CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY.

B13

I intend to apply myself wholly to it, till I have finishedit, being desirous to get the work off my hands. For uponthis sad accident, and by reason of my growing infirmi-ties, I am well mortified as to natural studies and in-quiries, though I shall not, so long as life and strength last,wholly desert them, but make them some part of myparergon and diversion, as I should only have done before.I should be glad to hear of your health and welfare : mywife is full of grief, having not yet been able fully to con-coct her passion: she tenders her humble service, andthanks for all your favours, with whom joins,

Sir,

Your affectionate friend and humble servant,

John Ray.

For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at hishouse at the comer of Southampton street,towards Bloomsbury square, London.

Mr. Rax to Dr. Hans Sloane.

B. N., March 16, 1697.

Sir, —I shall now communicate to you a story or twoof the direful effects of (Enanthe aquatica, cicuta faciesucco viroso of Lohel[(Enantke crocata, Linn.]—which wemay English Hemlock Water-dropwort—upon several per-sons that eat of the roots of it, sent me not long since ina letter from Dr. Francis Vaughan, a learned physician inIreland, living at Clonmel, in the county of Tipperary.This gentleman observing me, notwithstanding whatDr. Johnson, in his c Gerardus Emaculatus/ and Lobel, inhis £ Adversaria/ had written of the venerose quality ofthis plant, to be somewhat doubtful of it in my ‘ SynopsisMethodica Stirpium Britannicarum/ for my full satis-faction and conviction, wrote the following abstract of a