. [ 47 ] 
in of one or two children : but that then more vifible* 
arid indeed more cruel, fymptoms appeared. As to 
men, or infants, there is no rule to know it in them. 
15. For the explanation of the caufes, fymptoms, 
and what we think the mod: likely means of cure, 
we refer to a particular diflfertation. Let it fuffice 
here to obferve, that we do not imagine, that the 
air, water, or manner of living, can produce it ; for we 
have found as many fick in the low marfhy places, 
as in more airy faline places : and if many Negroes 
were infedted in the Grand Terre, where they drink 
the foul waters of ponds and lakes, we fee an equal 
number ill in places, where they have frefh rivers and 
running waters ; but they may prove proper caufes 
for unlocking, and difpofing perfons to receive, the 
difeafe. 
1 6 . We believe, and are perfuaded, that the ori- 
gin of this difeafe among the Negroes comes from 
Guinea : for almoft all the Negroes from that country 
told us they came from thence with thefe reddifh 
fpots, the firft and certain ligns of the diftemper 
begun. 
17. As to the infedted Whites and Mulattoes of 
this ifland, we were informed, that the difeafe was 
not known among the Whites till about 25 or 30 
years ago j when, out of charity, they received a 
miferable objedt from the ifland of St. Chriftopher’s, 
whofe name was Clement j who, about the year 
1 694, fled hither. It was the family of the Joflelins, 
called the Chaloupers, that protedted him ■, which 
family, as alfo that of the Poulins, we found infedted 
by communication with this lick man, as old Poulin 
declared to us. 
It 
