RECORD: Emma Darwin's diary for: 1864. CUL-DAR242[.28]. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua, corrections by John van Wyhe 4.2019. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of Richard Darwin Keynes. See the introduction to Emma Darwin's diaries here. All of the diaries are also available in a single file here, which has the latest corrections.

Introduction by Christine Chua:

It is unfathomable the assortment of suffering Darwin went through in 1864. Throughout the year, he was either having acid sickness, bilious vomiting, heart palpitations or great exhaustion, sometimes all at once. The medication or remedies prescribed included bismuth, pepsine, quinine, blue pill, grey powder, nitre, and last but not least, opium. Whenever he could, he visited the hothouse, sometimes several times a day, to help him to carry on with work and experiments. Mrs Darwin kept detailed records of his illness, ever devoting her time and attention to the care of her husband. In a week in June, she cryptically entered "C.!!".


[page break]

[Printed Title] Harwood's Diamond Diary with An Almanack for 1864

Aug. owe for Haydns Symph- no. 11. 5/.

Genius genius

12 –

9 –

1 – 1 [crossed out]

2 – 1

9

January 1864

31 – began wrist compress

Friday, 1 January 1864

acid sickness 8-

good day

billiards

[doodle]

Saturday, 2 January 1864

began quinine

much discomf till 1.

several times sick

Eliz came

blue pill

good night

acid sick

January 1864

Sunday, 3 January 1864

acid sick 11 –

Do – 6

Do – 8

- 9 twice

Monday, 4 January 1864

slight acid 8.

began pepsine

acid 5 –

- 9

several in night

very bad night-

Tuesday, 5 January 1864

8 [crossed out] 9.30 –

fine day

several times in night

Wednesday, 6 January 1864

8 am. –

began bismuth

much better afternoon

12 acid

Thursday, 7 January 1864

10 – twice

12 – slight

1- [crossed out]

Friday, 8 January 1864

4. am-

8- am.

Saturday, 9 January 1864

Hor. began bismuth

1 a.m.

January 1864

Sunday, 10 January 1864

much flat all day

copious sickness 9.30. p.m.

Monday, 11 January 1864

8.30 slight

10.30 bad sick & distress

2.30 many times

2 time [crossed out] twice in night

Tuesday, 12 January 1864

8 – slight

11 – several

1-30 several times

more comf in afternoon

in night 2 or 3.

Wednesday, 13 January 1864

9.30 –

much better afternoon

began bismuth

took extra opium

bad flat & sickness in night

Thursday, 14 January 1864

8 –

930 –

1.30 pm –

g. afternoon

Friday, 15 January 1864

9.30 –

5 –

no sickness at night

Saturday, 16 January 1864

January 1864

Sunday, 17 January 1864

Monday, 18 January 1864

Children to London

Tuesday, 19 January 1864

Wm. went

C took a turn

out twice

bad sickness at 11. P.m.

Wednesday, 20 January 1864

uncomf day

sick 9.30 several times

& twice more

Thursday, 21 January 1864

7.30

9.30 several times

blue pill

Friday, 22 January 1864

9.30 several times

Effie Hope & Ed. came

dazzling & sickness 6.

much sickness till 11 & once more

dazzling twice

Saturday, 23 January 1864

8.

mending all day

v.g. night

January 1864

Sunday, 24 January 1864

rheumatism & excellent day

Monday, 25 January 1864

Effie & Ed went

Tuesday, 26 January 1864

Twice at hot house

Hope went

sick 12.30 p.m.

Wednesday, 27 January 1864

Lizzy to school.

Thursday, 28 January 1864

10 – great languor & sick

1 –

very uncomf day

1.

Friday, 29 January 1864

8.30

out a little

faint sick 8.30

bad night [line erased]

F E W. came

Saturday, 30 January 1864

8.30.

v. g. day.

hot house twice

faint sick 8.30 p.m [line crossed out]

February 1864

Sunday, 31 January 1864

slight sick at 10.30

3 times to hot house

Monday, 1 February 1864

g. day -

3 times hot house -

Tuesday, 2 February 1864

uncomf day [line crossed out]

g. day

2 – hot house

Wednesday, 3 February 1864

Uncomf.

sickness many times from 7. till 10 & once in night

Thursday, 4 February 1864

great languor & discomf

sick 11 & 2 or 3 more.

7.30. – several times

12 – p.m-

Friday, 5 February 1864

8. - -

mending all day

2 hot house

sick 12. p.m.

Saturday, 6 February 1864

languid m.

sick 1- once out hot.

- 4. 3 times

12 pm

February 1864

Sunday, 7 February 1864

8-

9.30

11.30 several times

mending all afternoon

Monday, 8 February 1864

out 4 times v.g.

sick 11 p.m –

much flat.

Tuesday, 9 February 1864

sick 8.30 acid

many times

palpit. heart

once in night

H. no flat

Wednesday, 10 February 1864

830 –

out 4 times

much flat in night

H. no flat

colch

Thursday, 11 February 1864

- 8. –

10.30

11 –

out twice

7 –

10 –

p.m

colch

H. no fl-

began compress

Friday, 12 February 1864

8. sickness

11-

out once

sick 5 –

3 in night [line crossed out]

great flat & discomf

Saturday, 13 February 1864

3.a.m.

tol day.

out once

v.g. night

February 1864

Sunday, 14 February 1864

-10 – 3 times great discomfort till 1-

mending –

excellent night

Monday, 15 February 1864

v.g day

out 3 times

H flat 1st time for 6 days

Hen. to London-

Tuesday, 16 February 1864

acid sick 11-a.m.

out twice

sick 9-

came back

Wednesday, 17 February 1864

excellent day

began sulph. acid

Thursday, 18 February 1864

sick 8-

headache & languid

acid twice

very torpid & uncomf evg. & night

Friday, 19 February 1864

snow began -

8- bilious

9.30 –

better in afternoon

once out

Saturday, 20 February 1864

began acid once

v.g. day

out 4 times

February 1864

Sunday, 21 February 1864

Took acid once

v.g. day

4 times out

Monday, 22 February 1864

v.g. out 4 times

sick 9. p.m.

great flat & discomfort in night

once sick

Tuesday, 23 February 1864

sick 10.30 –

out once

- 4-30 several times

uncomf evg.

Wednesday, 24 February 1864

v. g. day –

Thursday, 25 February 1864

v.g.

up from 9 to 1.

Friday, 26 February 1864

slight acid 8

v.g

Saturday, 27 February 1864

uncommonly well till 5- sick several times

8.20 bad headache & bilious vomit till 11.30

Children from sch.

February - March 1864

Sunday, 28 February 1864

rather languid

sick 5-

out 2-

Monday, 29 February 1864

headache me. grey p.

sick 10-30 –

left off acid

bad exhaustion & sickness 9 – 10

out 2

Tuesday, 1 March 1864  

bad exhaust sick 10-30

Hen went to London

5 –

11 –

out once

Wednesday, 2 March 1864

out twice [crossed out] 3 times

sick 1.15

stronger

began acid & pills

Thursday, 3 March 1864

- 4.30

out twice

12-30 –

O

Friday, 4 March 1864

once out

12 –

out

3 –

left of pill & acid

12 p.m.

grey p me

Saturday, 5 March 1864

v.g morning

sick 1.20.

out 3 times

twice to end of garden

-9 - 10-

once in night

March 1864

me in bed

Sunday, 6 March 1864 

8- acid sick -10-30-

1 – slight

6.15

3 times out

bad bilious from 10 to 11.30

Monday, 7 March 1864

8. bilious –

12-30 acid

bad vomiting from 10 to 12 –

2 out

Tuesday, 8 March 1864

v.g. day

sick 7.45

9 – pm. acid

out 4

Wednesday, 9 March 1864

8. acid

9.30 –

12. slight

out 1

from 8 to 10. no distress

once again

Thursday, 10 March 1864

4. am-

8-

much sickness from 10 to 11 –

pretty comf all day

out 1

8.15 – for some time

good night

Friday, 11 March 1864

began nitre

7- am –

10 –

5 – 3 or 4 times

cough & cold began –

not out

good night

Saturday, 12 March 1864

8.30 several times till 11…good night

March 1864

Sunday, 13 March 1864 

11-15 –

12- 30 –

Monday, 14 March 1864

4. a.m-

6.30 –

a little after tea

Tuesday, 15 March 1864

1.30

more comf day.

8-

great flat in night & slight sickness

Wednesday, 16 March 1864

better day

pretty comf

sick 9.30

v.g night

Thursday, 17 March 1864

9.30

11-15 – slight

1 – very slight

6.30 – 3 times

9.30

left off opium

Friday, 18 March 1864

4 – am –

6. – 3 times

8  3 times

left off nitre

Saturday, 19 March 1864

6. am-

10 – am

2 –

out to hot house

9-15

12-

March 1864

Sunday, 20 March 1864

3. am. slight

11 – Dr Jenner

4 –

sick from 10 to 12/-

out 1

O

Monday, 21 March 1864

O

1 –

5-30

9-

Tuesday, 22 March 1864

O

12.30

3 –

4-10

5- 6-

9 –

began lime water

chalk & mag

Wednesday, 23 March 1864

O

11- 11.30 & twice more slight

5 – 3 or 4 times

10 –

Camilla came

Thursday, 24 March 1864

more comf

out on lawn twice

slight sick in night

took colch & pod.

1st time

Friday, 25 March 1864

O

weak but stomach well most of day

out on lawn

Saturday, 26 March 1864

O

Susan & Eliz

out twice to hot house

March 1864

Sunday, 27 March 1864

out hot –

sick 3.30

 - 6 -

10 –

12 –

Monday, 28 March 1864

out 1-

Tuesday, 29 March 1864

out 1

sick 1-

- 3. headache went

4 or 5 times

began chalk & mag – [line crossed out]

Susan & Eliz went

8-30 till 10

Wednesday, 30 March 1864

Camilla went

pod.

March - April 1864

Thursday, 31 March 1864

v. g day

out 3 times

great struggle against sickness

Friday, 1 April 1864

3 times out once to end of sand walk

Emily T. came

Saturday, 2 April 1864

Wm came

3 times out

bad struggle at night

pod.

April 1864

Sunday, 3 April 1864

12 p.m. slightly

Monday, 4 April 1864

8. a.m –

Wm went

9- slight twice

1 out

Tuesday, 5 April 1864

Boys & Lizzy went to school

9 - 9.30

1 – out

Wednesday, 6 April 1864

v.g. day

out 3 times

12 pm. slightly sick

Thursday, 7 April 1864

8- a.m slightly sick

3 [crossed out]

4 times out

pod

Friday, 8 April 1864

5 times out

once sand walk

Saturday, 9 April 1864

8 a m slightly

G. came from Cam.

April 1864

Sunday, 10 April 1864

1 a.m. slight

Dr Jenner

Monday, 11 April 1864

out 5 times

Lizzy Turnbull

Tuesday, 12 April 1864

11 st – 3 1/2 lb

Do –

sand walk

field

began iron

Wednesday, 13 April 1864

G. Hen. Ho to L. H. P.

sick 6.30.

pod.

Thursday, 14 April 1864

out 7 times

Friday, 15 April 1864

twice round the sandw.

at once -

Saturday, 16 April 1864

G. Hen & Ho. home by Croy

S. E W came

April 1864

Sunday, 17 April 1864

languid & torpid in mg.

pod.

Monday, 18 April 1864

Tuesday, 19 April 1864

Ho to Mr Reed

Wednesday, 20 April 1864

S E W went

Thursday, 21 April 1864

not so brisk

pod –

Wm came

Friday, 22 April 1864

grey p. me-

Saturday, 23 April 1864

April 1864

Sunday, 24 April 1864

headache me

Monday, 25 April 1864

Cath came

Wm went

pod -

Tuesday, 26 April 1864

Wednesday, 27 April 1864

Thursday, 28 April 1864

v. g. day

struggle against sickness

Friday, 29 April 1864

pod -

Saturday, 30 April 1864

Children from school & Alfred

great flat at night

May 1864

Sunday, 1 May 1864

uncomf

pod -

Monday, 2 May 1864

uncomf

Tuesday, 3 May 1864

Ditto

Wednesday, 4 May 1864

better

Thursday, 5 May 1864

pod

Friday, 6 May 1864

v.g. mg –

uncomf evg_ extreme flat –

Hen went to London

Saturday, 7 May 1864

v. g – day

grey p. me

May 1864

Sunday, 8 May 1864

E.D well

v.g. day C –

Monday, 9 May 1864

pod-

Tuesday, 10 May 1864

C.D. 11 st. 3 1/2 lb

HED. 8 st 3 3/4 lb

Wednesday, 11 May 1864

Thursday, 12 May 1864

Friday, 13 May 1864

Saturday, 14 May 1864

fine

Eliz. came

pod.

May 1864

Sunday, 15 May 1864

fine

great flat in night

Monday, 16 May 1864

Tuesday, 17 May 1864

hot

Eliz went

Wednesday, 18 May 1864

very hot

Thursday, 19 May 1864

v.g – day –

very hot

Friday, 20 May 1864

Rain

Saturday, 21 May 1864

weather changed

cold

Boys from school

May 1864

Sunday, 22 May 1864

Dr Jenner

Monday, 23 May 1864

pod

Tuesday, 24 May 1864

splendid day -

Wednesday, 25 May 1864

Thursday, 26 May 1864

very cold & dry

Friday, 27 May 1864

v.g. day

Saturday, 28 May 1864

Hen & Wm came

Boys from school

May – June 1864

Sunday, 29 May 1864

Cold rain

Dr Jenner [line crossed out]

not so well

Monday, 30 May 1864

frost

not so well

pod

Tuesday, 31 May 1864

g. day-

very bad flat [line crossed out]

Wednesday, 1 June 1864

very bad flat. faintness

headache all day

Thursday, 2 June 1864

Friday, 3 June 1864

C. pretty well but not so strong for walking

g.p -

Saturday, 4 June 1864

At Em's death

Lizzy & Miss Grundy

Hen went to London in evg.

g.p.

June 1864

Sunday, 5 June 1864

v.g. me –

C!!

Hen returned

Monday, 6 June 1864

C.!!

girls went

Snow came

Tuesday, 7 June 1864

C.!!

I went to London in mg –

Hen in evg.

Wednesday, 8 June 1864

C.!!

Thursday, 9 June 1864

C.!!

Friday, 10 June 1864

C.!

Saturday, 11 June 1864

C.!!

Snow went

I to Bromley

g.p. me

June 1864

Sunday, 12 June 1864

Monday, 13 June 1864

Tuesday, 14 June 1864

g.p.

Wednesday, 15 June 1864

slight headache

Thursday, 16 June 1864

Friday, 17 June 1864

Saturday, 18 June 1864

June 1864

Sunday, 19 June 1864

Monday, 20 June 1864

C. 11 st – 2

H. 5 – 7 1/2

Tuesday, 21 June 1864

Wednesday, 22 June 1864

Boys came

cold

Thursday, 23 June 1864

rainy

Friday, 24 June 1864

Mack's death

Saturday, 25 June 1864

June 1864

Sunday, 26 June 1864

Monday, 27 June 1864

Tuesday, 28 June 1864

Wednesday, 29 June 1864

June – July 1864

Thursday, 30 June 1864

Cold & dry week

C. not very well.

Friday, 1 July 1864

Saturday, 2 July 1864

July 1864

Sunday, 3 July 1864

Monday, 4 July 1864

C. very unwell faint &c

Wednesday, 5 July 1864

I went to Dr Jenner

called on Cath.

Thursday, 6 July 1864

W. came

Thursday, 7 July 1864

W. G. went

Friday, 8 July 1864

Saturday, 9 July 1864

Boys & Alfred went

Hen. to Thorley's

July 1864

Sunday, 10 July 1864

Monday, 11 July 1864

Hen. came from London with Miss M.

pod

Tuesday, 12 July 1864

v.g.!!

took Miss Meek back

called on Miss P.

Wednesday, 13 July 1864

!!

Hen to Lamas

Thursday, 14 July 1864

!!

Admiral Stokes called

Friday, 15 July 1864

Milmans & Lyells

Saturday, 16 July 1864

Went to lunch at Lamas & brot H home

July 1864

Sunday, 17 July 1864

J. Lubbock came to lunch

Monday, 18 July 1864

Tuesday, 19 July 1864

F & Lenny came

Wednesday, 20 July 1864

Horace physic

Thursday, 21 July 1864

Friday, 22 July 1864

Lizzy from school

Editha-

Saturday, 23 July 1864

Rain

July 1864

Sunday, 24 July 1864

Monday, 25 July 1864

Editha went

Tuesday, 26 July 1864

Lizzy began physic

Wednesday, 27 July 1864

Thursday, 28 July 1864

Editha went [line crossed out]

Elinor came

Friday, 29 July 1864

Saturday, 30 July 1864

L. H. P came

[page break]

July – August 1864

Sunday, 31 July 1864

Monday, 1 August 1864

W. & G.

Tuesday, 2 August 1864

races at High Elms

W. G. from abroad

Wednesday, 3 August 1864

Millicent came

Eliz. C. & Jos went

Thursday, 4 August 1864

party to Lullingstone

Miss Thorleys came

Friday, 5 August 1864

L. H. P. girls went

Saturday, 6 August 1864

Frank W. came

August 1864

Sunday, 7 August 1864

Monday, 8 August 1864

C attack of sickness

better in afternoon

Tuesday, 9 August 1864

Wednesday, 10 August 1864

Millicent went

F & L to school.

Girls to London

Thursday, 11 August 1864

Girls to IIfracombe

Friday, 12 August 1864

Saturday, 13 August 1864

August 1864

Sunday, 14 August 1864

Monday, 15 August 1864

Tuesday, 16 August 1864

left off chalk

Wednesday, 17 August 1864

began bismuth &c.

Thursday, 18 August 1864

Horace sick

Friday, 19 August 1864

G. to Southampton

g.p. me

Saturday, 20 August 1864

!! me

August 1864

Sunday, 21 August 1864

began phosph. iron

Monday, 22 August 1864

Tuesday, 23 August 1864

Wednesday, 24 August 1864

Eliz to Mr P.

2 – 13 – 6

Thursday, 25 August 1864

Came to No 4 Chester P.

Friday, 26 August 1864

Saturday, 27 August 1864

play.

August 1864

Sunday, 28 August 1864

Boys from Clap.

Went to Zo

Monday, 29 August 1864

Tuesday, 30 August 1864

Wednesday, 31 August 1864

Music 6.

Candles 1 – 12 –

bonnet 2 – 0 -

September 1864

Thursday, 1 September 1864

Came home

Friday, 2 September 1864

Saturday, 3 September 1864

Hen. to L. H. P.

September 1864

Sunday, 4 September 1864

Monday, 5 September 1864

Lizzy to Miss T.

Tuesday, 6 September 1864

Wednesday, 7 September 1864

Lizzy came home

Thursday, 8 September 1864

Friday, 9 September 1864

Saturday, 10 September 1864

3 boys came from school.

September 1864

Sunday, 11 September 1864

fine day –

walk in wood nuts.

Monday, 12 September 1864

Boys went back

Tuesday, 13 September 1864

heavy rain

Wednesday, 14 September 1864

Henrietta came home –

Thursday, 15 September 1864

Lizzy to school.

Friday, 16 September 1864

Saturday, 17 September 1864

Ch. Cath & Edmund came.

C. rather bad

September 1864

Sunday, 18 September 1864

C. poorly.

Monday, 19 September 1864

Tuesday, 20 September 1864

Wednesday, 21 September 1864

began phosph. iron

Thursday, 22 September 1864

Friday, 23 September 1864

Saturday, 24 September 1864

H. & Jessie came

Edmund & Horace to Hartfield

g. p. me -

September 1864

Sunday, 25 September 1864

Monday, 26 September 1864

C!

beautiful weather

Tuesday, 27 September 1864

C!

podoph. me.

Wednesday, 28 September 1864

September - October 1864

Thursday, 29 September 1864

Friday, 30 September 1864

Saturday, 1 October 1864

Wm from South.

All the Hensleigh party.

October 1864

Sunday, 2 October 1864

Wm went

Monday, 3 October 1864

Erny Do

Tuesday, 4 October 1864

Wednesday, 5 October 1864

Fanny, H. & Snow went

Thursday, 6 October 1864

G. from school

Friday, 7 October 1864

Saturday, 8 October 1864

Boys from sch - & W,

October 1864

Sunday, 9 October 1864

Mr & Mrs Cresy.

Monday, 10 October 1864

boys went

Tuesday, 11 October 1864

Wednesday, 12 October 1864

C. attack of sickness in night

Thursday, 13 October 1864

Hope & Effie went

Friday, 14 October 1864

Saturday, 15 October 1864

Lyells came

October 1864

Sunday, 16 October 1864

Monday, 17 October 1864

Lyells went

Tuesday, 18 October 1864

(? Horace) → [not in Emma Darwin's handwriting]

bad hysteria & sickness

Wednesday, 19 October 1864

Thursday, 20 October 1864

Friday, 21 October 1864

Saturday, 22 October 1864

H. to Mr Reed.

flat & uncomf in evg.

October - November 1864

[23 October - 29 October 1864 not microfilmed]

Sunday, 30 October 1864

Monday, 31 October 1864

Hen. to London. Woodhouse

Tuesday, 1 November 1864

H. Reed –

Hen back

well evg.

Wednesday, 2 November 1864

uncomf. mg 11 [crossed out]. till dinner

Thursday, 3 November 1864

Friday, 4 November 1864

Saturday, 5 November 1864

Girls from school & Rose & Mabel –

Hen to London

November 1864

Sunday, 6 November 1864

Monday, 7 November 1864

Hen home

Tuesday, 8 November 1864

Wednesday, 9 November 1864

Hen. to Ravensbourne

Thursday, 10 November 1864

poorly

Friday, 11 November 1864

Ditto

Saturday, 12 November 1864

C. unwell in bed most of day

Boys from sch.

November 1864

Sunday, 13 November 1864

C. unwell

better in evg.

Monday, 14 November 1864

Better at work a little

Tuesday, 15 November 1864

at work

very rocking in afternoon

Wednesday, 16 November 1864

Thursday, 17 November 1864

Friday, 18 November 1864

Went to West Abbey

Eliz came

Saturday, 19 November 1864

Hen & Luds to Xtal Pal -

November 1864

Sunday, 20 November 1864

Monday, 21 November 1864

Tuesday, 22 November 1864

Horace stiff neck & poorly

Wednesday, 23 November 1864

C. left off alkali

Thursday, 24 November 1864

Friday, 25 November 1864

Eliz went

Saturday, 26 November 1864

November 1864

Sunday, 27 November 1864

Monday, 28 November 1864

Tuesday, 29 November 1864

Wednesday, 30 November 1864

December 1864

Thursday, 1 December 1864

Friday, 2 December 1864

Saturday, 3 December 1864

Wm came

December 1864

Sunday, 4 December 1864

Monday, 5 December 1864

Tuesday, 6 December 1864

Wm went

Camilla went

Wednesday, 7 December 1864

Thursday, 8 December 1864

Friday, 9 December 1864

Saturday, 10 December 1864

December 1864

Sunday, 11 December 1864

Monday, 12 December 1864

Hen went to Cumberland P.

Tuesday, 13 December 1864

Wednesday, 14 December 1864

Thursday, 15 December 1864

Hor. sickness

Hen & Geo. came from London

C. bad night

Friday, 16 December 1864

C. unwell in bed

Saturday, 17 December 1864

[18 December – 31 December 1864 not microfilmed]


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 25 September, 2022