether he may come with F. C. Donders to visit CD.

Summary

Thanks WB for his note, states that it will be taken care of on the publication of CD’s book [Variation].

Mentions loss of many months owing to illness.

Thanks WB for favour to CD’s son.

Summary

Supposes that infants’ eyes bulge and become engorged with blood during fits of sneezing or screaming, but doubts Charles Bell’s experiment of opening and observing eyes turn from pale to red [Anatomy and philosophy of expression (1844)].

Discusses the action of the eye when looking at distant objects.

Summary

Reports his observations on the concurrence of orbicular muscle spasms, engorgement of eyes with blood, and formation of tears.

Summary

Clarifies his earlier query on Bell’s observations. Seeks confirmation of Bell’s statement that the conjunctiva of a child whose eyes are opened forcibly during a screaming fit become engorged with blood. CD has noted a relationship between contraction of the orbicular muscle and secretion of tears; can WB explain why they appear related?

Summary

Will send portion of copied manuscript [of Variation 2: 8–10] for WB to examine. Asks about inherited abnormalities of the eye.

Summary

Plans to write a book on expression. Questions WB on orbicular muscle in screaming infant and function of muscle contractions in looking at a distant object.

Summary

Discusses role of orbicular muscle and distended veins in eye in secretion of tears. Asks WB’s opinion.

Summary

Arranges to bring F. C. Donders to visit Down.

Summary

Asks to borrow "Sölberg Wells, Treatise on the Diseases of the Eye 1869" referred to by F. C. Donders.

Summary

Urges WB to give his vote "and exert any influence which you properly can" in favour of CD’s nephew, Henry Parker, a fellow of Oriel, at the next balloting at the Athenaeum.

Summary

F. C. Donders coming to congress. Wants to arrange visit.