Book IIT. Iland of BARBADOS. 
ing heartily, and in Appearance, be otherwife well; yet in a few Hours 
time, without any Symptom of a previous Diforder, drop down and die. 
Thefe, when dead, are by the moft judicious Planters immediately 
buried ; and often there is a Watchman appointed, to prevent the new- 
bought Negroes, and others of the poorer fort, from digging up the Car- 
cafes, and feeding upon them ; for when this happens, it generally cofts 
them their Lives; efpecially if they eat the Liver, or any Part of the 
Entrails : In this Cafe the Diftemper breaks out in the Shape of Plague- 
boils, near the Arm-pits or Temples. 
I have known one very extraordinary Inftance of its Virulency: A 
Negro Woman carrying upon her Head, in a Wicker-basket, a Piece of 
this Flefh, that had been newly cut off from a dead diftempered Carcafe, 
a few bloody fanious Drops fell through the Basket upon her Left Breaft.. 
In a few Hours fhe was {welled all over, and was not able to move a 
Limb ; and in about Two Days there appeared mortifying Ulcers on every 
Part where the Drops fell: And, tho’ {fpeedy Methods were ufed, by Fo- 
mentations, and. by feveral other means, to prevent its further Progrefs ; 
yet neither thefe Cautions, nor taking off the infe@ed Part, could put a 
Stop to it ; at laft, the whole Breaft, and adjacent infe@ted Part, were 
taken off clofe to the Bones. In this deplorable Condition the Surgeon 
gave her over. Her Miftrefs was one of thofe notable Women, who love 
to aé& out of their Sphere (which only an abfolute Neceffity can juftify) ; 
who, by fome accidental Succefs in the Ufe of Simples, called That Skill 
and Knowlege, which, with greater Propriety, might be attributed rather 
to good Luck : However, in this Cafe, where there were feemingly no Hopes 
of faving the Patient, fhe very fortunately applied to her Breaft a Cata- 
plafm of the Four following Herbs, Swzooth Elder-leaves, Soldier-bufb, Dial. 
thea, and Chriftmas-bufb, boiled and brought into a Confiftency with Bees- 
wax and Hog’s-lard; and, in a fhort time, intirely cured her. The Firft of 
thefe Plants is very detergent, and the Three laft very good Vulneraries. 
The Sheep that are natural to this Climate, and are chiefly bred here, 
are hairy like Goats. To be covered with Wool, would be as prejudicial 
to them in thefe hot Climates, as it is ufeful in Winter Countries for Shel- 
ter and Warmth: Yet, as Cloathing is neceflary (efpecially in the wet 
Seafons) to the Inhabitants of the warmeft Climates, this intire Want of 
Wool upon all Sheep naturally bred here, is abundantly fupplied by the 
Cotton-tree, which yearly, and in great Quantity, produces the fineft 
Wool in the World. 
Among the Number of Animals, either peculiar to, or brought to this 
Hfland, we are happy, that there is not one that is mortally venomous ; 
whilft many of our neighbouring French lands are miferably infefted with 
Vipers, and other Snakes. 
- There are here butThree Reptiles that can be properly called venomous ; 
the Black Spider, the Forty-leg, and the Surinam Scorpion. 
The 
