London, | July 1873 

Dear Kugelmann, 

The entire story about Marx’s illness stems from that idiot 
Barry, who got it into the newspapers ” and who will be given a 
good telling-off for it when he shows his face again. 

The actual situation is as follows: From time to time but to an 
increasing extent over a period of years now, Marx has suffered 
from insomnia, which he has always tried to explain away with all 
sorts of unconvincing reasons, e.g. a persistent cough in the 
throat, but which remained even when the cough had been cured. 
The real slog with the French translation of Capital (he more or 
less has to rewrite the whole thing from the beginning), the 
urgings of the publisher* and unpleasantness connected both with 
this and other things exacerbated the situation. However, he could 
not be brought to stop overworking himself until finally he began 

a Maurice Lachatre 

to experience a conspicuous pressure at the top of the head and 
the insomnia increased to an unbearable point where even very 
powerful doses of chloral had no effect. I knew about these 
symptoms from Lupus* who had also worked himself sick, was 
then neglected by his doctor and was finally treated for what was 
falsely diagnosed as meningitis. So I told Marx straightaway that 
he had the same thing as Lupus and that he must stop working. 
He first tried to shrug it off with bad jokes, but soon discovered 
that the more he forced himself the less work he could do. So I 
finally prevailed on him to go to Manchester and consult 
Gumpert. The latter just happened to be in Celle on a visit to 
his cousin Captain Wachs, so that Marx had about 12 days in 
Manchester to recover before Gumpert returned. I had written to 
Gumpert,” giving my opinion, and had also told him that Marx 
usually recovered very quickly. Gumpert thought my diagnosis was 
completely correct and put Marx under a strict regime: not more 
than 2 hours work in the morning and 2 in the evening, insisted 
on breakfast and exercise after breakfast, light wines with 
soda-water, plenty of movement, open bowels, a prescription I 
have not seen, a very powerful dose of chloral if the insomnia 
persisted, etc. Marx returned from Manchester much improved 
and even if he cannot quite keep it up, which is more than can be 
expected, he is nevertheless much better than previously, even on 
bad days. My intention is to take him right away from his work 
routine soon for a while, something which Gumpert incidentally 
also recommends as a definitive antidote, and if he can only get 
2-3 weeks rest and fresh air, he will be in a better state to take a 
few knocks. At all events he now sleeps 4-5 hours a night without 
chloral and 1-1'/. hours after luncheon, and that is more than he 
has done for almost a year—in The Hague, for example, he hardly 
slept at all. Moreover, he knows that this time it is serious and 
sticks to the stipulations with an almost pedantic strictness, and, 
since any deterioration is immediately apparent, I can always 
preach rest and convalescence in good time.’ 

Otherwise, things are more or less all right—Jenny” is looking 
forward to giving birth (but do not let her see that I have told 
you)—Lafargue and I have finished the pamphlet on Bakunin 
and the Alliance commissioned by the Congress, and as soon as it 
has been approved by the Commission,’ it will go into print; it is 

a Wilhelm Wolff - > Jenny Longuet - © The Commission appointed to prepare for 
publication the minutes and resolutions of the Hague Congress. Apart from Marx and 
Engels, it included Eugéne Dupont, Léo Frankel, Auguste Serraillier and Benjamin 
Le Moussu. 

sure to cause a terrible row. Lafargue and Dupont have started 
up a workshop to make brass instruments so as to exploit a patent 
taken out by Dupont; Serraillier will act as their salesman. 
Johannard has gone to Liverpool, Vichard pretends to be engaged 
in business transactions, Mottershead goes on drinking, Hales and 
Jung have failed spectacularly in their efforts to play at secession 
here, Eccarius has disappeared without trace now that Parliament 
is not to be dissolved. I have sent other news items to the 
Volksstaat, where you will be able to read them in the next issue.” 
With best wishes, 

Your 
F. Engels