Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society, dated at Delft Signed letter Examination of salts in wine and vinegar; conglomeration of salts from wine and vinegar in the stomach; the effects of wine on the body; observing salts in the crystalline water (vitreous body) of the eye; the need for food and water to sustain the body; discussing the smallest particles of water and disputes Rene Descartes's theory on this; theory about the sense of taste - salt, sour and sweet Original figures now no longer exist Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 5, p 3 English extract printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 15, no 170, p 963 5 January 1685