Cií. Vil. SOUTH AMERICA. 9S 



come attcnuíitod, fall into a state of languor, whicii 

 e:ríídua]lv puts a period to tlicir lives. It usually 

 continues some years, with intervals of case, during 

 which, if th^ evacuations do not entirely cease, they 

 are considerably intermitted ; the pains seem over, and 

 they are capable of dressing; themselves and walking 

 abroad ; but the disease suddenly returns with double 

 violence, and the patient becomes totally disabled. 

 This distemper cooies on so imperceptiblyi as not 

 to be indicated either by the countenance or pulse, 

 fill at its he!2;ht ; ani such is the contagion of it^, 

 that it is contracted only by sittiog in the same chair 

 commonly u^ed by an infected person, or wearing 

 her cloaths ; but it has not been known to aíiecí the 

 men, husbands usually living with their wives tiU 

 the last stage of the distemper. Two causes are as-, 

 signed for this malady : their excessive use of per- 

 fumes, which they always carry about them, and 

 may doubtless contribute greatly to promote it ; the 

 other a continual riding in their calashes, but this 

 does not seem to be of so much consequence as the 

 former. For then the most distinguished of the fair 

 sex in other countries, who ride in coarhes, and even 

 use the more violent exercise of the horse, would not 

 be exempt from it. 



Slow or hectic fevers also prevail greatly in these 

 countries, and are likewise contagious, but more from 

 a want of proper care in the furniture and apparel 

 of the person infected, than any malignancy of the 

 climate. 



The venereal disease is equally common in this 

 country as in those we have already mentioned ; it is 

 indeed general in all that part of America ; and as 

 little attention is given to it till arrived to a great 

 height, the general custom in all those parts, a repe- 

 tition here would be needless. 



CHAP 



