Papers of David Skene: correspondence: Letter from John Hope to David Skene Letter from John Hope to David Skene in which he describes his collecting activities; he has recently learned that cast iron cannot be pierced by a drill unless milk is poured on it in which case it can be pierced as if it were hardwood; he states that Mr Franklin has informed him that nerves of animals, when taken out of the body, are electrical conductors when wet but not when dry; he describes recent papers read at the Philosophical Society including one on electricity by Dr Austin and a paper of Dr Gardiner's on a pill consisting of 1/8 of a strong solution of the mercurial sublimate, the rest as an anthelmintic; he suggests that Skene should become a member and states that he will introduce him to Lord Kames; he asks if he is friendly with Dr Gregory as he does wish to have Skene as one of their members; he refers to Dr. Pulteney of Leicester who took his degrees at Edinburgh; the College of Physicians are to publish new edition of 'Dispensatory' and will add 'Linnaean genera and trivial names to the present officinal', [1765 ]. [1765]