BOOK III. CHAP. VI. 529 



colder climates, are not exempt from thcfe maladies; and they 

 liappeu in both, mod commonly, from irregularity of diet, want of 

 proper CKcrcife, or from debauched habits of life. 



An European, on arriving in Jamaica in good health, muft re- 

 folve, immediately after he is landed, to purfue a regimen of diet, 

 fomewhat different from what he had been accnftomed to at home. 

 lie flioiild eat lefs fleih-meat, and incrcafe his allowance of vegeta- 

 bles. This diet requires wine ; but even wine fliould be mode- 

 rately taken, and chiefly confidered as a mixture neceflary to cjualify 

 and counterad the putrefadive tendency of plain water. On the 

 voyage to this illand, he fliould not gorge in lalt-meat; but, laying 

 in a fl:ock of European vegetables, particularly onions, pickled- 

 cabbage, and the like^, eflablifli feme or other of them as a part of 

 his daily meals. It is perhaps much owing to the confiant diet 

 upon onions, that the Portuguefe at Madeira enjoy fuch good health 

 and vigour. What thefe men eat through necefllty, others may by 

 choice; fince the objedl to be obtained is worthy their purfuir, 

 found health, and the pofleflion of flrength and faculties. 



But as an Englifliman, who has been ufed to a plentiful diet of 

 flefli during the former part of his life, might fuffer by a too fuddea 

 or unlimited abftinence from it; fo it is mod: advifeable for them 

 to change and qualify it gradually, abating a little of their flefh- 

 meat every day, until they can bring themfelves to a due proportion 

 of animal and vegetable dinners, without futtering any fenfible in- 

 convenience. Their greateft danger is, that, on firft landing, 

 they find their appetite unufually keen, after the tcedlmn of fliip- 

 fare, for five or fix weeks at fea, and flimulated by the fight of 

 feveral dainties they have been before unacquainted with ; thus 

 flrongly folicitedto gratify their palates, they may fiill into hurtful 

 exceffes, if they are not on their guard. A proper diet, with ex- 

 ercife in moderation, and the avoiding excefles in eating and drink- 

 ing, particularly the former, will procure and preferve a good flate of 

 health ; and a man, who regulates his life by a due conformity to 

 this regimen, need not doubt of enjoying it in as great a degree 

 here, as he might have done in other parts of the w^orld. 



Inflammatory fevers arc not common in the Weft-Indies; nor 

 a buffy appearance of the blood. The reafons afiigned for this ex- : 

 V'oj,. II. Y y y cmption 



