Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/86

 of a boat, to go ashore, with great earnestness; so that if not watched, perhaps, he might have leaped into the sea. The Symptoms were the same as in the other; only his whole body seem'd to he much colder; yet was he not sensible of any coldness in himself. I caus'd him to be vomited; and he was well in his Head, as soon as ever the vomit made him sick at the stomack, as yet not having wrought. I dieted him as the other, and only blouded him in the arm. I let them bloud meerly out of caution (for else they seem'd well) and to promote Transpiration and Sweating: which succeeded according to my desire.

Undoubtedly the seat of that disease is in the stomack and those parts adjoining to it, in which the first concoction is perform'd, and 'tis highly probable, that it principally ariseth from the ill diet, by eating too much Salt-meat in Voyages; the salin steams from the stomack affecting the Brain in a peculiar manner.

As to the Cure by Vomiting, I shall not now explain, How Vomits work; it sufficeth, that the disease was seated in and about the Ventricle; and that in hot Countreys, as well as in hot seasons, the Rule of Hippoc. takes place, Æslate per superiora. I never saw any good effect of the most innocent Purge during my stay in the Indies, except in Chronicall distempers; nor did I ever almost give any (after frequent trials had made me cautious;) but pills that were Antimonial, or Mercurius vitæ, or Vomitive Infusions. And by this method I preserved our ships well, and effected these speedy Cures, which I think, none had before seen in Jamaica. It is true, of the common sort in the other ships, when we came to Barbardo's, upon view I found many Hydropical and Scorbutical: And as soon as we came there, I caused all, that were any thing ill, to be vomited and purged with Mercurius vitæ, the Vomitive Infusion, and Cambodia; by which means, and one meals fresh meat, and some Limons sent them, all the disorderly rabble recover'd; so that only three died, as was said before, in the whole Voyage. Nor would I doubt, again, by God's help, to convey over afar greater number with the like means and care.

So far at present this Ingenious Observer; who perhaps may give the Reader another entertainment of the like nature hereafter. Rh