Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Locke to Hans Sloane – December 27, 1700
Item info
Date: December 27, 1700
Author: John Locke
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 113-114
Original Page
Transcription
Locke thanks Sloane for sending copies of the Philosophical Transactions throughout the year and apologizes for not writing sooner. He has been collecting information on the weather for the past ten years, which he kept for curiosity’s sake. He asks Sloane if he has treated diabetes and whether he could send information on the ailment.
Locke was a philosopher, physician, and highly influential proponent of liberalism in England (J. R. Milton, Locke, John (16321704), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16885, accessed 24 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Chamberlayne to Hans Sloane – July 30, 1700
Item info
Date: July 30, 1700
Author: John Chamberlayne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: f. 40
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Philosophical Transactions, Scholarship, Scientific
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Subjects
Dentistry, Dutch, Science and Religion, Teeth, Translations, Worms
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Date (as written)
July 30, 1700
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Petty France, Westminster
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Others mentioned
A. van Leeuwenhoek
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Chamberlayne perused Mr. Leeuwenhoek’s letter in the Philosophical Transactions, although he would have liked to read it in the original Dutch. The translator is either Dutch, ‘or else one that has almost forgot his own language’ and falls into Dutch idioms (e.g. ‘thumbs’ for ‘inches’). Chamberlayne discusses how smoke and heat affect the ‘little creatures’ in teeth and believes that Leeuwenhoek’s work affirms God’s role in the generation of all creatures.
John Chamberlayne was a translator and editor specializing in modern languages which he studied at the University of Leiden. He translated works on many topics, was a fellow of the Royal Society, and published three works in the Philsophical Transactions (Reavley Gair, Chamberlayne, John (1668/91723), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5060, accessed 30 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Chamberlayne to Hans Sloane – August 3, 1700
Item info
Date: August 3, 1700
Author: John Chamberlayne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: f. 41
Original Page
Transcription
Chamberlayne returns Leeuwenhoek’s article for the Philosophical Transactions with slight changes that better reflect the nuances of Leeuwenhoek’s scientific language, especially regarding worms and maggots.
John Chamberlayne was a translator and editor specializing in modern languages which he studied at the University of Leiden. He translated works on many topics, was a fellow of the Royal Society, and published three works in the Philsophical Transactions (Reavley Gair, Chamberlayne, John (1668/91723), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5060, accessed 30 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Chamberlayne to Hans Sloane – July 3, 1700
Item info
Date: July 3, 1700
Author: John Chamberlayne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 30-31
Original Page
Transcription
John Chamberlayne was a translator and editor specializing in modern languages which he studied at the University of Leiden. He translated works on many topics, was a fellow of the Royal Society, and published three works in the Philsophical Transactions (Reavley Gair, Chamberlayne, John (1668/91723), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5060, accessed 30 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – August 14, 1700
Item info
Date: August 14, 1700
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 49-50
Original Page
Transcription
Ray thanks Sloane profusely and hopes his condition improves enough to repay Sloane for his kindness. He has little hope of this happening in ‘the short time he has left in this world’. He is thankful to Sherard for sending his collection to have it classified, but this task is beyond Ray’s strength.
Ray was a theologian and naturalist who collected and catalogued his botanical findings in the much lauded Historia plantarum (1686, 1688) (Scott Mandelbrote, Ray , John (16271705), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2005 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23203, accessed 18 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Cook to Hans Sloane – February 12, 1699/00
Item info
Date: February 12, 1699/00
Author: John Cook
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4075
Folio: f. 29
Original Page
Transcription
John Cook was a physician.
Patient Details
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Patient info
Name: N/A Mary Somerset (nee Sackville), Duchess of Beaufort
Gender:
Age:Mary Somerset was bap. 1630 and d. 1715.
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Description
The letter does not mention which Duchess in particular, but the Dukes of Beaufort had their seat at Badminton. The letter also refers to the recent Lord Duke's death; this occurred in January 1699/1700. [See: Molly McClain, "Somerset, Henry, first duke of Beaufort (1629–1700)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2007, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26009, accessed 14 May 2010.] The Duchess was described as "generally costive", eating little and feeling faint. Also had "rellow clouds before her Eyes".
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Diagnosis
Depression after her husband's death leading to pains in the stomach, low spirits, diarrhoea, vapours. "I have bin sent for hither twice since my Lr Dukes death & her Grace having been out of order some months before, this Great & suddent loss has made ye greater Impression on Her."
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Treatment
Previous Treatment: Black cherry water and canary; liquid laudanum; tincture of Antimony; plaster of Galbanum applied to stomach.
Ongoing Treatment: Recommended pearl in liquor and tincture of antimony. Asked about asses milk with pearl or cinnabar of antimony or quinquina in pills or powder or strong infusion of canary wine. Age and diet would make bleeding and vomiting problematic. Duchess refused any medicines with taste or smell and "clarett she can't bear". Her diet: drank chocolate and canary and ate some lamb or mutton. Should have air and rising medicines.
Response:
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More information
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Medical problem reference
Eyes, Vapours, Stomach, Fevers, Emotions, Age, Grief
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – August 21, 1700
Item info
Date: August 21, 1700
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 53-54
Original Page
Transcription
Ray discusses the acquisition of books.
Ray was a theologian and naturalist who collected and catalogued his botanical findings in the much lauded Historia plantarum (1686, 1688) (Scott Mandelbrote, Ray , John (16271705), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2005 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23203, accessed 18 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – September 18, 1700
Item info
Date: September 18, 1700
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 70-71
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Scholarship, Scientific, Social, Trade or Commodities
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Subjects
Books, Gifts, Gratitude, Religion, Sugar
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Date (as written)
September 18, 1700
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Black Notley
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Others mentioned
Joseph Pitton de Tournefort Jacob Bobart William Sherard
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Ray thanks Sloane for his recent gift of sugar. He sends Sloane Tournefort’s ‘Institutions’ and discusses Bobart’s work and Sherard’s collections. Ray sends a small gift: his short work, ‘A Persuasive to a Holy Life’.
Ray was a theologian and naturalist who collected and catalogued his botanical findings in the much lauded Historia plantarum (1686, 1688) (Scott Mandelbrote, Ray , John (16271705), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2005 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23203, accessed 18 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort to Hans Sloane – December 1, 1697
Item info
Date: December 1, 1697
Author: Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4036
Folio: ff. 377-378
Original Page
Transcription
Somerset received Sloane’s letters and thanks him for asking about his health.
Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort (1629-1700) was a nobleman and politician (Molly McClain, ‘Somerset, Henry, first duke of Beaufort (1629–1700)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2013 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26009, accessed 14 May 2015]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Chamberlayne to Hans Sloane – October 29, 1700
Item info
Date: October 29, 1700
Author: John Chamberlayne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: f. 86
Original Page
Transcription
Chamberlayne returns Leeuwenhoek’s letter with apologies for the delay. He was held up by business and sheer fascination with it. Chamberlayne found it to be one of ‘the most intricate’ letters he has ever read, but rife with grammatical problems which he has corrected. He describes the letter as being full of trivial sentences that artificially double its length, which he attributes to Leeuwenhoek being a man of mechanical genius rather than letters. Chamberlayne asks Sloane to have Dr Miller translate the letter. He wants to be paid in copies of the Philosophical Transactions for his translation work.
John Chamberlayne was a translator and editor specializing in modern languages which he studied at the University of Leiden. He translated works on many topics, was a fellow of the Royal Society, and published three works in the Philsophical Transactions (Reavley Gair, Chamberlayne, John (1668/91723), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5060, accessed 30 May 2011]).