5712 JAMAICA. 



injurious to health. It is of confequence therefore, to have fome 

 criteria^ whereby to dill:ingui(h any noxious quaUties contained in 

 water, that fuch may be chofen as is befl: adapted to preferve 

 health. Philofophy and experiment have inftru£ted us in the 

 means of making the difcovery, in moil: refpefts ; and likewife have 

 pointed out thofe waters, which delerve a preference before others, 

 for their lightnefs and falubrity. 



Of all waters the atmofpherical, or rani water, is the mofi: light 

 and (imple; yet even this is found to contain fome impregnations, 

 dilcoverable by a chemical procels. Next to this, is fpring water ; 

 which varies in purity and goodnefs, according to the nature of the 

 foil tiiiough which it percolates; what rifes amidft a rocky, gravelly, 

 or zlyAky Jiratum, is generally moll: efteemed. The water of wells, 

 if fed by a fubterraneous current, comes next in order; and improves, 

 by {landing for fome time expofed to the air before it is drank. 

 Kiver water is not much to be recommended, unlefs fome 

 previous cautions are ufed in depurating, and preparing it for 

 life; but of all waters, fuch as is itagnant, found in lakes, 

 ponds, or ditches, is the very worfl. I Ihall now apply thefe 

 diiiin6tions more particularly to Jamaica. The rain water here is 

 experienced to be extremely light, pure, and wholefome, collected 

 in thofe mountainous places where no fprings are at hand; pro- 

 vided it is carried in clean gutters, into fome relervoir, or fhaded 

 place, wliich is not expofed to the fun at any time, nor open to 

 inlcvfls for dcpoiiting their eggs. When I was at St. John's Town 

 in Antigua, lome years ago, 1 obferved moft of the houfes were 

 provided with cilierns, for receiving the rain water which fell on 

 the roofs; this water, from the multitude of mulkeetos which bred 

 in it, the lizards, cockroaches, and other animals, that had fallen in, 

 and the dirt walhed down from the houfe tops, was feculent, and 

 almoll putrid. Such water, even boiling can fcarcely accommo- 

 date to health. The water of many of the rivers in Jamaica is tur- 

 bid, from the frequent lieavy fhowers that fall in the uplands, and 

 flood them ; in general therefore, their water ought to be kept for 

 fome days, until the clayey and other impure particles are entirely 

 fubfided, or that it is otherwife purified.. The water of lagoons is 



fo 



