5i6 JAMAICA. 



o^reater coolnefs of the air, in fuch places, and their dillance from any 

 ftagnant water, or fetid ooze, may contribute to their falubrity ; the 

 clearing away fuch woods, which fcreen the lower fituations, and in- 

 creafe their fultrinefs, by excluding the free air from them, will ren- 

 der them more habitable, but perhaps not add much to the healthinefs 

 of the former j for the reafon why the mountain woods are lefs inju- 

 rious than the clofe thickets of the low lands, is, that the trees ftand 

 further afunder, fo as to give a freer paffage to the winds and vapours ; 

 and confift, for the moft part, of the aromatic kinds, which ferve to 

 correal any noxious exhalations, with their fragrancy and perfume. 

 Their leaves in general are thick and firm ; their pores extremely mi- 

 nute, and filled with a refinous or glutinous juice ; by which means 

 they perfpire lefs, and are enveloped with a lefs baneful atmofphere, 

 than the trees of moift and low groinids. Pimento walks are remark- 

 ably healthful for refidence. Pcrfon?, obliged to rcfide upon or near 

 marfhy, unhealthful fpots, (hould avoid expofing themfelvcs, when 

 i^ifting, to the chills of the morning and evening air, and never go 

 abroad with an empty fl:omach ; but, previous to their labour, or 

 amufemcnt abroad, they (hould take either a glafs of wine, with a 

 ilice of bread, or drink a fmall quantity of chamomile or bark tea, 

 •or of an infufion of garlic, bark, and rhubarb in brandy ; which may 

 be taken either alone, or diluted a little with fome water, before tbey 

 venture out in the morning. 



In all fuch humid fituationS fmoaking tobacco is beneficial; a? aKo 

 a more plentiful diet cf flefli, with wine, and the peppers of the coun- 

 try. The pit of the ftomach, the feet, and the back bone, are more 

 particularly to be guarded by coverings of flannel or cotton ; a fquarc 

 piece of thick dimitty, with a tape llrap to put round the neck, may 

 be worn next the Ikin, to cover the cheft and ftomach. This has 

 been experienced very conducive to health, in fuch places, and a good 

 preventative againft thofe colds and rheumatifms, which are apt, in 

 thefe climate?, to fall on the bowels, and caufe the belly-ach ; and, 

 to thefe precautions the daily ufe of bathing may be added, in the 

 forenoon, when the ftomach is empty. Strangers newly arrived at 

 fuch places, or thofe who are conftitutionally fubjeft to agues, fhould, 

 during the fickly feafons, take, every other night, two or three fpoon- 

 fuls of tin^ura Jacra, or a few grains oi pihtl^e ritf, not fufficient to 



purge. 



