Ch. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 43 



upwards : this is common among ail the claiTes of in- 

 habitants. 



The fíngularity of the climate, in all prohabüiíj, 

 occafions the finguiarity of feme of the dlfiempers 

 which here aífeél the human race; and theie may be 

 confidered in two different lights ; one, as only attack- 

 ing the Europeans newly landed, and (he other, as 

 common both to Creoles and Chapitones. 



Those of the hrft kind are, in the country, com- 

 monly called Chapetonadas, alluding to the name 

 given there to the Europeans. Theie diñempers are 

 io very deleterious, that they carry ofT a multitude of 

 people, and thin the crews of European fiiips; but 

 they feldom lafl above three or tour days, in which 

 time the patient is either dead or out of danger. The 

 nature of this diftemper is but little known, being 

 caufcd in fome perfons by cold^ ami \n others by in- 

 zügeftions ; it foon brings on the vomito prieto, or 

 ^biack vomit, which is the fatal lymptom ; very few- 

 being ever known to recover. Some, when the vomit 

 -attacks them, are feized with ibch a delirium, that, 

 were they not tied down, they would tear themfelves 

 to pieces, and thus expire in the midit of their furious 

 paroxyfms. It is remarkable, that only the new- 

 comers from Europe are fubjecl to this diltemper, and 

 that the natives, and thofe who have lived fome time 

 here, are never aíFeded by it ; but enjoy an uninter- 

 rupted ilate of health, amidfi thedreadful havock it makes 

 among others. It is alfo obferved to rage more among 

 the common feamen, than thofe who have been able 

 to live on more wholefome ibod ; whence, fait meat 

 has been confidered as pernicious in bringing on this 

 diftemper, and that the humours it produces, together 

 with the labour and hardfhips of the teamen, incline 

 their blood to putrefaélion, and from this putrefadion 

 the vomito prieto is fuppofed to have its origin. Not 

 that the failors are its only vi6fims, for even paf- 

 ■iengers, who poffibly have not tailed any fait meat 



during 



