5^6 J A M A I C A. 



ders, the Perwoian bark lofes a great part of its efiicnc}-, in the mofl 

 virulent cafes. Thus, that admirable medicine the bark, which 

 ill found habits proves a fovereign antidote againft putrid and ma- 

 lignant fevers, is robbed of its virtue by ti\e putrefaftive coun- 

 teradion of mercurials ; thefe noxious effefls therefore, conjun6lIv 

 with any morbid dilpolition of the humours, or with a bad air, 

 and improper diet, or too violent exercife in the fun, may eafily and 

 naturally either haften the attack of a putrid diftemper, or promote 

 the exacerbations of it, if already formed ; and, fuch being allowed 

 the predifpofing caufes, it is eafy to admit, that a common fever 

 may foon degenerate into a putrid, and even one of the moft ma- 

 lignant fpecies. The fen^nle flaves, and even free Blacks, in our 

 plantations, are few of them exempt from this virus ; but they 

 conceal it Isy every artific-e in their power, that no delay may hap- 

 pen in their budnefs j for a hindrance in this refpe»51: would be a 

 certain lofs of profit to them. What Ulloa mentions of the Spa- 

 niards at ^i;Y<9, is applicable to thefe traders: he tells us, " Tiie 

 " venereal difeafe is there fo common, that few perfons are free 

 " from it ; even little children, incapable by their age of having 

 " contra£ted it aftively, have been known to be attacked with it 

 ■" in the fime degree as perfons who have acquired it by their 

 *' debauchery ; the chief caufe of its prevalence, is negligence in the 

 " cure. I'his difeafe m.ufl naturally be thought in lome meafure 

 " to Ihortcn their li\/es; though it is not uncommon, to fee per- 

 " fons live to feventy-flve years or more, who have never been en- 

 " tirely free from that diftemper, either hereditary or contrafted, 

 " from their early youth." It is probable, that the Scotch and 

 IrKh, who come over with founder conftitutions, lefs impaired 

 perhaps by fcorbutic and venereal taints, are, for this realbn, more 

 healthy than the Englifh ; befides, the Scotch, in particular, if not 

 more chafte, are at leaft in general more circumfpecl in their 

 amours. 



I knew an European gentleman, who, by imprudent connexions 

 Oi this fort, was infeded not only by xhtlues venerea, but with the 

 ymvs at the fime time ; under thefe two diftempers (than which 

 there are few in Pandora s box more loathfome), he lingered for a 



long 



