Letter to Grigori Shklovsky, May 8, 1913

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Dear Sh.,

Please note my change of address. We have come out here into the country near Zakopane for a mountain air cure (we are at a height of about 700 metres) for Nad. Konst.’s goitre. I had been warned: if you neglect it it will be irreparable; take her at once to see Kocher in Berne, he’s first-class, a celebrity.... On the one hand Kocher’s a surgeon. Surgeons like to use the knife, and an operation here, I daresay, is extremely dangerous and extremely doubtful.... On the other hand people are treated with mountain air and rest. A “rest” is hardly practicable with us, owing to the nervous lives we lead. And this illness is caused by nerves. We tried an electricity cure for 3 weeks. Results—nil. Nothing has changed—the same bulging eyes, and swollen neck, and palpitations of the heart—all the symptoms of goitre.

Could you make inquiries concerning Kocher? I don’t know how to go about it, and I want advice. Couldn’t you go with somebody, a student or a doctor, to consult Kocher? Or do you think he would not want to talk without seeing the patient? Or could one have a talk with him on presentation of a letter from the doctor in attendance here (that is, in Cracow)? If inquiries of a serious nature can be made at all in Berne concerning Kocher or with Kocher personally (the latter would be best of all, of course) I would be much obliged to you. Should inquiries point to the need of a journey to Berne, drop me a line as to Kocher’s reception arrangements, when he goes away for the summer, and how we are to fix up in Berne, in some hospital (is it very expensive?) or otherwise.

All the best, and thanking you in advance, for the trouble you are taking.

Yours,

N. Lenin

Absender: Wl. Ulianow. Poronin (Galizien).