662 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 174g. 



SO that the heat of the cool nights at Carthagena was nearly equal to that of the 

 hottest days at Paris. 



As the heats in this climate are so great, without receiving any sensible miti- 

 gation from the nights, it is no wonder that the perspiration of the inhabitants 

 is very great. Hence all those who remain there any time, appear pale and 

 weakly, as if newly recovering from a fit of illness. There appears in all their 

 actions, even so far as in speaking, a certain indolence and inactivity. Yet they 

 are in good health, though their aspect indicates the contrary. The people who 

 arrive there from Europe, hold the appearance of strength and colour in their 

 countenances during 3 or 4 months; but after that time, they lose both one and 

 the other, from the quantity of sweat, till they become like the former inhabi- 

 tants. These effects are most observable in younger people ; on the contrary, 

 those who are farther advanced in life, when they go thither, preserve their 

 former appearance better, and enjoy so good a state of health, that they live 

 commonly to more than 80 years of age. 



As the temperament of this country is particular, so are some of its distempers. 

 These may be considered of 1 kinds, viz. those distempers to which the Euro- 

 peans newly arrived there are liable, and they only ; and those which are common 

 to all persons, as well CrioUos as Chapetones. 



The distempers of the first class are many, as the resort of the Europeans 

 there is very great. They are very dangerous, and often mortal. They fre- 

 quently destroy a great part of the people, both sailors and others, who arrive 

 there from Europe. The continuance of these distempers is very short; they 

 last but 3 or 4 days, in which time the sick either die, or are out of danger. 

 The particular distemper, to which they are most liable, is very little known; 

 though it takes its rise in some from taking cold, in others from indigestion ; 

 but from whatever cause it takes its rise, it becomes in the short time before- 

 mentioned the vomito prieto or black vomit, which is what kills them ; it being 

 very rare that those, who have it, escape. It is observed in some, that their 

 delirium is so violent, that they are obliged to be tied down in their beds, that 

 they may not tear themselves in pieces, and they often die raving with the greatest 

 degree of agony. 



Those only are subject to this distemper, who are lately arrived from Europe : 

 the inhabitants of the country, as well as those who have been there any time, 

 are by no means liable to it, and enjoy perfect health during its greatest violence. 

 As the crews of ships are ver)' liable to this distemper, and more so than the 

 officers and passengers, who have greater variety of food and liquor, it has been 

 conceived, that the great exercise and labour of these people, and their feeding 

 on salt provisions, prepares their constitutions to be liable in this climate to a 



