44 AVOYAGETO Book I. 



pofiibly have not tafted any fait meat during the voy- 

 age, often feel its effedls. Another remarkable cir- 

 cum fiance is, that perfons who have been once in this 

 climate are never after, upon their return again, fub- 

 je6l to this diftemper; but enjoy the fame ftate of 

 health with the natives, even though they do not lead 

 the' moft tern Derate lives. 



The invelligation of the caufe of this Grange dif- 

 temper has exercifed the attention of all the furgeons 

 in the galleons, as well as the phyficians of the coun- 

 try; and the refiilt of their refearches is, that they im- 

 pute it to the food, labour, and hardiliips of the feamen. 

 Doubtlefs thele are collateral cauies y but the principal 

 -quedion is, why perfons exempt from thofe inconve- 

 niences, frequently die of the diftemper ? Unhappily, 

 after all the experiments that have been made, no good 

 -method of treatment has been difcovered ; no fpecific 

 for curing ir, nor prefervative againil it. The fym- 

 ptoms are fo vague, as fometimes not to be di-ftinguifhed 

 from thofe of flight indifpofitions and though the 

 vomit be the determinate fympiom, the fever preced- 

 ing it is obferved to be very opprcffive, and extremely 

 ^ffeding to the head. 



This diOemper does not declare itfelf immediately 

 after the arrival of the European fliips in the bay, nor 

 has it been long known here ; for what was formerly 

 called Chapetonadas, were only indigeftions, v/liich, 

 though always dangerous in thefe climates, were, wich 

 little difHcuky, cured by remedies prepared by the wo- 

 men of the country, and which are Itill ufed with fuG»- 

 cefs, efpecially if taken in the beginning. The fhips 

 afterwards going to Porto Bello, were there firft attack- 

 ed by this terrible difeafe, which has always been at- 

 tributed to the inclemency of the climate, and the fa- 

 tigue of tjie feamen, in unloading the fhips, and draw- 

 ing the goods during the fair. 



The vomito prieto was unknown at Carthagena and 

 gll ^long the coaftj till the years 1729 and 1730. 



la 



