On the Efficacy of Yeast. 427 



it sliglited at home. It seems to have remained obscure in both 

 coiititries till 1699, when Savary, who probably knew more of 

 Morland's invention than he owned, obtained a patent ; and in 

 the very same year, M. Amontons proposed something similar to 

 the French Academy, I believe, as his own. 



The description of the manuscript in which Morland explains 

 his invention will be found in the improved Harleian Catalogue, 

 vol. iii. No. 5771 ; and it is also pointed out in the preface to 

 that volume, sect, xxii ; but hitherto seems to have been as little 

 noticed as Morland himself. But if he was the real inventor, as 

 these circumstances seem to render certain, it is highly necessary 

 that his name should in future be recorded with all the honour 

 which an invention of such utility demands. 



I shall just add, respecting the same catalogue, that the Biblical 

 collections in No. 7522 were made by Patricius Junius, that is, 

 Patrick Young, who, as King's librarian, had the care of tlie Alex- 

 andrine MS., and had thoughts of publishing it. This is nearly 

 proved by Woide, in the preface to his edition of the N. T. 

 sect. 16, but was not recollected vvhen that article was written. 



Yours, R. N. 



LXXVIII, On the Efficacy nf Yeast, and the application of Fine- 

 gar in Putrid Fever. By Robert John Thornton, M.D. 



Letter from the late Earl of Exeter. 



Dear Doctor, — 1 am sure you will be truly sorry to hear what 

 a dismal house we have had since our return home. My dear 

 son Cecil was taken ill the day after we got home, which was on 

 the od of last month. It turned out to be a putrid fever. He 

 was attended night arid day by Dr. John Willis, and occasionally 

 by a Stamford physician. Dr. Arnold, and by Lady Exeter con- 

 stantly. He became so bad at last, that the Doctors said, they 

 could do no more for him. Ail irritability of the eye-sight was 

 gone, no passage down his thr0.1t could be effected, and a rattling 

 in the throat indicated the last moments to be arrived. Our poor 

 dear Lady Exeter and Dr. John were the miserable bearers of 

 this dreadful news to me. Having recollected your account of 

 the good effects of vinegar in the c.ise of the Rev. Mr. Townsend, 

 and others ; I wished this to be tried. His body was bathed 

 with the vinegar, he took yeast inwardly, and it was applied in 

 clysters ; and in twelve hours he was so far amended, as to raise 

 in us all hopes, and in four days he was convalescent, and is now 

 lively and jocose. 



I cannot conclude this letter without relating a discovery of 



Dr. John Willis, which ought to be generally known. In cases of 



3 H 2 spitting 



