‘ 
22 Remarks on the Climate of North Anerica, by EDI Tashima, [March a; 
fomewhat requifite to diftinguifh the ab/o- 
‘dute effets which govern the climate, from 
the relative effects of our own immpru- 
dence; for we frequently afcribe evils to 
climate which are imperceptible to others, 
becaufe the imputation affords a kind of 
apology for the pleafure which we take in 
deceiving ourfelves. 
Taking thus a double view of the fub- 
ject, we may clafs the caufes which in- 
fluence the climate, and which concern 
the health of man, under the terms ad/o- ° 
dute and relative. 
In confidering the local and’permanent 
caufes, which I cenceive to be the chief 
agents which govern the climate, I venture 
to rank the following under the head of 
Abfolute caufes which affect the Climate. 
1. An extenfive {cope of level country 
which is fubjected to the vehement heat of 
the fun, in confequence of a fair and open 
fouthern expolure 3 which is fheltered by 
am immenfe chain of mountains on the 
north-weft, by means whereof it is pre- 
vented from enjoying thofe cool and pu- 
rifying winds which are appropriate: to 
higher regions on the one hand ; while the 
courfe of the fea-breezes is intercepted on 
the other by the elevated part of the coun- 
try; on which account fuch winds become 
faint and exhaufted, before any coniidera- 
ble rarefaction of the atmofphere is pro- 
duced. 
2..The powerful influence of the fun, 
reflected vehemently by a fandy foil, which 
prevails throughout the greater proportion 
of the level countries. 
. 3. A great extent cf. low and fwampy 
country, retaining much ftagnant water, 
from whence noxious vapours are conti- 
nually exhaled by the rays of the fun; 
to which caufe we may chiefly afcribe the 
principal intermittents, tertians, and epi- 
demic diforders, with which the inhabitants 
are afilicted. 7 
4. The bot and difagreeable effluvia 
which are emitted by noxious trees and 
weeds; and which exhale more univer- 
fally from the abundant mafs of decaying 
leaves and vegetables, during the feafon of 
autumn. 
Such appear to me to be thé moft power- 
ful of felf-a&ting caufes, which may be 
properly faid to affect the climate ; it fol- 
ea to view the diftinétion which I have 
drawn under the head of 
Relative caufes which affeé the Health of 
Man. 
1. An inordinate ufe of impure water, 
often charged with earthy particles, ani- 
malcula both living and dead, noxious ve- 
getable fubftances, mineral and poifonous 
umpregnations, &c, 
z. A too frequent and miftaken ufe of 
ardent fpirits, both imported and home- 
diftilled ; and a neglect to promote that 
more nourifhing beverage which is to be 
found in malt and fermented liquors, which 
prove fo beneficial to the health of Euro- 
peans, and which every part of America 
has a capacity to produce at certain feafons. 
3- An incautious expofure to alternate 
heats and colds, wet and dry, dews, &c. 
4. The attraction of the leaves, which 
are faid in woodland parts to injure the 
human colour ; and which as reafonably 
may be iuppofed to inhale the animal 
juices. 
5. The cuftomary diet of falted meat ; 
hot bread; and cold water; which is ufed 
inordinately in every poffible ftate of the 
bloud. | 
6. Acommon refidence in their weather= 
boarded and fingle built houfes, expofed 
as much as poffible to the heat of the fun. 
Tt will be recolle&ted that, in my firft 
number on this fubje&t, I have hinted at 
our miftaken habit of fubferibing to the 
limited principles laid down by early dif- 
coverers, who have adopted an uniform 
mode of judging the American climates 
by the degrees oe eee in which places 
are ref{pectively fituated ; without. regard 
to the regulations of altitude, or the more 
modern obfervations of thofe who have 
become intimately acquainted with the 
interior pofition of the land. I flatter 
myfelf that new ideas will from hence 
arife, and that we fhall be enabled by 
Inquiry to give a due weight to certain 
o 
ablolute agents, whofe co-operation adds _ 
an inherent quality or two which it is im- 
poffible to difengage, until the whole coun- 
try becomes improved by a more adult 
fiate of cultivation. . 
To underftand this topic more clearly, 
it will be found convenient to analyfe the 
topography which concerns it; for al- 
though navigators and hiftorians have in- 
formed us, that the more northern lati- 
tudes of the American coa/? aftord the moft 
agreeable climate, and that fuch as is moft 
fuitable to European conititutions; yet 
they have left us much to learn in refpeéct 
to the multitude of principles which com- 
bine in the compofition of fuch a climate ; 
and have given us no clue to decide, whe- 
ther a climate of equal falubrity does not 
exift in the more elevated regions of a 
fouthern latitude. Now, wholoever cafts 
his eye upon a tolerable map of the Ame- 
rican-tontinent, will readily perceive cer- 
tain circumftances in the interior of the 
country, which cannot fail to give a falu- 
brious air to the Eaftern States, if the phi- 
lofophical 
