i 



662 JAMAICA. 



generally proved mortal. The barometer, after being too low during 

 tlie fall cf rain, rofe to 31 ,.%.. In this cafe the column of air became 

 luddenly light, and as fuddenly became heavy again ; the quicknefs of 

 which tranfition, doubtlefs, caufed very extraordinary commotions in 

 the blood and juices; for, in rainy weather, the atmofphere near the 

 earth is lighter than at other times ; and, in fair or clear windy wea- 

 ther, it is heavieft. 



The barometer therefore may have its ufe, In leading us to prepare, 

 or to account for, diftempers of the anomalous clafs, as well as in di- 

 rCifting our choice of fituation for dwelling. 



They who live in the thin air of high mountains are generally re- 

 marked to be perfons of quick, lively parts, their blood and fpirits of 

 a free loofe texture, and their veflels enlarged, fo that the brain is fup- 

 plied with all that is neceffary for performing its functions well. Be- 

 fides, the coolnefs and elafticity of the air ftrengthens their fibres ; and 

 fuch places are ufually either rocky, or well drained, and free from 

 vapours. But at thofe heights, where the vapours conftantly brood 

 and fettle, their fibres, inftead of being corroborated, would probably 

 grow flabby ; and fuch perpetual moifture of the air might be produc- 

 tive of dropfical complaints ; hence appears the reafon, why perfons la- 

 bouring under an incipient dropfy, contrafled by redding in a vapour- 

 ifli air, have, upon their removal to fome of the dry, fandy cayes, which 

 lie off the South coaft of this ifland, recovered very furprifingly and 

 foon. 



In Dodor Trapham's time the dropfy was fo endemic in Jamaica, 

 that it went by the name of the country difeafe ; but as this dilbrder is 

 iiot at prefent very frequent, we may reafonably fuppofe (among other 

 caufes of its decline) that the air of the country is much lefs moift 

 than formerly it was. From the foregoing obfervations we may infer, 



1. That perfons whopafs fuddenly from a low fituation into the air of 

 high mountains, ought (on coming to refide there) to lofe a little blood. 



2. That fuch parts or lines of the mountainous range, at which fogs 

 and vapours daily fettle, impregnating the air with continual moifture, 

 are the leaft fit for habitation. 



3. That the healthier elevated fpots are either fuch as are above or 

 below this line ; of the latter fort arc thofc the ifland moftly abounds 



with, 



