[Sir William Fergusson, Professor of Surgery and Senior Surgeon to King's College Hospital.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Wm. Fergusson') to William Frederick Cleveland, M.D., regarding meetings and patients in common.
For information on the recipient the physician William Frederick Cleveland (1823-1898), see his obituary, BMJ, Both 1p, 12mo, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering at back. ONE: 13 November 1863. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. He will be happy to meet Cleveland the following day, 'at 29 U. Hamilton Terrace between 4.15 & 4.30'. He has to be 'in the neighbourhood at 4', and does not know 'how long I may be detained', 'but I fancy that I may be with you by the last named hour'. TWO: 16 April 1863. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks him for his note and hopes 'to meet with you as usual on Sunday at 3.30'. He concludes: 'I found our patient a little better this afternoon'. From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.