HEALTH. 



189 



2,000 feet, where every tropical fruit thrives, and where 

 the nights are always cool, and the heat of the day is 

 never oppressive. It would be difficult to select a residence 

 in any part of the globe more healthful and more luxuri- 

 antly endowed by nature. 



Jamaica is generally a healthy island. It cannot be 

 said to be subject to any malignant fevers. The yellow 

 fever which used to prevail, does not visit the island as 

 often as it visits New York, and is not more fatal when it 

 does come. 



Dr. King, pastor of Grey Friars' Church, Glasgow, visited 

 Jamaica about a year ago for the health of a member 

 of his family, who was consumptive. Since his return, he 

 has printed a small volume of his observations, in which 

 I find the following on the subject I am now considering, 

 and to which he was likely to have given special attention : 



" So far as I could form an opinion from what I witnes- 

 sed myself, and learned from my intercourse with physi- 

 cians, the estimate generally entertained of the unhealthi- 

 ness of Jamaica greatly exceeds the truth. Many diseases 

 very fatal in Britain are unknown there, or they are found 

 only in modified and gentle forms. So it is with hooping- 

 cough and measles. The complaint most common in the 

 island is fever. In most cases it is slight and transient, 

 and occasions little suffering or alarm. It is liable, how- 

 ever, to become virulent, especially if persons are so im- 

 prudent as to get wet and not change their clothing, or if 

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