12 Bogota'. 



government will take the matter in hand, 

 there is certainly no encouragement for men 

 of medical ability. From my own experi- 

 ence I am led to believe, that one-third of the 

 natives are hurried to a premature grave, and 

 the remainder have their constitutions much 

 injured from want of proper medicines and 

 timely aid. The poor of Bogota are most 

 miserable objects ; on Saturdays they be- 

 siege the houses of the ministers and most 

 wealthy inhabitants in thronging multitudes, 

 and if pity should be induced to open the 

 doors, the most wretched scenes of distress, 

 malady, and affliction are presented to 

 the eye ; some so disgusting as almost to 

 overpower the suggestions of compassion. 

 This it is intended to ameliorate, by erecting 

 a poor-house, and paying the expenses by a 

 rate on the inhabitants. 



A disease, known a long time previous, has 

 spread considerably in Colombia, that is, the 



