548 JAMAICA. 



SECT. IV. 

 Of Sugar, confidered Medicinally. 



There is no better prefervative, perhaps, agalnfl: thofe difeafes which 

 owe their rife to a putrefcency of the humours, than the juice of the 

 fiigar-cane, and its various preparations. The effeds they produce on 

 debilitated Negroes, and on brute animals, whom they reftore to health 

 and vigour, rendering the mofl emaciated plump and lively, are ex- 

 tremely remarkable. There cannot be a ftronger recommendation of 

 any fubftance proper for aliment, than to fay, that it is eagerly devour- 

 ed by all animals, and offeniive to none ; more efpecially, as they, who 

 are governed by unerring inftinft, are never known to delight in any 

 fpecies of food, which is inimical to their health : but human rtafon 

 and experience correfpond with this inftind, in recommendation of 

 thefe mild, nutritious, and falutary effedls. 



It has been obferved, that, fmce fugar and acefcent fubftances have 

 come into vogue, all putrid difeafes, the fcurvy no lefs than putrid ma- 

 lignant fevers, the dyfentery, and even the plague itfelf, are much 

 abated. The ableft writers on thefe difeafes mention fugar or me- 

 bfles as necefllary ingredients in the diet of patients afflifted with them ; 

 and that their virtue confifts in the efficacy with which they refill, and 

 countcraL^l, all putrid humours. The Spaniards in the Weft Indies,, 

 fenfible of this effcft by long experience, ufe it univerfally ; it forms a 

 part of all their collations, and they never drink even a glafs of water 

 without prevjoufly eating fome conferve, or fwcetmeat. In the putrid 

 ■yellow fever, Do6lor M*^ Bride recommends very ftrenuoufly the juice 

 of the Jugar-cane before it is thoroughly ripe, diluted and acidulated 

 with the frefh juice of limes or Seville oranges. Let our men (fays he) 

 in the navy be as well cloatbed as in the army, and let them be al- 

 lowed, whilft at Tea, a daily portion o^ fugar; and, I will venture to 

 promife that, in a time of war, we fliali annually fave fome thoufands 

 of very ufeful lives. 



To the ufe of this, and frefii vegetables, which now make up fo 

 j^reat a part of the diet of the European nations, it is to be afcribed,, 

 that we at this day fo fcldom hear of the dreadful putrid difeafes which 

 formerly fvvept off fuch multitudes, every thirty or forty }- cars, under 

 tjhe rvjime of plagues.. 



The. 



