Characterisation, especially by Letters 541 



by rash acts of fatigue, etc. But I envy you Ferrara, about which I have been lately reading 

 in Hodgkin's big work on the last days of the Roman Empire and of the Goths, etc. I have 

 this villa only until the end of the month, but shall try for a prolongation of my sub-lease. 

 We are quite at home here, having many friends about. I see that K. Pearson has delivered 

 his three lectures, but detailed news does not reach me here. Oh ! this blessed Riviera (when it is 

 in good humour) for invalids. It is almost worth having been ill to enjoy the balm of its air. 

 With both our kind regards to you both. Ever sincerely, Francis Galton. 



Be sure to remember me to the Pearsons when you write. Schuster seems energetically at 

 work. 43° 46' = Bordighera, 44° 50' = Ferrara. 



Casa , Bordighera, Italy. March 11, 1905. 



Dearest Milly, I am indeed grieved at your continued anxieties. The coming spring is 

 however all in favour of your invalids. We have had three or four days of perfect weather here, 

 and I have sat out most of each day in a wooden shelter in the garden and got through a goodish 

 deal of work there. Carnival with its mild tomfoolery is happily over. It was got up by 

 a socialistic town-council of all things. There is a superstition against it still, on account of the 

 earthquake having come nearly 20 years ago, on (?) Ash Wednesday, owing to the sins of 

 carnival during the preceding week. I am not sure of the exact logic, but it is something like 

 the above. The owner, from whom we took this house, has lost her divorce suit; the Judge 

 considered the action void of just foundation. She is much liked here. I know nothing, and 

 care less, about the ins and outs of the case. He is "adored" (so an old Scotch lady told me) 

 in Edinburgh, so presumably there are faults on both sides. I do not know whether she will 

 let us prolong our lease until Easter, but I shall ask permission, not knowing any more suitable 

 place to go to. I wish your invalids felt the blessing of returning health as I do, but I am not 

 up to further travel now, and intend to risk nothing needlessly. One of the doctors here is 

 a very interesting Italian, Agnetti by name. He was born in humble life at Parma, did well at 

 College, became doctor, and settled here, much disparaged by his already settled competitors. 

 There was then a government movement in favour of introducing suitable plants, and people 

 having gardens were invited to help. Agnetti had a small plot and distinguished himself by 

 what he did in planting and reporting, so much so that he was made "Commendatore," which gave 

 him considerable social position. He doctored me when I was here before and I thought him 

 a particularly capable and pleasant man. Now he has become fired with political zeal and has 

 been elected representative for Parma. So he is now "Onorevole," a much coveted distinction, 

 and sees his way to combining parliament in Rome with physic here. It seems odd. I have 

 not yet seen him, only messages have passed. He was full of the Italian quinine treatment 

 and had good stories about it; one to the disadvantage of Koch, the Prussian, whom the Italian 

 is hated for his arrogance, but the story is too long to tell properly. Briefly, Koch looked 

 at a patient who seemed dying (in a ward placed at his disposal) and simply said: "Let 

 his body be kept for me when I come to-morrow." The Italian physician thought, after Koch 

 had gone, he might fairly intervene, so he injected quinine into the man's vein. When Koch 

 called the next day the patient was sitting up in his bed devouring a hand-full of macaroni!! 

 Of course the Italian doctors were delighted at Koch's stare of astonishment. 



Ever affectionately, with loves to you all, Francis Galton. 



Casa , Bordighera, Italy. March 12, 1905. 



Dear Schuster, Enclosed are heavy but important letters, every one of them for you to 

 read, and those to Miss Kii by, Miss P. Strachey, Sir J. Crichton-Browne for you also to for- 

 ward. You might like to correspond with Dr Urquhart, and even with Miss Philippa Strachey 

 and the rest. If so, write on official paper and enclose my letter with yours. I send stamps. 

 You will see about the latter in the Strachey biography. She is very accomplished and might 

 give useful help. 



I am strongly inclined to think that, as Dr Mott has the insane in hand, you would do well 

 to ■ oncentrate on the feeble- minded. My reasons are based not only on what I hear from you 

 about Miss Kirby, but especially from what was told me a week ago by a most intelligent lady- 

 doctor, who keeps a "home" in London (in Wimpole Street I think), Dr Lillias Hamilton, of 

 Afghanistan celebrity. She was nurse and doctor to the late Ameer during five or six years. 



