1840-41. ILLNESS AND WORK 121 



matter. In this way precious time was sacrificed, and my 

 eye nearly lost. I never in truth spent such a fortnight of 

 misery. I was twice cupped, blistered five times behind 

 the ear, horribly sickened with colchicum, and severely 

 saturated with mercury. I got worse and worse, till within 

 three days of lecture-time, when things fortunately took a 

 turn for the better, and my eye rapidly recovered. My 

 first two lectures I dictated in bed or on the sofa to Mary ; 

 and my third was made up out of an old production. I 

 have been left by the medical treatment very weak, but in 

 the meanwhile my rheumatism is gone, and my appetite 

 and spirits are good. Things here, however, are looking 

 very ill ; the classes are very thin ; my own is like to be 

 exceedingly small. We all looked for a diminution in 

 numbers this winter ; but the amount of decrease makes us 

 feel -rather awkward. I hope, however, to weather the 

 winter, 'and have at least the consolation of feeling that I 

 shall have the leisure to recruit my health, and [some time 

 for original research. 



" I am obliged to take a coach up and down, which will 

 prove rather an expensive thing as we now are. I am so 

 rapidly recruiting, however, that I shall soon be able to 

 dispense with it, and take to walking again a mode of 

 conveyance I for many reasons prefer. 



" Along with this you will receive a note from Mary, 

 saying I would not write to you, which will show what de- 

 pendence is to be placed on that lady's veracity. Indeed 

 in writing my lectures she made many (I am sure) wilful 

 mistakes, and tried to put me out by placing the stops at 

 wrong places. I shall place] the stop at the right place, 

 and end here." 



A month later, he says : 



