Chap. VI. A N T I E N T METAPHYSICS. 191 



mentioned, from fome country that had been long in a (late of civi- 

 lization, and where vice and folly were grown old. And the moft 

 probable account of its native country is what I heard from a learn- 

 ed phyfician in Paris, IVionfieur Juflieu, (who, I am forry to hear, is 

 dead within thefe few years), that it came originally from Africa, the 

 coaft of which had been difcpvered, and, I believe, fettlements made 

 upon it by the Portuguefe, fome years before the difcovery of the 

 Weft Indies. And he faid, that it w^as by the Portuguefe brought 

 into Europe, and by the negro flaves carried to the Weft Indies 

 and America ; from whence, no doubt, it would be brought back to 

 Europe ; for it is the effedt of commerce to keep up a conftant cir- 

 culation of vice and difeafe, and to make the vices and difeafes of 

 one country the vices and difeafes of all. In fupport of his opinion 

 he affirmed it as a fad, that the difeafe, at this day, was to be found 

 in the greateft virulence and malignity among the negroes on the 

 coaft of Africa. 



But, though I don't doubt that the pox is a native of Africa, I 

 think it is highly probable that it is a native alfo of India, a country 

 much older in civilization than Africa ; for, according to my in- 

 formation, it has been there of a very long time, and with a force 

 and vigour, fuch as every difeafe, as well as plant or animal, has in 

 its native country, greater than any where cKe, Neither do I think 

 it at all probable that it has been imported into India from Africa 

 or Europe, though it is very poffible that it may have travelled from 

 India to China, where it reigns alfo. 



This difeafe, unknown in antient times, is as malignant as it is 

 vnde fpread, and particularly in hot countries, in one or more of 

 which, I am perfuaded, it firft began. There it is hardly ever radi- 

 cally cured : Whereas, in the cold countries, where at firft it was 



very 



