“A few lines to let you know …”

Abstract

In 1890 Dr Ferdinand Hurter (Figure 1)—a Swiss chemist— and Mr Vero Charles Driffield —an English engineer—whilst working at an alkali works in Widnes, published a paper which proposed the H & D speed system for photographic emulsions. Hurter and Driffield's letters, which were bequeathed to the Royal Photographic Society by Driffield, tell the story of their work on many aspects of the science of photography. The letters also tell another story, that of Hurter's declining health. This article traces the references to Hurter's health contained in the letters up to his death in 1898 at the age of 54.