WEST DEVONSHIRE. 235 



and it feems to invigorate, his whole frame: 

 he falls to his work again, with redoubled 

 fpirit. But give a Devonshire man as much, 

 or twice as much cider, and it appears to 

 unbrace and relax, rather than to give cheer- 

 fulnefs and energy to his exertions. 



Another more flagrant evil, which is laid 

 to the charge of cider, is the Devonfiire 

 colic, analoo-ous with the colic of Poitou. 

 This violent diforder has been afcribed to 

 the circum.ftance of the mills and prelles, of 

 Devonlliire, having lead made ufe of in their 

 conftrudion : and, under this idea, one of 

 the prefTes, I had an opportunity of exa- 

 mining, was fcrupuiouily formed without 

 lead ; the joints of the " vat" or bed of the 

 prefs, being caulked with wool and cow 

 duno-, which is found to be fully eiFedive, 

 in this intention. But, in evidence of the 

 improbability of lead being the caufe of 

 this mifchief, a mill, which had been con- 

 ftru(fled a century at leaft, and which is 

 cramped together by means of lead, being 

 examined, it was found that no corrolion 

 of the lead had taken place ; even the marks 

 of the hammer remained perfedly diflindl. 



ThJG 



