BOOK III. CHAP. VI. 557 



dileafc has made but little ravage, at any of our Jamaica Tea ports, of 

 late years, in comparifon with anterior times, which is to be afcribed 

 to the greater abundance of vegetable food, fugar, and fruits, in com- 

 mon ufe ; it feems likely, that the inhabitants would be equally proof 

 againft its attacks, as the Spaniards are found to be, if they would 

 but depart a little more from a too plentiful flefh diet, and ftroiig li" 

 quors, and regale more frequently on chocolate, and fugarcd prepara- 

 tions ; ufe none but rum of due age, with the fubacid fruits, not green, 

 but thoroughly ripened ; with inch other materials, in their ordin.iry 

 refrefliments, as, by the confcnt of experience, and medioal precepts, 

 appear beil calcubted to refift the venom of this, and fuch like putrid 

 diftempers. That Cartbagena is not a very iinhciiithful climate 

 (though in a low fituation, and intenfely hot), is manifclf trom the 

 good old age w^hich feveral of its inhabitants attain, many of whom 

 enjoy fo confirmed a ftate of health, as to reach their 8oth year. This, 

 indeed, is not an extraordinary thing in Jamaica, which is much cooler, 

 and where there are now, and have at all times been, feveral ptrfons 

 exceeding that period ; but, in order to make this longevity a m<.re uni- 

 verfal bleffing, thofe means and habits of life muft be prattiled, and 

 refolutcly attended to, which are found to be the moft conducive 

 and favourable to the end propofed. I fhall next conddtr, as another 

 ligrcdient in the common diet of perfons hi the Weft Indies, the ai'- 

 ticle of 



R U M. 



SECT. V, 



I da not know of any author,, who h;i$ treated thl:; Uibj-cft in a 

 manner fo fcientific and elaborate, as the ingenious Mr. DolJie ; as his- 

 pofitions, relative to the analyfis and pr(;pertles of this fplilt, have not 

 been controverted, and appear to be the refult of experiments, joined' 

 to an eminent degree of chemical knowledge, I fliall readily adopt, 

 and endeavour to illuftrate their truth, by other obfervations. From 

 thefe, a judgement may be formed, why rum in fome circumftances 

 is to be confidered an unwholcfome article of diet ; why under others 

 it is quite the reverfe, when ufed in moderation ; why it is to be pre- 

 ferred to other fimple-dlftillcd fplrlts, whether it be drank in mode- 

 ration or to an excefs; and hence will .appear the means moit certain^ 

 J to 



