BOOK III. CHAP. VI. ^j^ 



works in our plantations, where fugar and rum are made, is a principal 

 cauic of the Weft-India cohc, or bclly-ache. But in tiiis con- 

 jefture he Icems to be greatly miftaken ; for, if this was true, the 

 cftedls would always be ceitain and invariable; and tjiofc only 

 would be fubjeft to that malady, who fwallowed rum and fugar m 

 the largeft quantities, which does not agree with oblbrvation or ex- 

 perience ; fnice many are fubjeft to it, who never drink any rum, 

 and eat but very little fugar. The drinkers of new rum are the 

 moft fubjeft to it, the reafon of which I have endeavoured to ex- 

 plain. Befides, the caufe is not proportioned to the fuppofed 

 effedl. It is true the mill-bed is covered with lead ; but the metal 

 fuffers no abrafion, as in a Devonftiire cyder-mill, to which the 

 Doctor's idea perhaps compared it. The cane liquor docs not reft 

 upon it long enough, or with preffure enough, to a(5l upon the metaU 

 it falls in hnall quantities, and keeps on its progrefs, in a gentle 

 fmooth current to the gutter, which is commonly made of folid 

 wood hollowed J and where one gutter joins another, the joint is 

 fometimes covered for the fpace of two or three inches with a piece 

 of lead, though more generally with clay. Two or three luch 

 gutters at moft are commonly long enough to reach the receiver in 

 the boiling houic, which is made entirely of wood ; and there the 

 liquor remains to fettle, till it is wanted for the copper. If any ill 

 effevfl can be fuppofed to arife from this metal in the piocefs, it caii 

 only happen from what is laid round the rim of the coppers, 

 where it undergoes a conftant great heat; and might pofiibly com- 

 municate its effluvia to the liquor, whenever it is fuffered to boil lb 

 high as to come in conta^l with it. This the .boilers in fome 

 nieafure prevent, by beating it conftantly down with their ikim- 

 mers; however it might be adviieable, never to lay the lead low ia 

 the coppers. In the diftilling houfe, this metal is never uled in any 

 ftiape ; and, therefore, the rum cannot be fufpecled to be impreg- 

 nated with any of its effluvia, except what may come in the Ikim- 

 inings, which are but a fmall part of the liquor ufed in diftilling rum. 

 Whether the tkimmings have any fuch impregnation, is a fa6t very 

 queftionable, and not very probable; but againft a partial degree of 

 impregnation, the oleaginous and laxative principles of fugar appear 

 to, be a fufficient prefervative 3 and hence it is found, that they wlio- 

 5 eat 



