(wei )) 
-efpecially during the fummer four, til 6 a8, critical extremés, when the 
thermometer after 86 a 92 degrees, falls fuddenly to 60. Could means 
be found to blunt thefe attacks on the human conftitution, they would 
{ave multitudes from death and lingering difeafes. Sometimes this cri- 
fis happens as late as medium September, and is in a few days fucceeded 
by the autumnal frofts: in fuch cafe weak perfons receive a thock, from 
which they cannot recover during the autumn, and which will aggravate 
the maladies of the winter, efpecially when it is early and rigorous. 
Searching for general caufes of the mentioned diftempers in the po- 
pular diet, we fhould examine the following circumftances—exceflive 
ufe of animal food, efpecially pork : the common drink of inferior fpi- 
ritous liquors both foreign and home made; ‘not to mention a too fre- 
quent intemperance even in the beft kinds: the ‘conftant ufe of tea a- 
mong the fair fex, drank generally very hot and ftrong ; and often by 
the poorer clafles, of a bad quality. 
In the general modes of drefs we plainly difcern thefe defects :—the 
tight-bodied clothes, worn by both fexes, encreafe the heat of a fultry 
fummer; the clofe lacing and cumberfome head-drefles of the ladies are 
efpecially injurious to health. The winter-cloathing is too thin for the 
climate of the northern and middle ftates, which is for feveral months 
at times equally cold with the North of Europe. Few perfons preferve 
their feet from the baneful dampnefs of the fluth occafioned by the fre- 
quent viciflitudes of hard frofts and heavy rains during the winter: wo- 
men generally wear ftuff-fhoes: the American leather, though otherwife 
good, is very fpungy; a defect owing to the precipitate procefs of tan- 
ning. Nor does either fex guard the head againft the piercing north-weft 
wind which is fo general for five or fix months: on journeys efpecially, 
the men fhould exchange their hats for caps that cover the ears and 
cheeks. 
In the modes of lodging thefe improprieties are obfervable:—the poor- 
er, or more indolent people, efpecially in the lefs improved parts of the 
country, frequently dwell in houfes that are open to the driving fnow, 
and chilling blaft: good houfes often want clofe doors; a chafm of fix 
or eight inches near the floor admits a ftrong current of cold air, which 
-fenfibly affects the legs. Such houfes cannot be fufficiently warmed by 
the common fire-places; hence the frequent complaint, that the fore 
part of the body is almoft roafted, while the back is freezing: a fituati- 
on very unnatural, productive of rheumatifin and other diftempers. The 
larger 
