MARX TO ENGELS”? 

[Algiers, 28-] 31 March 1882 

Dear Frep, 

28 March: A maddeningly wet day early this morning — when I fin- 
ished writing a short epistle to Tussy.?** This had already gone off, 
however, when a storm developed which, for the first time, put on 
a good performance; not only howling wind, torrents of rain and 
thunder, but incessant lightning into THE Barcain. This went on until 
late at night, accompanied as usual by a considerable drop in tempe- 
rature. Interesting, the varying colours of the waves in the lovely, 
almost elliptical bay; the surf snowy white, and the sea beyond 
changing from blue to green. 

* by magic cap- Moors-° Henri, Edgar and Marcel Longuet -“ Marx is referring to 
the third German edition of Volume One of Capital. 

29 March (Wednesday): Maddening drizzle today; no less madden- 
ing the moaning gusts of wind; temperature, cold and damp. 

Today, shortly before déjeuner* (takes place at a QUARTER PAST OF per- 
haps half past 11) Dr Stephann arrived for the specific purpose of ‘de- 
voting’ himself to the painting of those places at the very bottom of 
my back and chest he had specially signalled out and reserved for his 
own attack. Beforehand, as on every visit, a thorough examination; 
by far the largest part of my left side was accorded much better srartus; 
the aforementioned nethermost spots, presently giving forth no more 
than a low murmur in place of Helmholtz’s musical note, can only be 
put to rights by slow degrees (anything speedier being hampered by 
the bad weather). Today, for the first time,— no doubt because he 
thought me far enough on the road to recovery for him to speak his 
mind —Stephann told me that I had already suffered a rechute> of 
a most serious kind by the time I arrived in Algiers. The épanchements« 
could only be controlled by recourse to vésicatoires,‘ and I had made 
better progress than might have been foreseen. He added, however, 
that I should have to treat myself very carefully for years. When 
I leave Algiers, he will give me a written diagnosis — intended in par- 
ticular for my London doctor.t People of my age, he said, should: be 
careful not to experiment too often with rechutes. A few hours after 
déjeuner the tableau‘ on my skin began to come to life in grim earnest; 
like someone who feels his epidermis has contracted and he himself is 
seeking to burst out of it; agony all night long; I had been absolutely 
forbidden to scratch. 

30 March: At 8 o’clock in the morning my assistant-pocror, my help- 
mate,’ appeared at my bedside. It transpired that, as a result of spon- 
taneous movements, the blisters GeneraLiy had burst; a veritable flood 
had taken place during the night — linen, flannel, night-shirt soaked. 
So the painting had had the desired effect on the places under attack. My 
kind evr at once proceeded to bandage me, not only so as to prevent 
the flannel’s rubbing, but also to draw off what remained of the fluid. 
This morning (31 March) Mr Casthelaz discovered that the suction 
was at last nearing its end and the process of drying-out almost 
complete. This being so, I shall probably be able to undergo a second 
application within the same week (beginning 29 March). Tant mieux." 

4 Junch-? relapse-‘ effusions-¢ vesicatories-° Dr Donkin-‘ picture-* Maurice 
Casthelaz-" So much the better. 

30 March (yesterday), the weather turned nice and warm at about 
midday, for which reason I strolled out onto the balcony; later I slept 
a little to make up for the restless night, as I shall also do today, since 
the strict avoidance of scratching keeps one awake at night even 
though, as during the night of 30 to 31, it’s not agonising. 

Weather today (31 March) uncertain; no rain yet, at all events; 
might turn relatively ‘fine’ towards midday, as it did yesterday. 

There’s nothing further to add to the health bulletin; quite satisfac- 
tory on the whole. 

Have received [a letter] from Tussychen today. 

Apropos, a short while ago she sent me the enclosed letter; I can’t 
make out the signature; you will be able to. At all events a strange 
phenomenon, a Quedlinburg lawyer with a Weltanschauung of his 
own! But one thing I can’t make out: Has the copy of the chap’s 
‘book’ intended for me arrived at Maitland Park,* or does he want to 
have my exact address first so as to ensure that his book gets there 
safely? If the first, Tussy should acknowledge receipt of his book, if the 
second, send him my ‘safe’ address. 

Mon cher, like other family MEMBERS, you, too, will have been struck 
by my mistakes in spelling and syntax, and bad grammar; I never re- 
call these — my absent-mindedness being still very great — until after 
the event. SHows you there’s something in the saying sana mens in sano 
corpore.. No doubt this will mend itself sy anp sy. 

The tocsin pour déjeuner* has just sounded and this little note must 
accordingly be got ready for the messenger to Algiers. So my love to 
one and all. 

Your 
Moor