Wrote Letter L-441 of 1705-12-18 to Francesco Corner about the structure of a pearl compared to that of an oyster's shell, salts from pearls and oysters' shells heated and afterwards dissolved, and an argument against the grit of pearls as medicine

Date: 
December 18, 1705
Standard reference information
L-number: 
L-441
Leeuwenhoek's number: 
168
Collected Letters number: 
260
Collected Letters volume: 
15

Text of the letter in the original Dutch and in English translation from Alle de Brieven. The Collected Letters at the DBNL - De Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren

Leeuwenhoek wrote this letter about the structure of a pearl, and comparing this with the structure of an oyster's shell. Salts deriving from pearls and oysters' shells which have been heated and afterwards dissolved. Arguing against the notion that grit of pearls would be an efficacious medicine.

Translated extract from L. to Francisco Cornaro. See letter of 12 July 1707 (EL/L4/10) for Dutch copy of the letter to Cornaro.