CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 329 



T say of the other tribes of Scarabai and flies, which are 

 as numerous as they. You would not imagine how much 

 time it takes one to search out and to feed them, I mean 

 the Erucce. 



My legs continue much in the same state they were, 

 the ulcuscula almost healed, but the tetter rather spreads. 

 I have not as yet made use of mercury, which, if other 

 medicines fail, I shah 1 make trial of, but outwardly. My 

 wife gives you her very humble service. I am, 



Sir, 

 Yours in all offices of love and service, 



JOHN RAY. 



For his"Wuoured frieiid, Dr. Hans Sloane, 

 at his house at the corner of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



B. N., Aug. 3, 1697. 



SIR, I have this morning sent back by carrier the 

 tribe of plants with a monopetalous flower, which I last 

 received, and which I hope will come safe to your hands, 

 and it may be before this letter. I find nothing in it as 

 to the matter that needs correction so far as my skill 

 extends, but am wholly your scholar as to exotics which 

 I never saw. Some few things I meet with in the lan- 

 guage and expression which I do not clearly understand, 

 which yet I suppose is to be attributed to my slowness 

 of apprehension and incapacity, which therefore I thought 

 it not worth while to note. My herpes continue in 

 statu quo, neither sensibly mending nor impairing. I 

 could wish I had some safe and effectual medicine to kill, 

 as our people hereabout not improperly term it, or, if you 

 please, cure, these tetters before winter. Mercury I should 

 venture upon using, but that I find it takes away my rest. 

 Last week I anointed the soles of my feet with an un- 

 guent, prepared by our physician Mr. Ah 1 en, in which I 



