Manchester, 22 February 1866 

Dear Moor, 

Thanks for ‘Klein Zaches’,* etc., which I take as evidence that 
you have received the £10. 

I have just come from Gumpert, whom I did not see unti] this 
evening on account of my influenza and having missed him 
several times. He considers that you should start the arsenic at once. 
Whatever happens it can do you no harm, but only good. He 
dismisses Allen’s comment that it does not agree with you as 
rubbish. He also considers treatment with poultices to be 
nonsense; it only encourages inflammation of the skin, which is 
precisely what needs to be suppressed, while it does not encourage 
suppuration. Ice-packs would be much better, but as long as you 
are in Allen’s hands, these could only be applied if he prescribed 
them, of course. But above all, sea air, to restore your strength. A 
spot on the south coast would be preferable, it is true, as in this 
season the weather there is better than up here, but if you would 
rather be near Gumpert, there are places enough on the coast 
here within AN HOUR'S RIDE FROM MAncuHeEsTER. 

You can see I have got Gumpert to change his attitude, so that 
he is now pressing you to take arsenic at once, even though Allen 
is still treating you externally, whereas before, for reasons of 
etiquette, he would not hear of it. But do me a favour now and 
take the arsenic, and come up here just as soon as your condition 
permits, so that you do at last get better. With this constant 
procrastination you are just ruining yourself; no one can 
withstand such a chronic succession of carbuncles for long, apart 
from the fact that eventually you may get one that becomes so 
acute as to be the end of you. And where will your book and 
your family be then? 

You know that I am prepared to do what is in my power, and, 
in this extreme case, more even than I ought to risk in other 
circumstances. But you must be sensible, too, and do me and your 
family the one favour of getting yourself cured. What would become 

aE. T. A. Hoffmann, Klein-Zaches, genannt Zinnober. - » Capital 

of the whole movement if anything were to happen to you, and 
the way you are proceeding, that will be the inevitable outcome. I 
really shall not have any peace day or night until I have got you 
over this business, and every day that passes without my hearing 
anything from you, I worry and imagine you are worse again. 

Nota bene. You should never again Jet things come to such a pass 
that a carbuncle which actually ought to be lanced, is not lanced. 
That is extremely dangerous. 

Kindest regards to the apres. 

Your 
F. E.