^So J A M A r C A. 



be the mofl wholefome drink of any ; obferving, very jufily, that 

 fpirits, wine, beer, ale, cycler, and all other vinous and fermented 

 liquors, inflame the blood, and load the ftomach with phlegm, 

 caufing hiccoughs with their (liarpnefs, and difordering the head. 

 It muft be underflood, however, that, when water is ufed as the 

 only beverage in a hot climate, it ought to be as pure as poffible; 

 and that acefcent fubftances, fuch as vegetables, Ihould make a 

 conftant part of the water-drinker'^s food, in order to avoid that 

 putrefcency of the bodily humours which a total water and flefh 

 diet, without the correftion of vinous acids, or the antifeptic air 

 of vegetables, would probably generate. We find, accordingly, 

 that although the natives in this climate feldom drink any other 

 liquor, except cool, pure water ; yet they make their principal 

 daily meal confifl: chiefly of vegetables in their pepper-pots ; cat 

 plantains, yams, and cocos, inftead of bread; and are fond of 

 fallads, fruits, and fugared preparations. 



The great axiom of health among the natives of the Weft-Indies 

 (as Rouppe well obferves) is, " to keep the body open, to drink 

 *' water, and not to indulge in cxceflive venery.'*^ Eut I muft re- 

 mark, that, of thefe three cautions, the laft is the leaft attended to. 



SECT. VIL 



HAVING now confidered the beft means of preferving health 

 in this climate under the feveraJ general heads propofed, it may 

 be neceffary, perhaps, that I fliould make fome apology for having 

 trefpaffed thus far upon the province of phyficians. Some, wha 

 obferve that I have founded the rules prefcribed oa tlie opinions of 

 many among theableft of the faculty, will acknowledge the weight 

 of authority from whence they come recommended. Others will> 

 at leaft, have the candour to allow, that any inaccuracy, or error, 

 betrayed in the aftbrting of them, may be pardoned, for the fake of 

 their utility, and the objedl: in view,, which is no other than that 

 of promoting the health and happinefs of this colony. For the 

 reft, I (hall gratefully be one of the foremoft ia offering my thanks 

 and applaufes. to any gentleman of the faculty refident here, who 

 fliall bend his thoughts to this important fubjedl, and give the 

 public a more elaborate and ufeful detail of the means whereby the 

 ^ diforders,. 



