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Salop [November] 6

Dear Erasmus

I wish you to try a dram (a tea spoonful) of the compound Tincture of Benzoin twice a day, some after breakfast & before dinner, if disagreeable by itself, you had better have the Tincture mixed in the syrup of sugar equal parts & so take 2 tea spoonfuls at a time.

Should like you to rub the sternum with a strong solution of extract of Belladona every day & bash it off from time to time, or apply a plaister of Belladona to the part the better will be least troublesome, the former more efficacious the solution is made by six drams of the extract in one ounce of rectified spirit of wine & the same quantity of distilled water.

I wish you would try this plan & continue the opium for ten days or a fortnight & if does not answer then try a little wine again & omit the opium. I am always anxious to hear from you & pray write from time to time. your affectionate

RWD.

PS. if the Benzoin agrees, but does not feel strong enough, take more, double if you like

[envelope?]

almanack of Father 1839

3 scraps of Father for autographs

2 signatures

a letter of Dr RW Darwin

Dr Hooker to me re Geneva plantarum