RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1887. [Letter to W. H. Dallinger, 1878]. In Dallinger, The president's address. Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society: 191-192.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 5.2022. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here.
This is the only known source for this letter. The editors of the Correspondence vol. 26, p. 266 note "Dallinger had sent CD a copy of his paper 'On the life history of a minute septic organism: with an account of experiments made to determine its thermal death-point' (Dallinger 1878; see letter from W. H. Dallinger, 29 June 1878)."
[page] 191
I was making for systematic inquiry in that direction. After words all too generous, he said in his reply, which was dated July 2nd, 1878, "I did not know that you were attending to the mutation of the lower organisms under changed conditions of life; and your results, I have no doubt, will be extremely curious and valuable. The fact
[page] 192
which you mention about their being adapted to certain temperatures, but becoming gradually accustomed to much higher ones, is very remarkable. It explains the existence of algae in hot springs. How extremely interesting an examination under high powers on the spot, of the mud of such springs would be."
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 28 November, 2022