Sent from Edward Nettleship
25 Feb 1913
Description:

‘My dear Pearson,

To save trouble I answer your questions by number & [am] enclosing your own letter –

(i) – I am writing to Mrs Dew-Smith for particulars of the expected [Jamoury?] lot & will let you hear as soon as I get anything from her; I cannot find that she has sent anything hitherto.

(ii) Jill’s 5th litter, born 27th July 1912.

a [male] born dead or suffocated by mother; big puppy, well-formed; coat the usual very light brown of these new-born puppies all over except a pure white “shirt-front” over sternum.

b – [female] found dead about 7 days after birth; had seemed [to be] doing well: not examined post mortem.

c – [female] lived nearly 3 weeks; much smaller than Peggy & was pushed about by her; but even when Peggy taken away &c. left alone with mother did not suck properly. When about 7-10 days old taken into house & fed by bottle & kept in cotton wool; still did not suck well, & more than once turned “blue” & was thought to be dead some days before actually dying: post-mortem, large communication between R. & L. auricles of heart (“patent[?] foramen ovale”)

(N.B. Some young animals are born with such a condition, but the opening ought to be valvular or not in c. but the symptoms (difficult sucking & dusky colour[)], were those well known in “pathological” imperfection of the inter-auricular septum & I think it fair to attribute its death to the heart condition; there was no other evident disease.).

d. [female] Peggy, the only one that lived; a very nice-natured puppy, rather large & nose too long.

All the 4 were albinotic as to eyes & had the usual very light coat with some pure white. Peggy’s tail pure white at tip.

Peggy given when about 8 weeks old to Miss Berry daughter of Dr Berry of Ramsgate & has I hear since been passed on to an old lady at Ramsgate who took a fancy to her.

a. b. c. d. do not show order of birth; a. was certainly neither 1st or 4th born, but either 2nd or 3rd. I was with Jill most of the time; a. was born whilst I was away for nearly 2 hours after birth of 1st & 2nd & on going back found a. born & dead & another living one. Jill in labour 10.30 pm. to 5 am. next morning.

(iii) Jill’s 4th litter born 4 August 1911

4 Puppies all born between about 8 & 10 am

2 decidedly coloured, 2 almost white.

a. Certainly born last, [female], was just dead when born, tongue protruded & head convected[?], the largest of the 4, white coat; I was not there till a few minutes after birth; not examined. Coat light brownish.

b. [male], almost pure white coat: did not or could not suck well & died est.[?] 21 days: not examined except as to palate which was normal.

c. [male] Light brownish, called “Lo”. Did well for 8 weeks; found dead in yard Sunday morning 1st October; the night had been the first cold night of the season, Jill & the 2 surviving pups were rather too large for their “nest” & I thought Lo had probably got pushed out & died of cold in the night.

d. [male] Fo[?] 2nd – white coat; lived & did well; given to a friend of one of our maids & is thought to be now with the friend (Mrs .... [sic], lately married & I don’t know the name) at Headley.

[(]iv[)]. Coats & the Dingo eyes. I did not know you had actually sent him the eyes. I shall not be seeing him just yet so you had better stir him up. He is pretty well occupied with Hospitals & some lectures; but we can I have no doubt get the eyes sectioned at the Moorfields laboratory if he cannot do the job with his own hands.

Your building news is hopeful if not exactly fully satisfying & I sincerely hope you will get what you want.

[(]v.[)] “Weeinie” must I think be the [female] Usher bought from Mrs Brabason, but am not sure I ever heard the name. I know Usher said he should write to Mrs B. for the pedigree of teh [female] he had from her. If there is any difficulty then I can write to Mrs B. if you let me know.

I have taken on a small job for the Board of Trade as I referee amongst 3 who have to re-examine the sight (colour - & form-vision) if men who want to become officers in the Mercantile Marine & have appealed against a previous rejection. It means going to Abney’s Laboratory when I am sent for, so far about once a week since December. I did not want to do it but the matter was put in such a way that I did not like to refuse. I am the first medical i.e. ophthamological member of the “Court” & they thought best to have some one known I suppose. I do not suppose my tenure to be a long one.

Yours sincerely,

E. Nettleship.’