268 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



half a year or more. My wife tenders her humble service 

 to you by the hand of, Sir, 



Your affectionate friend and servant, 



John Ray. 



I needed not have given you the trouble of this letter, 

 because Mr. Dale being in town can fully inform you of 

 my present condition and affairs, but only to acquaint 

 you with the receipt of the parcel. 



For liis honoured friend, 

 Dr. Hans Sloane, at 

 Montague House, London, 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notley, Novemljer 29, —93. 



Sir, — Your continued kindness and solicitousness 

 for my ease and relief exacts no less from me than a 

 grateful acknowledgment. I have for some time made 

 use of a diet drink, made by decoction of those materials 

 you were pleased to send me, the effect whereof is scarce 

 any discernible diaphoresis, but a manifest diuresis, it 

 causing a great defluxion of urine. I think for the pre- 

 sent, while I am taking it, it doth somewhat abate the 

 running of the sores (which yet after a day or two's inter- 

 mission retm'ns as copious as before), but makes them 

 more painful. Yet is not the pain so great in the night- 

 time as to cause any distm-bance or interruption of rest, 

 nor indeed hath it ever been since I first applied the 

 plaster I still use : so that to mitigate pain or procure 

 sleep I need not the assistance of any opiate. One incon- 

 venience I find by the use of this drink, that it keeps me 

 waking, and much diminishes my rest, whether by drying 

 the brain or some other unknown virtue. But to return 

 to my sores. I have now, I think, upon good ground re- 

 assumed my former opinion, that they are nothing else 



