lOS Remarks on Madeira, Climate of the Tropics, 



home, of Teiieriffe for Madeira, can only take place with the 

 British wine-merchants and tavern-keepers. 



I learned from Dr. Henry, a resident and native of this island, 

 that the disease implied by consumption is by no means micom- 

 nion amonii; the natives, and that there are in it, at present, three 

 families, Portuguese natives, in which a marked hereditary pre- 

 disposition to this disorder prevails. From this gentleman I like- 

 wise learned a very uncommon source of consumption, that is 

 but too common here. In consequence of the very high lands of 

 Madeira, and the steep ascents to the multitude of houses above 

 and about the town of Funchal, the labouring classes are occa- 

 sionally under the necessity of bearing heavy burdens on their 

 heads and necks, and in their extreme anxiety to obtain relief, 

 are impelled to a temporary exertion, and corresponding quick- 

 ness of motion, that are impulsive of an extraordinary flow of blood 

 to the heart and lungs, while, at the same time, the peculiar ac- 

 tion of the muscles above, from the duration of the forced incli- 

 nation of the head and neck, necessarily impedes its ascent. 



He further informed me, that in October, November, Decem- 

 ber, and .January, the weather is warm down at Funchal ; while, 

 on the contrary, it is extremely cold up in the mountains. The 

 merchants' families begin to go up into the mountains in spring, 

 and to return down in the end of October or beginning of No- 

 vember. 



The prevalence of elephantiasis, and its dreadful effects on the 

 eyelids and eyes, I had an opportunity of witnessing in the lazar- 

 house to the left of Funchal. It seems principally to attack the 

 poor; l)utsome in good circumstances are likewise sorely afflicted 

 with it. In all these cases, the digestive organs have been known, 

 or at least said, to be out of order prior to the occurrence of the 

 disease. One of tiie chief articles of food with the poor here is 

 salted and dried fish, commonly without a due proportion of so- 

 lid vegetable food as a corrective. The pricklv heat induced by 

 the continual and excessive perspiration from blood assimilated 

 from such food, and, for the most part, aggravated by dirt, from 

 inattention to indispensable ablutions, and thereby injuring in a 

 greater degree the extreme vessels, rete mucosurn, and exhalants, 

 cannot but tend, with the cold atmospheric changes here, to bring 

 on this dise.'.se. 



During the ^id and ^th of November (the time allotted for our 

 stay at this island) the temperature was between 73 and 70. 



On the 2d and 3d the sk\ was really beautiful : at noon it 

 might well vie with what the mind is led to conceive of an Italian 

 sky ; and in the evenings, the azure was every where streaked 

 witli the fleecy and crimson, and imbued with the sombre and 

 golden hues, in a manner calculated to invite the affections, and 



enrich 



