Ch.VIF. south AMERICA. $3f 



come attenuated, fall into a (late of languor, which 

 gradually puts a period to their lives. It ufually 

 continues fome years, with intervals of eafe, during 

 which, if the evacuations do not entirely ceafe, they 

 are confidcrably intermitted ; the pains feem over, and 

 they are capable of drefTing themfelves and walking 

 abroad J but the difcafe fuddenly returns with double 

 violence, and the patient becomes totally difabled. 

 This diflemper comes on fo imperceptibly, as not 

 to be indicated either by the countenance or pulfe, 

 till at its height ; and fuch is the contagion of it, 

 that it IS contraded only by fitting in the fame chair 

 commonly ufed by an infecled perfon, or wearing 

 her cloaths ; but it has not been known to aired the 

 men, hufoands ufually living with thefr wives till 

 the laft ftage of the d idem per. Two caufes are af- 

 figned for this malady, their exceflive ufe of per- 

 fumes, which they always carry about them, and 

 may doubtlefs contribute greatly to promote it the 

 other a continual riding in their calafhes, but this 

 does not feem to be of fo much confcquence as the 

 former. For then the mod diftinguiflied of the fair 

 fex in other countries, who ride in coaches, and 

 even ufe the more violent exercife of the horfe, 

 would not be exempt from it. 



Slow or heclic fevers alfo prevail greatly in thefe 

 countries, a^id fire likewife contagious, but more 

 from a want of a proper care in the furniture and 

 apparel of the perfons infedled, than any malignancy 

 of the climate. 



The venereal difeafe is equally common - in this 

 country as in thofe we have already mentioned ^ it 

 is indeed general in all that part of America ; and 

 as little attention is given to it till arrived to a 

 great height, the general cultom in all thofe parts^ 

 4 repetition here would be needlefs. 



C H A 



