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Letter 1294

William Byrd to Hans Sloane – September 10, 1708


Item info

Date: September 10, 1708
Author: William Byrd
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4041
Folio: ff. 202-203



Original Page



Transcription

[f. 202] Virginia the 10th Sept. 1708 Sr, About two years since I saluted you and gave you the trouble of a few of our natural productions. I have had the pleasure of one letter from you on the subject, which gave me hopes of a full answer by the next opportunity. But I have heard no more of it since, and therefore I am affraid that letter miscarry’d with our Governor Col Hunter who had the misfortune to be taken into France in October last. However, it was the haveing been without that Favour has very much discouraged my inquirys. You were mistaken in your conjecture that I sent you two sorts of Hippocoacanna for the same of it seemd curld and the other smooth, yet both came off the same root, so that tho the Curld may be best, it is not different in kind from the smooth. If it shoud be never so dear in Europe, I’m confident the quantity that can be sent from hence will hardly make it cheaper, for it grows in very few places, and there so thin, that it can be worth nobodys while to get it for sale. It delights most in very rocky ground on the sides of Precipices and always on a declining. I planted some in my garden but it dos not thrive. I shoud be glad to hear how much it will sell for a pound however, that I may judge whither it be encouragement sufficient to employ any body about it. By this fleet I send you a box with some more roots and seeds, that the Society may try it there be any virtue in them. Amongst the rest, there is a Paper of a Root which I think very like Jalap, we call ye plant here Poke, it bears a purple berry which woud dye an admirable coulour if we understood the right way of fixing it. For the good of my country therefore I begg of you to send me the best ways to fix dyes, of which we are very ignorant. There is a Paper of a dangerous seed of a Plant which we call here Jamestown Weed, both the seed and the root are rank poison and so are the leaves when they are grown to their full bigness, but these are only poison if taken inwardly, for both ye root and the leaves make a Poultis that cures a burn immediately. In another paper is a seed of the Jerusalem oak as we call it, which kills worms better than any wormseed I ever heard heard of. The way of takeing it is to mix a spoonfull of the seed with honey which must be eat 3 mornings together, and if ye patient have worms in his stomack or guts it will infallibly kill them. You will find a Paper of Stickweed root (very common here) f. 202v the green leaves of which never fail to stop bleeding either at the nose or else where provided they be frequently apply’d fresh to the part affected. There is likewise a root for which I have no name, but by the tast I judge it to have a great deal of virtue. I wish I were acquainted with the ways of trying the virtues of Plants, of which we have here a surprizing variety, but our ignorance makes ’em of no use to us. Our common snake root with which you are so well acquainted in Engd is a noble plant, and if the powder of it be put into canary it restores the vigour of the stomach effectually, if a man take 2 or 3 swallows of it sometimes. At my first arrival here I was troubled with a violent diarroea, which no medicine woud cure til I took this, and then I was cur’d presently, & have continu’d with ever since. I impute my Distemper wholly to the frequent use of the cold bath, wch upon that beliefe I have left off. We have several mines and minerals in this country, which for want of men of skil rest quietly in their beds. You woud do me a particular kindness if you woud please to send me the samples of several ores, that I might by compareing them with those which I find be able to make some judgment of them. I have strong inclinations to promote naturall history, and to do service to the Society: I wish I were qualifyd to do it with effect, but my best endeavours you may always depend upon. Pray let me have the joy of hearing from you often, and if I can be of any use to you here, you have a right to command him who is with much truth Sir Your most faithfull humble serv’t WByrd Whenever you have the goodness to send your commands to me be pleas’d to direct them to Mr Perry in Leadenhall Street who will by the first occasion give them a safe conveyance.

William Byrd was a landowner, diarist, and agent of the colony of Virginia in London from 1697 to 1704. He returned to Virginia on the death of his father and served the colony in several capacities (Paul David Nelson, Byrd, William (16741744), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/68334, accessed 2 July 2013]).




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Letter 0794

Richard Middleton Massey to Hans Sloane – May 5, 1708


Item info

Date: May 5, 1708
Author: Richard Middleton Massey
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4041
Folio: ff. 134-135



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Transcription

[fol. 134] Wisbech. May 5. 1708. Hon’ed Sr I have sent the Posture Master by my brother I order’d he shoud Call at yr house some day between one & two in the Afternoon & beg you woud doe him the favour to lett him have a glance at yr study &c, perhaps it may open his Ey’s, he is heir to a good Estate & has been educated some few years at Cambridge & is now goeing to turn Marchant, in his way of Trade he may have an opportunity some time of other, of meeting with something worth notice Pray good Sr. send word what an Olivers Crown piece is worth or if you can dispose of one. If I procure it, tis very fresh. Ime told its worth 50s or 3 ll. On one side is: OLIVAR.D.G.R.P.ANG.SCO.HIB&PPO. on the other the Arms with a Crown of PAX QVAERITVRBELLO 1658. on ye outward verge *HAS.NISI.PERITVRVS.MIHI.ADIMAT.NEMO. Pray Sr Dont forget the History of Jamaico & the lumber in yr Garrets, the next letter I send you shall have a Catalogue of my Physic book If there should happen to be any old book wch you want to make yr own compleat you may always comand yr most obliged humble serv’t RM Massey

Richard Middleton Massey (1678-1743) attended Brasenose College, Oxford but left before obtaining a degree. In 1706 he was admitted Extra-Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and settled in Wisbech where he practiced medicine. Massey was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712. He compiled the catalogue of the library of the Royal College of Physicians in 1727 (http://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/2969).




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Letter 0368

Samuel Dale to Hans Sloane – May 10, 1692


Item info

Date: May 10, 1692
Author: Samuel Dale
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4036
Folio: f. 122



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Transcription

Dale writes there is ‘a controversie among authors about the cochinel’, which he heard Sloane saw much of in Jamaica. He speculates as to the proper classification of the insect. Smith asks Sloane to respond to Dale’s query. Samuel Dale was an apothecary, botanist, and physician who contributed several articles to the Philosophical Transactions. He was John Ray’s executor and good friend, and from Dale’s letters to Sloane we learn many details of Ray’s final moments (G. S. Boulger, Dale, Samuel (bap. 1659, d. 1739), rev. Juanita Burnby, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7016, accessed 5 July 2013]). Samuel Smith apprenticed to the book trade in 1675 and was indentured to the bookseller Samuel Gellibrand followed by Moses Pitt. Smith joined the Stationers Company and became freeman of the company and then freeman of the city of London in 1682. Smith published the Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions from the beginning of his career and he and his partner Benjamin Walford were officially named ‘printers to the Royal Society’ in 1693 (Marja Smolenaars, Ann Veenhoff, Smith, Samuel (bap. 1658, d. 1707), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/63289, accessed 27 June 2013]).




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Letter 0367

Samuel Smith to Hans Sloane – May 10, 1692


Item info

Date: May 10, 1692
Author: Samuel Smith
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4036
Folio: f. 122



Original Page



Transcription

Dale writes there is ‘a controversie among authors about the cochinel’, which he heard Sloane saw much of in Jamaica. He speculates as to the proper classification of the insect. Smith asks Sloane to respond to Dale’s query. Samuel Dale was an apothecary, botanist, and physician who contributed several articles to the Philosophical Transactions. He was John Ray’s executor and good friend, and from Dale’s letters to Sloane we learn many details of Ray’s final moments (G. S. Boulger, Dale, Samuel (bap. 1659, d. 1739), rev. Juanita Burnby, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7016, accessed 5 July 2013]). Samuel Smith apprenticed to the book trade in 1675 and was indentured to the bookseller Samuel Gellibrand followed by Moses Pitt. Smith joined the Stationers Company and became freeman of the company and then freeman of the city of London in 1682. Smith published the Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions from the beginning of his career and he and his partner Benjamin Walford were officially named ‘printers to the Royal Society’ in 1693 (Marja Smolenaars, Ann Veenhoff, Smith, Samuel (bap. 1658, d. 1707), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/63289, accessed 27 June 2013]).




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Letter 4078

William Yeend to Hans Sloane – September 18, 1732


Item info

Date: September 18, 1732
Author: William Yeend
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4052
Folio: ff. 188



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Transcription

[fol. 188] Sep ye 18: 1732 Honoured Sir I made bould to Acquaint your Honour And the rest of the gentlemen of the honourable sosiaty The for som years past I have been colecting old Coyn And somtime ago among the rest I bought Imp otho Imp Domision and Claudious sacer all thre doog up at Witchester aplase for variety and Cirosoty that Camdin In pay 147 have taken notice that the Royal sosity Had many things therehence It answers In speed Cennet and Addonon had revers and Letter Exactly beleeve it to be the right pece. I had grate Incorigement To rite to your honour to have you Judgment of it Sir I hope your honour will Excuse the speling and my taking liberty In riting to you I have paid the pos no more at present I am your honours umbl sarvant Wm yeend Glocester If you would be pleased to guid me an answer Direct to Wm yeend near St Mickls church Glowster on the burst is Imp: otho: caesar: aug: tri: pol On the revers pax. orbis: terranum

William Yeend, of Gloucester.




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Letter 3992

James Hamilton to Hans Sloane – June 3, 1696


Item info

Date: June 3, 1696
Author: James Hamilton
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4036
Folio: ff. 235-236



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Transcription

Hamilton has not heard from Sloane since he received the letter ‘about yr sister’. Nor has Hamilton received anything from Sloane’s brother. He is frustrated by this silence and would like answers. Hamilton has heard that Dr Woodward is publishing an essay on natural history.




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Publications

On the Sloane Correspondence

“Resisting Silences: Gender and Family Trauma in the Eighteenth Century,” Gender and History 32, 1 (2020): 30-53.

“Remembering Dr. Sloane: Masculinity and the Making of an Eighteenth-Century Physician,” Journal for Eighteenth Century Studies 42, 4 (2019): 433-453.

The Many Meanings of an Eighteenth-Century Account of a Caesarean Operation,” in John Cunningham (ed), Early Modern Ireland and the World of Medicine: Practitioners, Collectors and Contexts (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2019).

“Sloane as friend and physician of the family,” in Alison Walker, Arthur Macgregor and Michael Hunter (eds), From Books to Bezoars: Sir Hans Sloane and his Collections (London: The British Library, 2012), 48- 56.

“The Body Embarrassed? Rethinking the Leaky Male Body in Eighteenth-Century England and France,” Gender & History 23, 1 (2011): 26-46

“‘An Account of an Unaccountable Distemper’: The Experience of Pain in Early Eighteenth-Century England and France,” Eighteenth-Century Studies 41, 4 (2008): 459-480.

“The Relative Duties of a Man: Domestic Medicine in England and France, ca. 1685–1740,” Journal of Family History 31, 3 (2006): 237-256

“Reassessing the Role of the Family: Women’s Medical Care in Eighteenth-century England,” Social History of Medicine 16, 3 (2003): 327-342.

 

On other topics

[with Laroche, Rebecca, et al.], “Becoming Visible: Recipes in the Making,” Early Modern Women: An Interdisciplinary Journal 13, 1 (2018): 133-143.

“Bespelled in the Archives,” The Appendix: A New Journal of Narrative and Experimental History 1, 2 (2013): http://theappendix.net/issues/2013/4/bespelled-in-the-archives.

“Secrets of place: The medical casebooks of Vivant-Augustin Ganiare,” in Elaine Leong and Alisha Rankin (eds), Secrets and Knowledge in Medicine and Science, 1500-1800 (Ashgate, 2011): 213- 231.

“Imagining Women’s Fertility before Technology,” Journal of Medical Humanities.31, 1 (2010): 69-79.

“La Raillerie des Femmes? Les Femmes, La Sterilité et la Société en France à l’Époque Moderne,” in Cathy McClive and Nicole Pellegrin (eds), Femmes en Fleurs: Santé, Sexualité et Génération du Moyen Age aux Lumières (Publications de l’Université de Saint-Etienne, 2010), 203- 220.

Letter 3633

Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and Lennox to Hans Sloane – July 9, 1729


Item info

Date: July 9, 1729
Author: Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and Lennox
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4050
Folio: ff. 151-152



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Transcription

[fol. 151] Paris Saturday July 9th NS Dear Sir, Enclos’d is a copy of the account of the opening of the poor Child that I lost some time ago, with the opinion of the Physicians upon it, sign’d by Drs Chirac, & Lidderdale, & Mr Petit the Chirurgeon which I beg you would peruse for it may be of great consequence to the poor little remainder of my familly hereafter; & without compliment or flattery. I must say that I have a much greater regard for your opinion in such a case, than for any other mans living there is also enclos’d an account by Dr Lidderdale & of my Daughter Caroline’s health, therefore when you have examin’d the whole, I must beg of you to send me your opinion upon it, & whether you approve of the prescriptions lay’d down by these gentlemen for Carolina she is undoubtedly vastly better in every respect insomuch that in all outward appearance, she seems perfectly well but still precautions ought certanly to be taken, against what may happen. she is in a steel diet which agrees very well with her, & she takes the air every day, & is in great spirits the hot weather agreeing very well with her. My Wife is very much recovered; so much that she intends going abroad to morrow, for the first time she has been able, since she has been in Paris she desires her humble service to you. I suppose you have already heard that my Lord & Lady Cadogan are safely arriv’d here they like the Town extreamly well hitherto, & you may [fol. 152] be sure my Wife & I shall do all wee can, to make & agreeable to them dureing their stay. I hop you receiv’d a letter some time ago from me with one enclos’d in it from Monsieur Dufay. I am sure when you know him you will say he is every way deserving of the honor the society has confer’d upon him; of which favour I assure you he is very sensible, as I suppose he has expres’d in his letter of thankes to you. If you have any commands in this country, I beg you would honor me with them; & they shall be most punctually obey’d, by, Dear Sr Hans, Your most faithfull humble servant, Richmond be pleas’d to direct to me, dans la rue des saints peres Fauxbourg St Germains a Paris

Charles Lennox (1701-1750), 2nd Duke of Richmond, 2nd Duke of Lennox, was a politician and sportsman. In 1724 he was appointed aide-de-camp to George I and later worked for George II. Lennox was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1724 (Timothy J. McCann, ‘Lennox, Charles, second duke of Richmond, second duke of Lennox, and duke of Aubigny in the French nobility (1701–1750)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16450, accessed 13 Aug 2014]).




Patient Details

Letter 2231

Henry Barham Sr. to Hans Sloane – December 11, 1717


Item info

Date: December 11, 1717
Author: Henry Barham Sr.
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: ff. 77-79



Original Page



Transcription

[fol. 77] Worthy Sr In my last I gave you some [word missing] of the Oars of Jamaica wch that Island Superabounds with and to give a Perticular account of every sort would make a large Treatise of its self at 16 mile Walk in one Palmers Grouns is found Upon the Earth Loose Stones (that seems to Rowl down from A mountain Near the Place) Iron Stones so Rich of that Mettall as seem to be all Iron and very Hard to Brake a Sunder, the Hammer makes an Impression as if Malabell before it would [text blurred] in peeces; and when Parted a Sunder the Inside Lookt as Red as Lapis Hematites I saw A Sharp Corroded Stone Seem to be Broke off from a large Stone of the Same Colour above Mentioned and brought from the Same Place that would Attrack Iron or Steel as Strong as any Magnett in Proportion to its Bigness: it is Certain that there is many Mines in Jamaica as Rich: if there were a Sett of Rich and Publick Spirited Men would Sett Heartily about the Work and with good Resolution to see the Depth or Bottom of them (and I Could Direct them where to begin) But to proceed to the Intended Matter you mention Introduction page 17 of Anti Neasts brought from the Woods in wch are found Clay Balls of Strange Different Shapes as if made by the Art of Man: and in those Wood Wnti Neasts the Amphosbona found I have seen them about 5 or 6 Inches with Perfect Heads at each End Running Swiftly either Direct or Retrogate or to the Right and Left with Equal Swiftness without Turning about: and in Digging Up of Old foundations I have seen those sort of A Worm like Shape Described and figured in Pisol wch when the Negros saw them, would flye from them [as] if Death its self was there saying they have them in their Country and are Present Death to any that are bitt or stung by them. Introd: page: 54- you Mention the Negroes Remedy: of Clay and Water Plaistering over their bodys with it its True some Negroes may use Barly or no other thing than Clay and Water: and I Thought soo for some years that they had used no Other thing: but upon a more Strickt Inquiery I found it was a yellowish Root wch they Call Altoo the Same Root you Mention in your Catalogus Plantarum page 214 viz Radix Firuticosa: glycyrrhia Similis cortica fuses[.] Besides Cleaning their Teeth with this Root they take it and Grind it very fine between two stones with Water and make an Islutamentum with wch they illuse or Plaister them selves with it and When Dry looks like A yellow Earth: Sometimes they only Illutate the Head and Face, if thats effected Sometimes their Stomach if their Heart is effected for they attribute all inward ails or illness to the Heart Saying their Heart is Noo Boon not Knowing the situation of the Stomach from that of the Heart: if their Limbs and Solid parts are effected they Illutate them selves all over saying their Skin Hurts them: The Affricans hath such Confidence and Opinion of this Root outwardly Applied or Inwardly given Decocted they wholly Dispair of any Relief believing it to be the most Soveraigne Remedy that they know Amongst all the Plants that comes Within their Knowledge. This Root was Much used by an Honrbl: Coll: in Ligano and Cryed Up to be one of the Greatest Remedies in ye World in Colicks or Belly aches: He Telling me the many Experiments He had made by A Simple Decoction of this Root: I had a fair Opportunity to Try Wither this Root was of such efficacy and Matter of Fact in a following Case: I Sent A Servant of Mine A Carpenter Up in to the Mountains to fall and Square Some Timber: who [fol. 78] who was takeing Such Care of Him Self when [word blurred] as He Should Soon found the effect of His Neglect Getting A Great Cold and was seized with most violent Pains in His Viscera and in 24 Hours was Thrown into Strong Convulsions: A messenger bringing this Information: I Rid Up to Him: it being A Place of Great Distance from a Town and where Compound me decides was not to be had: I Thought of the Poll: Root wch Grows in Great Plenty within, 3 or 4 Miles of this Place wch I Sent for and Decocted it in Spring Water and Gave this Poor Man (who had had Several Strong Convulsions and in Violent Pains) of this Decoction Warm about half a pint at A time Repeating it very often. the effect it had it first eased Him of His Pains in A Short time after it wrot [?] Gentrly Downwards and in 3 or 4 Days He thought Him Self as Well as ever He was and is easy all His Convulsive Tremors and Symptoms Left Him: His Appetite Returned and was Throughy Recoverd and So Continued without being Nerviated Paralyzed or Conculsed afterwards. In the Same Page it is Certain as you mention the Negroes make use of Fingrigo Roots for Claps and Some of them ad ye Roots of Prickly yellow Wood and Lime Tree Roots: but the most knowing or skillfull Negroes such as they Call (Oba men) or their Country Doctors use yellow Nickers Beaten to A Powder wch they Say Purges and Bindes them after it: like to our Myrabolins. But a Certain Negro Discovered to a Patient of Myne (that had Labourd under an Old Gleet wch Could not be stopt (after due Purging) by no Restringent or Natural Balsams whatsoever) A Plant wch I Shall Mention Hereafter that only by Decocting it and Drinking about half A pint of itt for 3 or 4 Mornings made Him perfectly Well and Sound of His Gleet as He affirmed to me with Reflections that Negroes Could doo more with their Herbs than Wee Practitioners with all our Art or Skill and I had Reason to Believe Him in this Particular Case: because I gave it my Self afterwards with good Success in the Like Case: Introd: page 55 you say one of the Greatest Remedies the Planters living here have to Prevent Diseases or ill effects of What they Call ill Fumes or Vapours is their Contrayerva wch you Call (and not Without Reason) A ristolochia Scandons Odo [?] ratissima: floris labello purpureo Semino cordato et Odoratissima and is Hernandez Tomahuetlopath. [?] and one of His Ingredients in His Grand Elixir or Great Antidoteas I have been Informed by the Spaaniards: and Besides that Remarkable [ink blot] (you mention Performed by an Indian Upon Dr Smallwood when Wounded by a Poison Arrow it hath been found Since by Daily Experiments to be one of the Greatest Antidotes and Antifribriticis inward by Given that is yet or every was Discovered and Besides the Work Hernandez ascribes to it Mentioned in your Natural History of Jamaica page 162 and that of H:M: it Drives out the Small Pox and Measles and is Prevalent in Calentures and Hectick Fevers This is to its Vertues in Generall: in Particular I know one Mr Henry Hill: or a Lusty Fatt Jolly Man When in Health He happened to be seized with the Belly ach wch what with its Violence and Missing of the Expected Help by Remedies He was Reduced to A miserable State and Condition Given over by all that Set Him being emaciated Lost the use of His Limbs Lingring and Walking about with Help like a Disconsolate and Dispairing Man: at Last He was advised to make use of Contrayerva Infused or Decocted in Spring Water and Drink About half A Pint every Morning for some Week wch Recoverd Him as He Told mee Himself: I being one Day in His Company And to all Appearance Seem to be as fatt and as Jolly as ever I Saw him: and Knowing in what Condition I had Seen Him before askt Him how and by what means He was soo Straingly Recoverd: He Told me it was Purely own to the Great Vertues in Contrayerva [fol. 79] Contrayerva for after He had Tried all things as He Called it and took every bodys advice to Noo effect He took to Drinking of an Infusion of Contrayerva every morning for some time: He said it first Brought a Way Gently for some days very Black Stools: afterwards it wrought strongly by Urine and Sweat Creating a very Great Appetite and Restored Him to A Miracle: it is unspeakable the Praise and Character He Gave the Plant it is Now become in Great use in Jamaica for Loss of Appetites Scraped and infused in Wine or A Tea Made off it; if the Vertues of it was as Well Known in Europe as it is in America There would not be A Drugg in Shopes would be of more Demand than this: I saw A Tymponite Girl Cured with the Contrayerva infused or steept in Spring Water with Rusty Iron put with it: I know one Mr Legott that was subject to A Void Much Blood after wch A Great Swelling and Hardness of His Belly followed that I have been Surprised to See Him He Tould me He Valued not His Swelling for I can Take that Away as I Please with Contrayerva the effect I saw and was Matter of Fact it is Experienced to Kill Worms. I hope you excuse me for being so long Upon this Subject: and am Sr. your most Humble and Obliged Servant Henry Barham London December 11th 1717

Henry Barham (1670?-1726) was a botanist. He lived in Jamaica and corresponded with Sloane on the plant and animal life of the island. Parts of Barham’s letters to Sloane appeared in the latter’s Natural History of Jamaica (T. F. Henderson, Barham, Henry (1670?1726), rev. Anita McConnell, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1374, accessed 13 June 2011]).




Patient Details

Letter 2230

Henry Barham Sr. to Hans Sloane – December 11, 1717


Item info

Date: December 11, 1717
Author: Henry Barham Sr.
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: ff. 77-79



Original Page



Transcription

[fol. 77] Worthy Sr In my last I gave you some [word missing] of the Oars of Jamaica wch that Island Superabounds with and to give a Perticular account of every sort would make a large Treatise of its self at 16 mile Walk in one Palmers Grouns is found Upon the Earth Loose Stones (that seems to Rowl down from A mountain Near the Place) Iron Stones so Rich of that Mettall as seem to be all Iron and very Hard to Brake a Sunder, the Hammer makes an Impression as if Malabell before it would [text blurred] in peeces; and when Parted a Sunder the Inside Lookt as Red as Lapis Hematites I saw A Sharp Corroded Stone Seem to be Broke off from a large Stone of the Same Colour above Mentioned and brought from the Same Place that would Attrack Iron or Steel as Strong as any Magnett in Proportion to its Bigness: it is Certain that there is many Mines in Jamaica as Rich: if there were a Sett of Rich and Publick Spirited Men would Sett Heartily about the Work and with good Resolution to see the Depth or Bottom of them (and I Could Direct them where to begin) But to proceed to the Intended Matter you mention Introduction page 17 of Anti Neasts brought from the Woods in wch are found Clay Balls of Strange Different Shapes as if made by the Art of Man: and in those Wood Wnti Neasts the Amphosbona found I have seen them about 5 or 6 Inches with Perfect Heads at each End Running Swiftly either Direct or Retrogate or to the Right and Left with Equal Swiftness without Turning about: and in Digging Up of Old foundations I have seen those sort of A Worm like Shape Described and figured in Pisol wch when the Negros saw them, would flye from them [as] if Death its self was there saying they have them in their Country and are Present Death to any that are bitt or stung by them. Introd: page: 54- you Mention the Negroes Remedy: of Clay and Water Plaistering over their bodys with it its True some Negroes may use Barly or no other thing than Clay and Water: and I Thought soo for some years that they had used no Other thing: but upon a more Strickt Inquiery I found it was a yellowish Root wch they Call Altoo the Same Root you Mention in your Catalogus Plantarum page 214 viz Radix Firuticosa: glycyrrhia Similis cortica fuses[.] Besides Cleaning their Teeth with this Root they take it and Grind it very fine between two stones with Water and make an Islutamentum with wch they illuse or Plaister them selves with it and When Dry looks like A yellow Earth: Sometimes they only Illutate the Head and Face, if thats effected Sometimes their Stomach if their Heart is effected for they attribute all inward ails or illness to the Heart Saying their Heart is Noo Boon not Knowing the situation of the Stomach from that of the Heart: if their Limbs and Solid parts are effected they Illutate them selves all over saying their Skin Hurts them: The Affricans hath such Confidence and Opinion of this Root outwardly Applied or Inwardly given Decocted they wholly Dispair of any Relief believing it to be the most Soveraigne Remedy that they know Amongst all the Plants that comes Within their Knowledge. This Root was Much used by an Honrbl: Coll: in Ligano and Cryed Up to be one of the Greatest Remedies in ye World in Colicks or Belly aches: He Telling me the many Experiments He had made by A Simple Decoction of this Root: I had a fair Opportunity to Try Wither this Root was of such efficacy and Matter of Fact in a following Case: I Sent A Servant of Mine A Carpenter Up in to the Mountains to fall and Square Some Timber: who [fol. 78] who was takeing Such Care of Him Self when [word blurred] as He Should Soon found the effect of His Neglect Getting A Great Cold and was seized with most violent Pains in His Viscera and in 24 Hours was Thrown into Strong Convulsions: A messenger bringing this Information: I Rid Up to Him: it being A Place of Great Distance from a Town and where Compound me decides was not to be had: I Thought of the Poll: Root wch Grows in Great Plenty within, 3 or 4 Miles of this Place wch I Sent for and Decocted it in Spring Water and Gave this Poor Man (who had had Several Strong Convulsions and in Violent Pains) of this Decoction Warm about half a pint at A time Repeating it very often. the effect it had it first eased Him of His Pains in A Short time after it wrot [?] Gentrly Downwards and in 3 or 4 Days He thought Him Self as Well as ever He was and is easy all His Convulsive Tremors and Symptoms Left Him: His Appetite Returned and was Throughy Recoverd and So Continued without being Nerviated Paralyzed or Conculsed afterwards. In the Same Page it is Certain as you mention the Negroes make use of Fingrigo Roots for Claps and Some of them ad ye Roots of Prickly yellow Wood and Lime Tree Roots: but the most knowing or skillfull Negroes such as they Call (Oba men) or their Country Doctors use yellow Nickers Beaten to A Powder wch they Say Purges and Bindes them after it: like to our Myrabolins. But a Certain Negro Discovered to a Patient of Myne (that had Labourd under an Old Gleet wch Could not be stopt (after due Purging) by no Restringent or Natural Balsams whatsoever) A Plant wch I Shall Mention Hereafter that only by Decocting it and Drinking about half A pint of itt for 3 or 4 Mornings made Him perfectly Well and Sound of His Gleet as He affirmed to me with Reflections that Negroes Could doo more with their Herbs than Wee Practitioners with all our Art or Skill and I had Reason to Believe Him in this Particular Case: because I gave it my Self afterwards with good Success in the Like Case: Introd: page 55 you say one of the Greatest Remedies the Planters living here have to Prevent Diseases or ill effects of What they Call ill Fumes or Vapours is their Contrayerva wch you Call (and not Without Reason) A ristolochia Scandons Odo [?] ratissima: floris labello purpureo Semino cordato et Odoratissima and is Hernandez Tomahuetlopath. [?] and one of His Ingredients in His Grand Elixir or Great Antidoteas I have been Informed by the Spaaniards: and Besides that Remarkable [ink blot] (you mention Performed by an Indian Upon Dr Smallwood when Wounded by a Poison Arrow it hath been found Since by Daily Experiments to be one of the Greatest Antidotes and Antifribriticis inward by Given that is yet or every was Discovered and Besides the Work Hernandez ascribes to it Mentioned in your Natural History of Jamaica page 162 and that of H:M: it Drives out the Small Pox and Measles and is Prevalent in Calentures and Hectick Fevers This is to its Vertues in Generall: in Particular I know one Mr Henry Hill: or a Lusty Fatt Jolly Man When in Health He happened to be seized with the Belly ach wch what with its Violence and Missing of the Expected Help by Remedies He was Reduced to A miserable State and Condition Given over by all that Set Him being emaciated Lost the use of His Limbs Lingring and Walking about with Help like a Disconsolate and Dispairing Man: at Last He was advised to make use of Contrayerva Infused or Decocted in Spring Water and Drink About half A Pint every Morning for some Week wch Recoverd Him as He Told mee Himself: I being one Day in His Company And to all Appearance Seem to be as fatt and as Jolly as ever I Saw him: and Knowing in what Condition I had Seen Him before askt Him how and by what means He was soo Straingly Recoverd: He Told me it was Purely own to the Great Vertues in Contrayerva [fol. 79] Contrayerva for after He had Tried all things as He Called it and took every bodys advice to Noo effect He took to Drinking of an Infusion of Contrayerva every morning for some time: He said it first Brought a Way Gently for some days very Black Stools: afterwards it wrought strongly by Urine and Sweat Creating a very Great Appetite and Restored Him to A Miracle: it is unspeakable the Praise and Character He Gave the Plant it is Now become in Great use in Jamaica for Loss of Appetites Scraped and infused in Wine or A Tea Made off it; if the Vertues of it was as Well Known in Europe as it is in America There would not be A Drugg in Shopes would be of more Demand than this: I saw A Tymponite Girl Cured with the Contrayerva infused or steept in Spring Water with Rusty Iron put with it: I know one Mr Legott that was subject to A Void Much Blood after wch A Great Swelling and Hardness of His Belly followed that I have been Surprised to See Him He Tould me He Valued not His Swelling for I can Take that Away as I Please with Contrayerva the effect I saw and was Matter of Fact it is Experienced to Kill Worms. I hope you excuse me for being so long Upon this Subject: and am Sr. your most Humble and Obliged Servant Henry Barham London December 11th 1717

Henry Barham (1670?-1726) was a botanist. He lived in Jamaica and corresponded with Sloane on the plant and animal life of the island. Parts of Barham’s letters to Sloane appeared in the latter’s Natural History of Jamaica (T. F. Henderson, Barham, Henry (1670?1726), rev. Anita McConnell, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1374, accessed 13 June 2011]).




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