CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 348 



of them, and running extremely, being also so painful 

 that they do very much hinder my rest ; and sometimes 

 the heat and itching is so violent, that they force me to 

 quit my bed. I have not as yet hit upon anything which 

 affords me relief. I do now take these sores to be ill- 

 conditioned herpeses, and to proceed from invisible insects 

 nestling in the cutis, and these making cunicidi, and 

 spreading from place to place ; for about the sores are 

 many red but flat-headed tumours or spots, some greater, 

 some less, which may be the nests of these insects (hke 

 ant-hills), they seeming to be gregarious ; but all this is 

 only conjectm'al. 



My girl, I thank God, is perfectly recovered of the 

 jaundice, and hath been for some time. I know not but 

 that I might acquaint you therewith in my last. For 

 some time (about three weeks) before she was perfectly 

 clear of the disease there fell an humour into her legs 

 and feet, which swelled them, and made her so lame, 

 especially in the afternoon and at night, that she was not 

 able to walk. These tumom's Avere taken down and dis- 

 cussed by a poultice of oatmeal, upon which a little 

 barrow-hog's grease was spread, and that in two or three 

 times using, which was advised by a gentleman who 

 came to visit us accidentally. 



But enough of these impertinencies ; the remainder is, 

 my wife's very humble service to you, and that I am. 



Sir, 

 Your affectionate friend, and humble servant, 



John Ray. 



B. N., August 10, —98. 



