CHAPTER XII. 



The Climate of the Isthmus—Its influence on Health— Predisposing 

 and exciting causes of Disease — The Precautions necessary in 

 oi di ng them — Character of the Diseases— Habits of the Natives 

 when Sick. 



"With regard to the climate of the Isthmus of Pan- 

 ama, and the causes of disease there, every variety 

 of opinion is expressed that can be conceived, even 

 upon this fruitful subject, when once taken up by 

 the public. By some it is claimed to be quite as 

 healthy as any other climate, and especially exempt 

 from the necessarily fatal class of diseases ; while 

 others contend that it is the most pestilential in the 

 world, and I have somewhere seen it stated in print, 

 that it is "so deadly that an European can not 

 for any length of time endure it ;" and that " animal 

 life of every kind, and especially the human species, 

 were very imperfectly propagated in consequence of 

 its enervating influence. 5 ' 



With regard to the last it is but necessary to state, 



that a walk through any of the native towns will be 



alone sufficient to prove the contrary, unless it is the 



morale instead of the physical nature objected to ; 



5* 



