84 LEEUWENHOEK AND HIS ‘‘ LITTLE ANIMALS ”’ 
of Delft —whom he calls his “nephew” '—and is as 
follows’: 
When I had the honour of being visited by yourself 
and Professors Boerhaave * and Ruysch,’ who took delight 
in some of my discoveries; as Mr Boerhaave was taking 
his leave, and wishing me health and long life, I made 
objection to him that I couldn’t go on much longer; 
because, in view of my advanced age, my insides (meaning 
the guts) were just about worn out. But as it was time 
for the Gentlemen to be off, my further reasonings were 
interrupted: wherefore I now take the liberty of 
explaining my last attack to you. 
'Tis now above a sennight ago that I was very short of 
breath, which was accompanied by a tightness of the 
chest,’ pain (as I imagine) in the diaphragm and in the 
stomach, and a rising of the gorge. Accordingly, I 
ordered them to fetch me some warm water, to help me 
degree at Leyden with a dissertation “qua in praxi felicitas mechanicorum 
vindicatur’’ (4°. Lugd. Bat. 1708). Little else now appears to be known 
about him: he is not mentioned in N. Nederl. Biogr. Woordenb. or by 
Hirsch. Banga (1868, pp. 614,869) who also notes the foregoing particulars 
adds that Bleyswijk helped L. in his anatomical studies—a statement for 
which he gives no evidence, and which may be questioned. It seems 
probable that Abraham was a kinsman of Dirk Evertsz. v. B. who published 
the well-known description of Delft (1667). 
‘ Neef—a term which (like “ cousin” in English) did not at that date 
necessarily denote the relationship now implied. It was commonly bestowed 
on any kinsman. 
> Send-brief XXVII, 17 Sept. 1716. Printed in Brieven (1718), Vol. IV, 
p. 254: Op. Omn. (Epist. Physiol.), Vol. IV, p.250. No MS. and not in 
Phil. Trans. I translate the whole letter—relying chiefly on the Dutch 
printed version. 
* Herman Boerhaave. See p. 296, note 6, anfra. 
* Frederik Ruijsch (1638-1731), the celebrated anatomist and injector : 
Professor at Amsterdam. For his life see Banga (1868, p.514 szq.), 
Scheltema (1886), and N. Nederl. Biogr. Woordenb. (1914), III, 1108. He 
was elected F.RB.S. in 1715 (not 1720, as stated by Banga). 
> benautheyt Dutch ed. pectoris angustia Lat.—The “shortness of 
breath’ and “ tightness of the chest’’ here mentioned in the originals are 
vulgar expressions usually denoting asthma. Cf. Blankaart (1748) and 
Gabler’s Woordenboek. 
