Cau V. SOUTH AMERICA. 43 



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

 habitants. 



The íingLiiarity of the climate, in all prohabiliiy, 

 occafious the iingularlty of foine of the diíícmpers 

 vvliich here aífe¿l the human race; and thefe may be 

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

 ing the Europeans newly landed, and the other, as 

 common both to Creoles and Chapitones. 



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

 monly called Chapetonadas, alluding to the name 

 given there to the Europeans. Theic diñempers ate 

 io very deleterious, that they carry ofT a multitude of 

 people, and thin the crews of European fnips; but 

 they feldom lafl above three or four days, in vv'hich 

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

 nature of this diftemper is but little known, being 

 caufed in fome perfons by c^ld^ and in others by in- 

 jdigeftions ; it foon brings on the vomito prieto, or 

 tblack vomit, which is the fatal fyraptom ; very few 

 being ever known to recover. Some, when the vomit 

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

 were they not tied down, they would tear themfelves 

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

 paroxyfms. It is remarkable, that only the new- 

 comers from Europe are fubjeél to this diilemper, and 

 that the natives, and thofe who have lived fome time 

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

 ruptedflateofhealth,amidfrthedreadfulhavock 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 wholeibme food ; whence, fah 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 putrefa6lion, and from this putrefaólion 

 the vomito prieto is fuppofed to have its origin. Not 

 that the Tailors are its only victims, for even paf- 

 ■iengers, who poffibly have not tailed any fait meat 



duriníT 



