THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 93 



ing the night, more than at any other time. The 

 pleasant evenings after clear days, which are always 

 delightful in that climate, are by far the worst, espe- 

 cially if there has been rain within a short time pre- 

 vious. The night air is so balmy and fresh after a 

 hot day, that it is almost impossible to resist the temp- 

 tation to enjoy it, at least with open windows or in 

 the veranda ; yet it is very imprudent to do so. 

 Another precaution of more consequence still, is to 

 close up from the night air the sleeping room, which 

 for reasons already assigned, should never be on the 

 ground floor. While sleeping, the system is very 

 much relaxed, and perhaps drenched in perspiration, 

 and consequently far more impressible than at any 

 other time ; and moreover, about 12 o'clock, the tem- 

 perature of the atmosphere usually becomes much 

 lower than at any other part of the twenty-four hours. 

 Now in order to avoid the miasma on the one hand, 

 and the sudden change of temperature on the other, 

 it is always desirable to sleep in an upper room, and 

 this should invariably be constructed with a venti- 

 lator in the roof. 



By adopting these few simple precautions, the 

 essential cause of the fevers of this climate may, in 

 a great measure, be avoided. I know it is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to be always governed by these rules, 

 and at present impracticable, yet they should be ob- 

 served as far as possible, and ultimately these observ- 

 ances may become incorporated with the established 

 customs of life, and then they will incur neither re- 

 straint nor ir.onvenience. 



