48 The Natural Historg 



The White and Bloody-Flax are common Distempers in 

 Carolina, and so are the Clap and French Pox; these are 

 cured after the same manner as with us. 



The Yaws, are a Disorder not well known in Europe, but 

 very common and familiar here ; it is like the Lues venerea, 

 having most of the Symptoms that attend the Pox, such as 

 JSfocturnal Pains, Botches, foul Erruptions, and Ulcers in 

 several parts of the Body, and is acquired after the same man- 

 ner as the Pox is, viz. by Copulation, &c. but is never attended 

 with a Gonorrhcea in the beginning. This Distemper was 

 brought hither by the Negroes from Guinea, where it is a 

 common Distemper amongst them, and is communicated to 

 several of the Europeans or Christians, by their cohabiting 

 with the Blacks, by which means it is hereditary in many 

 Families in Carolina, and by it some have lost their Palates 

 and Xoses. 



This Distemper, though of a venereal kind, is seldom cured 

 by Mercurials, as I have often experienced, for I have known 

 some undergo the Course of three Salavations to no purpose, 

 the virulency still continuing as bad as ever: AVhorefore I 

 judge it not amiss to set forth the most effectual method for 

 curing it, which I have often experienc'd, and never without 

 good success (during my residence in those parts) though the 

 Distemper was of ever so violent a nature, or long continu- 

 ance ; it is as follows : 



Take four Ounces of the Earl- of the Spanisli Oak, tiro 

 Ounces of the middle Barl- of the Pine Tree, two Ounces of 

 the Root of the Sumack, that hears the Berries, of these In- 

 gredients make a strong Decoction, ^('hereof let the Ptth'cnt 

 drill/,- a full Pint milk-warm and half a Pint cold, this gives 

 a strong Vonii/, hi/ irliirli ahiindancr of fil/lii/ MaUrr is dis- 

 charged, 



