BOOK III. CHAP. VI. 5H3 



this efFeft, by a wafte of a6tual fubftancc, can only happen wlien 

 the body is kept unreplenKhed, by fupplies of nutriment, to repair 

 the lofs of what may be carried off by this means. Hence thofe, 

 who are moft healthy, are known to dilute more frequently and 

 plentifully than others; their perfpiration chiefly eliminates aqueous 

 particles, which are fpeedily replaced ; they do not grow emaciated, 

 but plump; and gain, inftead of lodng, weight; which would not 

 be the cafe, if the fa6l was as Mr. Reaumur fuppofes. Neither is it 

 proved, that the native inhabitants of hot climates are fhorter-lived 

 than thofe of the temperate zones ; fmce there are many inftances 

 to the contrary, both in the iflands, and on the continent of South- 

 America. 



The reapers in Pennfylvania, who work In the open fields, in the 

 clear, hot fun-fliine, common in their harveft-time (about the end 

 of June, or beginning of July), find themfelves very able, to go 

 through that labour, without being much incommoded by the heat, 

 while they continue to fweat, and while they fupply matter for 

 keeping up that fweat, by drinking frequently of a thin, evaporable 

 liquor, water. mixed with rum ; but, if the fweat ftops, they drop, 

 and fomctimes die fudJenly, if a fweating is- not brought on again 

 by drinking that liquor, or (as lonie rather cliulc in that caie) a 

 kind of hot punch, made with water mixed with honey, and a con- 

 fiderable proportion of vinegnr. Hence Dr. Franklin very pro- 

 perly concludes, that the quicker evaporation of pcrfpirable matter 

 from the Ikin and lungs of Negroes, by cooling them more, en- 

 ables them to bear the fun's heat io much better than the Whites 

 can do ; though, abflraded from this, the colour of their ikins 

 would, otherwife, make them more fenfible of that heat [oj. From 

 the fame c>iufe, perhaps, it is, that they do not bear cold weather 

 lb well, and are more apt to have their limbs froft-bitten in the 

 Northern parts of America ; their greater evaporation contributing 

 to chill them more feve rely. However this hypothefis may be, it 

 is certain, that Europeans, coming to refide in the Weft- Indies, 

 are never known to enjoy their health and fpirits, unlefs they per- 

 Ipire freely ; and thofe, wlio continue to do fo, are not afflided 

 with ficknefs fo long as it continues : that regimen theforc of diet, 



["] Fiaiikllu's Pa|-eis on Philofophical Subjc^s, 



of 



