BOOK HI. CHAP. VI. 537 



longtime; the remedies proper for tlic one, only fcrved to exa- 

 sperate the other ; and therefore not being able, by the powers of 

 mercury, to obtain relief, he was obliged to leave tlie ifland, in 

 the hope of receiving fome benefit from the advice of phyficians in 

 Great Britain. Another, a young man of a lively but lafcivious 

 turn, for feveral months after his arrival, was fcarcely ever free 

 from venereal infcdion, having not patience to wait the cure of one 

 taint, before he contra6led another ; by this infanc conduil, a fali- 

 vation became neceflary ; debilitated with this, and iiis preceding 

 excefles, he was fuddenly, upon fome little irregularity, feized 

 with a fever, fo flight at firfl:, that, had not his conflitution beeii 

 worn down, and his whole habit degenerated, it would have been 

 eafily removed ; but, being aggravated by the tabid frate to which 

 his body was then reduced, it turned by degrees to a highly pu- 

 trid diftemper, and carried him off, 



Cataftrophes of this nature, it is to be feared, have but too 

 often occurred in the idand, to the untimely deftrudion of many 

 an improvident youth ; nor are our furgeons wholly to be excul- 

 pated, who are but too fond of prefcribing mercurials upon all oc- 

 cafions, without adverting to their fatal operation on fome habits. 



Anient Jpir Its, particularly brandy, and frefli diftilled rum, in ex- 

 cefs, are no lefs injurious in all cafes where the humours have a 

 difpofition to putrefcence ; although, when ufed with due mode- 

 ration, and not too frequently, they are antifeptic, or antiputref- 

 cent. What chance have thofc men for longevity, who adl as 

 if they were engaged in a perpetual confpiracy againfl their own 

 health ; who are incefliintly inflaming and irritating their blood 

 and juices with an acrimony, that is produ6live of mortal diftem- 

 pers J who indulge beyond meafure in fiery fpirits ; careleisly hurry- 

 about, and ufe violent exercifes in the hottefl: part of the hottefl 

 days [j>] ; fit up late at night, deprive their bodies of refrefhing 

 fleep, and expofe them to the night air; and laftly, who plunge 



[p] From a great iucreafe of corporeal motion, and a want of repofe and fleep, the fume con- 

 fequenees are to be expefted as from fevers ; the nature of which confuts in an attekratcd 

 circulation of the blood, attended of courfe with an exceffive heat ; whence proceeds an en- 

 fuing putrefcency of the humours : jull as a hare, killed after being hard run for a confiderable 

 time, becomes fooner tainted than one that has been killed upon its form. De Monchy. 



Vol. II. Z z z headlong 



