CORRESPONDENCE OP IIAY. 325 



them with to take away the itching ; which doth it for a 

 while, but it returns upon me again ; and have taken 

 flower of brimstone inwardly, and applied an unguent to 

 the soles of my feet, which, though they mitigate and put 

 a little check to the spreading of the herpes, yet do not, 

 as they say, kill and cure it. At first it issued out a thin 

 humour out of the small pimples, but now there is no 

 visible humour, but only a scurf upon the eruptions. But 

 enough of this. I shall only add the tender of my wife's 

 very humble service, and take leave, resting, 



Sir, 

 Yours in all offices of love and service, 



JOHN RAY. 



For bis honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, 



at his house at the corner of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloorasbury square, London. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



B. N., July 12, 97. 



SIR, Your great kindness expressed as well by the 

 speedy return of answer to my last, as in the solicitous- 

 ness and concern in your letter discovered for my health 

 and relief, do exact and indeed naturally excite in me 

 suitable affections of love and gratitude. But I thank 

 God, the case is not so ill with me as my letter might 

 give you just reason to suspect. My herpes, for so I 

 will call them, though they are not quite killed, as the 

 vulgar phrase it, and it may be not without reason, yet 

 are they well qualified, the heat and itching much allayed, 

 though I cannot say the spreading quite stopped. I take 

 inwardly flower of sulphur, half a drachm at once, which 

 keeps my body soluble, and gives me a stool or two. 

 Outwardly, I use a decoction of elecampane, dock-root, 

 and chalk, in whey, twice a day bathing the affected 

 places therewith. I do not constantly take sulphur, but 



