Lelirjahre and Waiidcrjahre 185 



second day as the case may be. In fact like the ordinary plan of statistical charts'. 

 It seems of great use for noting cases quickly, since you can do all you want by 

 the bedside of the patient and when going round with the physician which wf" be quite 

 out of the question in the ordinary way of proceeding, and then many cases are noted 

 which would otherwise be neglected. 



Do you remember my mother and myself talking about the connection of gout 

 and asthma? T asked several medical men whether they had ever observed any and 

 they all said no, when curiously enough 3-esterday Dr Haviland stated in his lectures 

 that "from a wide observation he c'' not help thinking that gout and asthma had 

 certain connections which have not yet been investigated." I shall certiiinly look out 

 for cases that way, for it would be very curious if such apparently unlike diseases were 

 after all related. Dr Haviland spoke much of very strong coffee as often being of 

 very great service in asthma; — that or tea, which is much the same, for their active 

 principles are identical, I know you have found good only you don't take the former 

 strong enough. 



Does my mother still adhere to her intention of accompanying me to Shrewsbury 

 next Easter, will you ask her to write about it? I shall have I hope nearly a fortnight 

 altogether, but must spend a week at home to talk over our future plans and Bob 

 Sawyer dodges, for getting into practice and so on, with you-'. 



You will probably have heard from Emma, who found it out through the Hallams, 

 that I am a tea-totaller of about a month's standing. It suits with my constitution 

 gloriously — but warm advocate as I am of the cause, whatever you do, my dear Father, 

 don't lower yourself-, as wine is a most necessary medicine for you. I am very glad 

 I have taken the pledge. I told Delly my reasons, wh<5 will tell them you. It was not 

 done without a term's previous consideration. 



Your affectionate son, F. G. 



Tertius Gallon was slowly failing in health during these years 

 and very tender and playful ai-e the letters of his medical son. On 

 March 9, 1844, he writes: 



Saturday morjiing. 

 My dear Father, 



As I was not able myself to enter into learned consultation with Pritchard 

 and Dr Jephson I cannot altogether give up my privilege of " family doctor," and so 

 will write this letter full of prescriptions. But first I must truly congratulate you 

 on your convalescence which Delly tells nie is in capital progress; and as I presume 



' The suggestion becomes clear when one has seen the elaborate statistical charts 

 of the grandfather — Samuel Galton — covering most complete records of his household 

 economy. 



^ From about this date have survived two plans, one an elaborate ai'i-angenient 

 of the in.side of a doctor's carriage with sleeping things, escritoire, pots and pans of 

 all sorts ; the other a description of a physician's waiting room with a number of 

 devices to impress the patients with the scientific character of the consultant and some 

 humorous items as "folio works of various authois, too large to be abstracted." 



P. o. 24 



