Book IL Iland of BARBADOS, * 435, 
There are other Kinds of Colics, which often affli@ the Inhabitants ; 
likewife the Yellow- Jaundice, and Hyfteric Diforders : But as thefe are 
not peculiar to this Climate alone, it cannot be expected, that I fhould enter 
fo far into the Province of the Phyfician, as to treat medicinally of them. 
As Diarrhceas, however, and Dyfenteries, make no {mall Havock 
among the poorer Inhabitants of the Iland; and as the Caufe and Me- 
thod of Cure, in fome meafure, differ from the fame Diftemper in North- 
ern Climates, being partly conftitutional ; they deferve to be mentioned : 
Nor can this be better done, than in the Words of Dr. Towve. 
Fluxes are very common in the We/-Indies, but more efpecially in Floxes very 
rainy Seafons ; and may be imputed chiefly to the Negligence of thofetainy Sea. 
who either too unwarily or unavoidably expofe themfelves to the Injuries" 
of the wet Weather ; by which means Perfpiration being interrupted, the 
thin Part of the Blood, which fhould have been exhaled through the Pores 
‘of the Skin, is thrown upon the Bowels, and thence difcharged in loofe 
Stools. This plainly appears from the great Number of Negroes, and the 
poorer Sort of White People, who in thefe Seafons are much more afflicted 
with this Diftemper, than fuch whofe Condué of Life does not fubject 
them to the like Inconveniencies. : 
Befides catching Cold, there are other antecedent Caufes of a Diarrhea; 
the principal of which are, ‘An immoderate Ufe of crude fugacious Fruits, 
** unwholfome Food, and Meats of difficult Digeftion ; all which, by ftimu- 
“ lating the Guts, will likewife occafion a Diarrhoea. 
“ When thefe laft-mentioned Caufes occur, with a damp rainy Seafon, 
“< the Bowels will not only be loaded with the thin Juices, which ought 
“* to pafs off by Perfpiration, but they will alfo, by reafon of the Stimulus 
“ lodged in them, be continually folicited to expel their Contents more 
“ frequently, and of a thinner Confiftence, than ufual. A diminifhing 
“¢ Perfpiration will likewife. contribute towards inlarging the Orifices of the 
“¢ Hepatic and Pancreatic Duéts ; and, on this Account, the Secretions of 
“ their refpeétive Juices will be more plentifully made into the Inteftines: 
‘* And hence we have an additional Caufe of, Loofenefs.”” 
Thefe Circumftances, I think, are fufficient to account for every Spe- 
cies of the Diarrhoea; and, when we are once fully afcertained of the 
Caufe, we need not be much at a Lofs what Method of Cure ought to 
be purfued in each Species. 
Fluxes have been here very often negleGted in the Beginning, from an 
Opinion, that they are falubrious, and of Service to the Conftitution, by 
affording an Outlet to fome offending Matter, which, if retained, would 
have proved prejudicial. 
This-Remark may in fome Cafes be very true ; but it is not to be con- 
fided in without great Caution in the We/f-Indies, where a fimple Flux 
frequently rifes up into an obftinate Dyfentery in Three or Four Days ; 
and, when the Diarrhcea is fuffered to continue any time, it too commonly 
terminates 
