204 



dicated a high degree of exacerbation in the 

 malady. I relate faithfully what was then given 

 as the general result of observation : but I think, 

 in these numerical comparisons, it must not be 

 forgotten, that, notwithstanding appearances, 

 the epidemics of several successive years do not 

 resemble each other ; and that, in order to 

 decide on the use of fortifying or debilitating 

 remedies, (if indeed this difference exist in an 

 absolute sense,) we must distinguish between 

 the various periods of the malady. 



The climate of Porto-Cabello is less ardent 

 than that of La Guayra. The breeze there is 

 stronger, more frequent, and more regular. 

 The houses do not lean against rocks, that 

 absorb the rays of the Sun during the day, and 

 emit caloric at night. The air can circulate 

 more freely between the coast and the moun- 

 tains of Ilaria. The causes of the insalubrity 

 of the atmosphere must be sought in the shores 

 that extend to the East, as far as the eye can 

 reach, toward the Punt a de Tucacos, near the 

 fine port of Chichiribiche. There are the salt-, 

 works ; and there at the beginning of the rainy 

 season tertian fevers prevail, and easily degene- 

 rate into asthenic fevers. A curious observation 

 has been made, that the Mestizoes who are em- 

 ployed in the salt-works are more tawny, and 

 have a yellower skin, when they have suffered 

 several successive years from those fevers, which 



