An essay on the more common West-India diseases and the remedies which that country itself produces [electronic resource] : to which are added some hints on the management, &c. of Negroes

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KINGS COLLEGE LONDON

ESSAY

ON THE MSR£ COMMON

WEST- INDIA DISEASES.

AN

ESSAY

ON THE MORE COMMON

tTEST-INDIA DISEASES i

AND THE

REMEDIES WHICH THAT COUNTRY ITSELF

PRODUCES :

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

SOME HINTS

ON THE

MANAGEMENT^ ^c. OF NEGROES.

By JAMES GRAINGER, M. Di

THE SECOND EDITION;

WITH PRACTICAL NOTES, AND A LINNiEAN

INDEX,

Bt WILLIAM WRIGHT, M. D. F. R. S.

PHYSICIAN TO HIS MAJESTy's FORCES.

Nulla in re, proprius accedunt homines ad Deos, quim falutem ho-
minibus dando. Cicero.

EDINBURGH :

PRINTED FOR MUNDELL & SON, AND LONGMAN & REES, LON0O«.

1802.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Xhe firfl edition of the following EfTay wa^
printed in London, for Becket and De
Hondt, bookfellers in the Strand, in 8vo,
1764, without the author's name; but it is
well known to be the produdion of Dr.
James Grainger, the celebrated author of
THE Sugar Cane, and other ingenious per-
formances, who fettled as a phyfician in the
ifland of St. Chriftopher's in 1759, where he
acquired great reputation in his profeflion,
and died, univerfally regretted, in 1767.

Much praife is due to Dr. Grainger for
the liberal pains he has taken in the Notes
to his admirable Weft-India Georgic, to en-
large the knowledge of the medicinal vir-
tues of the indigenous plants of the Weft-

t vi ]

•Indies. The fame commendable proofs
of his fkill and judgment in his profef-
fion appear ^i^ this fhort EfTay, which,
though written in a plain and popular
ftyle, has been defer vedly very highly e-
fteemed, both in England, where it was
printed, and, as might be expeded, mote
particularly in the Weft-Indies. Although
it Was principally intended for the ufe of the
owners and managers of flaves in the Sugar
Iflands, yet I know the phyficians and fur-
geons in that country, have profited much
by it, both in the knowledge of the difeafes
of the Negroes, and of the indigenous re-
medies ; in which refpeds it is, in my opi^
nion, an excellent model for a more fcienti-
fic and general treatife on tropical difeafes,
efpecially among the Blacks.

The firft edition of this humane and fen-
fible Trad having been long out of print,
and a new edition being much wanted, it
was recommended by Dr. Percy, the pre-

r vii, ]

fent refpedable Bifliop of Dromore, an in-
timate friend of Dr. Grainger's, to be in^-
ferted in the colleded edition of his poetical
v/orks, now printing here in two volumes
fmall 8vo, under the fuperintendence of Dr.
Robert Anderfon, as a valuable Appendix to
THE Sugar Cane. In this recommendation,
General Melville, another refpeclable friend
of Dr. Grainger's, concurred; but Dr. An-
derfon hefitated concerning the propriety of
affociating a medical treatife, of a popular
nature, with his poems j and, thinking it
would be more extenfively ufeful as a fepa-
rate publication, devolved upon me the tafk
of fuperintending the prefent edition, which
I very willingly and difintereftedly under-
took, from a delire to oblige Dr. Grainger's
friends, and to co-operate, however Httle,
with my learned and ingenious countryman,
in promoting the knowledge of the difeafes
of the Negroes, and the virtues of the indi-r
genous plants of the Weft-Indies.

[ viii ]

For that purpofe, and with a view to cor-
red: feme incidental miftakes, and to fur-
nifh fuch additional information as my local
knowledge and experience may have enabled
me to fupply, I have fubjoined to the fcveral
fedions of the Eflay a few Pradical Notes and
Obfervations, and added a Linnsean Index of
the plants, animals, and infeds mentioned
in it, which I hope will be acceptable to the
Public at large, and particularly to gende-
men refiding in the Weft-Indies, whether
planters or phyficians.

William Wright.

Edinburgh,?

to

IDANIEL MATHEW, Esq,

The following Eflay, which is written oii a
fubjed of the utmoft importance to the Weft-
Indies, I beg leave, Sir, to addrefs to you ;
both as it affords me a pleafing opportunity
of recommending to others that diftinguifli-
ed humanity wherewith your Negroes have
ever been treated, and, in particular, of ex-
prefling the high regard with which I am,

Sir,

Your moft obliged,

and very humble feryant,
THE AUTHOR,

CONTENTS,

Page

Preface, - - - i.

PART I,

Of the Choice of Negroes, - " 7

PART II.

Of the Treatment of Infants, - IS

Of Chigres or Chigoes, - - a I

Of the Itch, - - - 22

Of Coughs, ' ^ ' 2^

Of Worms, - - 25

Of Fevers, • - - 39

Fluxes, - - " 33

Of the Lax or Diarrhoea, - - 40

Dry Belly- Ach, - - - 41

Tetanus, - - - - 44

Of the Dropfy, - " - 45

Cholera Morbus, - - 48

Vomiting, - - 50

Malignant Sore Throat, r - 51

Of the Liver and Spleen preternaturally fwelled, 53

Pain in the Stomach, - "55

Gout, Gravel and Diabetes, - - 56

Fluor Albus, - - - 59

Rheumatiffn and Sciatic, - -1 6p

[ ^ii 1

Heart-Burn, - - - 6a

Ringworm, - . ,

Of Coftivenefs, - - «

PART III.

Leprofy, . - - - 68

The Joint-Evil, - . _ .

Elephantiafis, . - -

Yaws, - - - , ibid.

Of the Ny£lalopia, - - -

Of the Guinea Worm, •- .

Ruptures, - - - - 8o

Of Burns, &c. - - - - 8^

Of Ulcers about the Ankles, - - 84

PART IV.

Of Sick Houfes, - - - .
Conclufion, - - - -

ERRATA.

21. 1. 1, in Note. For Pulex minimus, read Pulex p

22. 1. Jl. For Roucon, rf^i/ Rocou.

PREFACE.

It has often been matter of aftonifhment to
me, that among the many valuable medical
tradls which of late years have been offered
to the pubUc, no one has been purpofely
written on the method of feafoning new Ne-
groes, and the treatment of Negroes when
lick ; and yet the importance, if not the dig-
nity of fuch a work, muft appear obvious to
all who are in the lead acquainted with the
Weft Indies : For it is a melancholy truth,
that hundreds of thefe ufeful people are year-
ly facrificed to miftakes in thefe two capital
points. To fupply this defedt, as far as in
me lies, and to enable thofe who are intruft-
ed with the management of Negroes, to treat
them in a more fcientifical manner than has
hitherto been generally pradtifed, is the prin-
cipal delign of the prefent EfTay. It is there-
fore wholly diverted of the parade of learn-
ing, being purpofely written with as much
fhortnefs as was confiftent with perfpicuity.,

A—

[ ii ]

The more efFedually to attain thefe ends^
I have divided the performance into Four
Parts.

In the First, after giving fome hints on
the choice of new, or falt-water Negroes as
they are called, I briefly expofe the prepof-
terous methods made ufe of by fome in fea-
foning them ; and recommend fuch other
methods as experience has taught me will
moft commonly not difappoint the planter.

The Second Part treats of thofe difeafes
whereunto the Blacks are moft expofed in
the iflands ; and points out fuch medicines
as the country affords for their removal. As
this is of the lafl importance to the owners
of Slaves, plantations being often far remov-
ed from medical afliflance, I have attempted
to make the directions in this Part fo ex^
plicit, that a common capacity, with proper
attention, will be thereby enabled to fave
many valuable lives ; a circumftance not lefs
profitable to the owner, than pleafing to hu-
manity. This, therefore, if tolerably exe-
cuted, camiot fail of being eminently ufeful

dt this time, when the demand for Negroes,
on account of our new acquifitions in Ame-
rica, mull become annually greater. Slaves
from Africa already fetch an exorbitant
price ; but more purchafers mufl neceffarily
inhance their value : of courfe, upon a prin-
ciple of profit, they deferve the utmoft at-
tention of the mafter ; and, on motives of
honefty, that of the manager or overfeer.

>

In the Third Part, fuch diflempers as
^Tiore peculiarly afFed the Negroes are takeil
notice of. Among thefe, the leprofy is the
moft dreadful, for which no remedy has
hitherto been difcovered, and which con-
tinues to fpread its ravages daily, to th^ dif-
grace of art, and detriment of the planter.
I am, however, ftill of opinion, that the Al-
mighty has not left us without a cure for
this difeafe, and perfuade myfelf it is to be
found among the vegetables of the torrid
zone. Indeed, too little attention has been
hitherto paid to this important branch of
tnedical hiftory. The iilands contain innu-
merable m^edicines of high efficacy, not
knowii in Europe j and doubtlefs a much

A 2

t ^v I

greater number ftill remain to be inveftigat-
ed by future inquiry*. Such difcoveries,
however, are not to be expelled from the
gentlemen of the faculty. Their time muft
neceflarily be devoted to the calls of their
profeffion, as few of independent fortunes
go to pradlife in the Weft Indies ; and yet
phyficians are the only perfons who are qua-
lified for this momentous employment It
would therefore, perhaps, well become the
wifdom of the legiflature, to enable thofe
gentlemen to devote a part of their time to
thefe ftudies ; as whatever means tend to al-
leviate the maladies of human nature, can-
not be too commonly known, or rendered
too numerous. Premiums are daily beftow-
ed for improvements in agriculture, &c. but
no rewards have ever been offered for difco-
veries in the Materia Medica ; as if every

* The Writer of the Notes on this Eflay has explored
almoft the whole Ifland of Jamaica, at his own expence,
and has made many important difcoveries amongft the
plants. Such as, the Cinchona Carrib?ea, or Jefuits bark of
Jamaica — Croton Eleutheria, or true Cafcarilla bark tree —
Cabbage bark tree — Quaflia excelfa (QualTia of the (hops)
— Quaflia Simaruba, &c.

[ V ] .

art was more necefTary than phyfic, and
every objed more confiderable than the
health of the community. And yet fuch
difcoveries would not, like many others, be
confined in their influence to one nation
only : The world would reap the advantage
of them, for the world is interefted in the
improvement of medicine; and the palms
which might be gathered by Britons in fuch
purfuits, would be more lailingly honoura-
ble than the laurels of their conquefls.

In the Fourth and laft Division, I make
fome obfervations on the food and clothing
of Negroes ; the fick houfes where they are
confined ; and mention a few important me-
dicines, for which fuccedaneums are not to
be found in the iflands, and which no plan-
tations ought ever to be without.

Upon the whole, I flatter myfelf, thisfmall
trad will be of real fervice to the Weft In-
dia practitioners, as well as to the owners
and managers of Negroes, fince I have re-
commended no means, whofe efiicacy I have
not experienced. Let it not, however, be

A3

[ vi ]

imagined, that the precepts contained there-
in, will qualify unmedical readers to cure
their fick Negroes without proper medical
s^ffiftance. Such pretenfions, in any writer,
would be the height of empiricifm. All
that I mean is, that thofe who have the ma-
nagement of flaves, and will give themfelves
the trouble to confult this EfTay, will not
henceforth be fo much at a lofs how to treat
the difeafed, till proper advice can be called
in, as they have hitherto been. Yet for-
want of this knowledge in managers, I have
often obferved the moil fatal confequences
enfue.

To conclude, if this performance fliall pro-
duce the faliitary effeds for which only it
vyas written, I fhall think my leifure well
employed ; for though the difeafes of Blacks
are its primary objed, Ho?no fum et humani
nihil a me alicnum puto.

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES

0 F

N E Q R 0 E S.

PART I,

Of the Choice of Negroes,

The different nations of Guinea are not only
very different in their manners and paffions, but
from the conftitution of their native cHmates, are
fubje6t to a variety of different diforders. Thus
the Gorman tees, who are a brave and free people
at home, cannot fubmit to the unavoidable feve-
lities of bondage ; while the Minnahs are too apt
to deflroy themfelves upon the leaft, and even
without any provocation. Again, the Negroes
from Mundingo have worms, almoft all of them ;
■yvhile thofc from Congo are very liable to drop.-

A4

r 8 ]

iical indifpolitions. For thefe reafons, one fliould
be cautious not to purchafe the natives of thofe
countries ; or if planters are under a neceflity of
buying fuch, the young only fhould be purchaf-
ed.

In the Ibbo country, the women chiefly work ;
they therefore are to be preferred to the~men of
the fame country at a Negroe fale : and yet there
is a great rifk in buying women ; for, from
their fcantinefs of clothing in their own coun-
try, not to mention other reafons, they often la-
bour under incurable obftru6tions of the menfes,
whence proceed barrennefs, and many diforders.

It is fcarce necelTary to obferve, that the heal-
thy only fhould be chofen. The marks of health
are a glofly fleeknefs of the Ikin, unfpotted and
without breakings out ; their eyes fliould be
clear, tongue red, chelt open, and belly fmall.
They fliould have the free ufe of all their limbs ;
and if not much paft fifteen, fo much the better
for boys ; but girls Ihould only be twelve years
old, or younger.

When brought to the plantation, the new
■^egroes fliould forthwith be clothed, and put
under the care of fome fober elderly perfon,
if poflible, from their own country, who mufl:
be anfwerable for their having their food regu-
larly given them. Their food fliould be as little
different from what they eat at home as may

L 9 ]

be; and this muft be learnt from their coun-
try folks.

In general, it is not amifs to have new Negroes
blooded ; but the quantity fliould never exceed
fix ounces, even from the ftouteft. Vomits of
thiftle-feed, or rather caftor oil purges are more
extenfively ufeful ; but above all, a decodion of
worm-grafs, clarified with lemon juice, or cow-
itch fheathed with melafles, fhould be adminifter-
ed, and repeated twice a week, for the firft fix
weeks. The dofe of the worm-grafs decodion
ought at firff to be fmall. Half an ounce of that
plant, if frefti, and fix drachms, if dried, will im-
pregnate a quart of water with its virtues ; and
of this a gill is a fufficient quantity, at firfl:, for a
grown Negroe. The fame attention is not re-
quired in dofing the cow- itch ; I never knew it
produce any untoward fymptoms.

Some planters give fweet mercury, in order to
kill worms : but as new Negroes cannot well be
reftrained from drinking cold water, that prac-
tice is dangerous. Block tin (not pewter) in
powder, is given for the fame difeafe : it is in-
deed not noxious, but then it feldom anfwers the
prefcriber's intention. Scrapings of tin are ufe-
ful.

The other remedies for worms will be more
fully treated of in the fequel.

If the Negroes have brought with them any

[ ]

palm oil, they fliould be permitted to anoint their
bodies therewith, after waQiing them clean in
fomc running water.

I am perfuaded, that anointing and bathing, if.
more common, would not only render Negroes
more fturdy, but preferve them from colds, and
many other infirmities.

This falutary pra($tice prevailed among the Ro-
mans. Many nations in the eaft ufe" it at this
day 5 as do mofl: of the Negroes on the coaft of
Africa.

No doubt, fweating is a highly healthful eva-
cuation in warm climates, by preferving the
juices from putrefa6lion, &c. &c. but perfpira-
tion there is often too profufe, and of courfe mull
weaken the conftitution. Anointing would lef,
fen that wafte.

New Negroes fhould have a comfortable blan-
ket, or bamboo as it is called, given them to fleep
in ; and they fhould never be permitted to fleep
on the ground without a mat under them. The
not attending to thefe minute circumftances ha^
proved fatal to many Negroes.

The Negroes bought in crop-time are much
more likely to do well than thofe who are pur-
chafed in the rainy months ; for Negroes fhould
not only be allowed to drink what quantity of
the cane juice they think proper, but even obji^
ged to drink it.

'2

[ II ]

In cafe you are under a neceflity of purchaf-
ing Negroes in the wet months, great care fhould
be taken to reftrain them from unripe yams and
Guinea corn ; thefe will infallibly produce the
Lax, a ferious diforder, to which falt-water Ne-
groes are but too fubjed:.

There is feldom much neceflity for bleeding,
vomiting, or purging new Negroes in North Ame-
rica ; but then their appetite fliould be moderat-
ed : they love animal food, and too great an in-
dulgence therein will certainly do them mif-
chief.

Negroes at no time fhould be treated with, ri-
gour; but new Negroes, in particular, muft be
managed with the utmoft humanity.

To put a hoe in the hands of a new Negroe, and
to oblige him to work with a feafoned gang, is to
murder that Negroe. The African muft be fa-
miliarifed to labour by gentle degrees. This
precept refpeds not only the aged, but even the
young.

No Negroe can be faid to be feafoned to a
Weft India chmate, till he has refided therein for
at leaft a twelvemonth : and thofe who are ac-
cuftomed to one ifland, run no fmall rilk of their
lives when tranfported to another, perhaps equal-
ly healthy ; unlefs, in their new fettlement, they
are indulged with every conveniency they enjoy-
ed in their old.

[ 12 ]

In clearing the iflands which of late have
been ceded to us, many Negroes will inevita-
bly perifli : a mournful confideration, efpecially
where the land thus to be cleared, is to be pur-
chafed of the government for money. It is, how-
ever, in the power of medical fcience to diminifh,
and greatly too, the number of thofe who muft
otherwife be facrificed to the purfuit of riches.

In order to efFedl this valuable purpofe, the
owner of an eftate in woods, is firit of all to per-
mit his Negroes to clear away as much ground as
is requifite for building their huts, and planting
Indian provifions.

They fhould be expofed to the wet as little as
poffible ; and if they choofe to fmoke tobacco, a
pipe fhould not be refufed them.

They fhould wear Edinburghs in the field; but
when they come home, they fhould have a warm
Bamboo to put on, in cafe their coarfe linen is
wetted.

Negroes employed to clear grounds, fhould
never begin their labour with an empty flomach :
and perhaps that mafter would be rewarded for
his expence, who fhould indulge his field Ne-
groes every morning with a glafs of the medicine
recommended in the chapter on the pain of the
flomach.

Befides Indian provifions, Negroes fhould have
a weekly allowance of flour, rice, or fpht Englifh

t 13 3

beans, with herrings, or other fait meat : or if
thofe things were to be had at market, perhaps
that mafter would do better who fliould give his
Negroes a pecuniary conlideration in lieu of
them.

A gang of Creole Negroes, being tranfported
from the place of their birth to another ifland,
moft commonly undergo a feafonihg : nay, it
has often been obferved, that Haves carried from
one plantation to another, though on the fame
ifland, are apt for fome time to droop and be fick-
ly. Wholly to prevent this is impoflTible : but it
is within the limits of art, to render thofe confe-
quent difeafes both lefs fatal and lefs frequent.
This wilt be effected, if to the method above re-
commended, you encourage and treat them with
the utmoit humanity.

Many caufes may be afligned, why Negroes
purchafed in crop-time are more likely to get
over the difeafes of feafoning, than fuch as are
bought in the rainy months. They are then lefs
apt to catch cold ; the Indian provifions they
then eat are lefs crude ; and above all, the cane
juice (of which they fliould be permitted to drink
as much as they pleafe) is highly nutrimental and
falutary.

N ew Negroes fhould never be fent to moun-
tain plantations ; for there they are very liable
to catch cold, or fall into fluxes, which always

I

[ 14 ]

prove troublefome to remove, and fometinies fa-
tal. •

This precept, in a more particular manner, re-
fpedts the rainy months : the reafon is obvious^
from what has already been faid on the fubjecti

AN

ESSAY

ON THB

IVIANAGEMENT AND DISEASES

NEGROES.

PART II.

Of the Treatment of Infants.

Although Creole Negroes do in fad: cofi: more
money to their owners than falt-water Negroes,
yet as they are more healthy, and better for all
the purpofes of a plantation than thefe, fo too
great care cannot be taken either of the Ne-
greffes when pregnant, arid in the month, or of
their infants when born.

Black women are not fo prolific as the white
inhabitants, becaufe they are lefs chafte, and
more liable to uncurable obftrud:ions of the
monthly difcharge j their children too more fre-

[ i6 ]

quently periOi, within ten days or a fortnight af-
ter their birth, than thofe of the white people.
The difeafe which at that time proves fatal to
them, is the locked jaw, or, as it is called by the
Weft Indians, the jaw-faUing.

This proceeds from the infants not being kept
fufficiently warm, from the adminiftration of new
fpirits, crude aliment, but above all, from their
not being thoroughly freed from the meconium,
or black difcharge, after their birth.

The remedies of the three firft caufes are ap-
parent ; but how to bring away the meconium
deferves particular attention.

(i) Caftor oil, and a peiTary of the ftalk of the

(i) Caftor OiL — Take of the dried feeds of Palma Chrifti,
freed from the hulks, any quantity you pleafe ; beat them
in a deep wooden mortar, with a wooden peftle, into a mafs j
which throw into a large iron pot, or copper, with water.

Boil them over a flow fire for three hours, ftirring them
frequently with a large wooden fpatula, and now and then
adding a little boiling water, as the liquor evaporates.

Continue the procefs till the oil feparates and fwims on
the furface. Let this with the froth be fkimmed off, and
clarified in a fmall iron pot, over a gentle fire. Laftly,
ftrain the oil through a piece of ftrong linen cloth.

The nuts fliouid not be parched, as this gives the oil an
empyreumatic fmell and tafte.

The oil will feparate fooner, if towards the end of boil-
ing, a handful of fea fait is thrown into the cauldron.

[ 17 ]

common phyfic nut are the means commonly
made ufe of; but the latter is not always capa-
ble of procuring fuch ftools as are wanted ; and
the oil, efpecially that obtained by coclion, is of-
ten too rugged in its paffage through their ten-
der bowels. (2)

The following medicine is liable to neither of
thefe objeclions : Mix ten grains of the beft rhu-
barb in a fine powder, with four ounces of water ;
add ten grains of magnefia alba, a common fpoon-
ful of peppermint water, a tea fpbonful of fpirit
of lavender, and as much fyrup of vervain, or
rofes, as will make it palatable. Half a fpoonful
of this mixture, well fhook, fhould be given every
two hours, till ftools are procured ; and the
child's belly Ihould be frequently rubbed with a
warm hand before the fire. This medicine ought
to be continued, but in a fmaller quantity, for at
leaft a fortnight ; I never knew any die of the
locked jaw, (3) or chohc, who took it in the man-
ner prefcribed.

(2) See the article Ricinus, in the prefent Writer's ac-
count of the Medicinal Plants of Jamaica, London Medical
Journal, Vol. 8. Part III.

(3) The Trifmus Infantum, or Locked Jaw, is frequetit
and fatal in the Weft-Indies. It may be occafioned by a
too long retention of the meconium, but chiefly by keeping
the mother and infant too warm, in a fmall, clofe and con-
fined chamber.

Early purging with caftor oil is proper; fay, a fmall

B

[ 18 ]■

New-born Negroes fhould be forthwith waftied
in warm fpirits, and clothed in warm flannel, 8cc.

The mother fhould be well fupported with
warm nourifhing flops, and the child fliould fuck
her as foon as her milk is ready. The mother's
milk is the infant's belt food ; it is gently ape-
rient, and well fuited to its tender digeftive or-
gans.

Every Negrefs fhould fuckle her own child ;
and indeed they are, in general, abundantly fup-
plied with milk to do it.

Fewer NegrefTes die in child-bed, (4) or of
its confequences, (not one in three hundred) than
white women ; but the children of the latter are
lefs liable to perifh within the month than thofe
of the I^lacks.

Black children fhould at leaft be fix weeks old,
before they are fufFered to tafte any other food
than the milk of the mother.

tea fpoonful for a dofc. Where there are fufpicions of
locked jaw, a fingle grain of calomel may be given, and re-
peated, if need be, at the diftance of three hours.

(4) Lying-in women ought to be brought to a wcll-aired
room, in the great houfe, or to a lying-in ward built on
purpofe, where fuitable bedding is provided, and no fires
near them. — By this means, fuch women efcape the puer-
peral fever, and the children the locked jaw.

[ 19 ]

tew Negroe children are born defonned; (^)
not one in ten thoufand.

After the month, the difeafes which chiefly af-
fe6t infants, proceed from an acid in their bowels,
and from teething.

(6) A fournefs in the inteftines is always dif-
covered by green watery ftools ; but f welled
gums, a hot mouth, frequent flavering, and thruft-
ing its little fingers into its mouth, indicate teeth-
ing.

As far as I have been able to remark, the black
children cut their teeth more eafily than the
white children ; but when the above mentioned
fymptoms are obferved, their gums fliould be
forthwith opened with a lancet.

(5) Deformity in children would feem to be owing to
fwathing the infants too tight, and by the prepofterous
uVe of days, and ftrait clothing. — Negroe children are not
thus encumbered j and never are deformed except by acci-
dcflts, as falls, &c.

(6) Many of the difeafes of Negroe children, are owing
to the ignorance or careleffliefs of the mothers. The chil-
dren ought to be early taught to feed, and weaned at mV/^
months.

On all well-regulated eftates, a mefs of good foup is
prepared daily at the overfeer's houfe^ for Negroe children ;
it is compofed of farinaceous roots, a little Okra pods, and
a piece of flefh meat ; this is fliared ampngfl; them, an^
eaten in the Piazza.

B 2

[ 20 ]

The green ftools are to be removed by the rhu-
barb medicine recommended before, by broths
made of animal food, by crabs eyes, or by fpirit
of hartfliorn.

If the child is feverely griped, a fmall quantity
of the vinous tindure of ipecacuan (7) Qiould be
adminiftered, and eight or ten drops of laudanum
at bed-time. (8)

The mother {hould abftain from four fruits
and vegetables.

The propereft time to inoculate Negroe chil-
dren, is either before their teething commences,
or after their teeth are complete.

They fhould be prepared ; and medicines that
deftroy worms, are thofe vi^hich ought chiefly to
be depended upon.

Negroe children fhould not be permitted to
fuck their mothers longer than twelve or four-
teen months : long nurfing diminilhes a woman's
fecundity.

When the young Negroes can run about (g},

(7) Antimonial wine is preferable to ipecacuan, in dofes
from ten to twenty drops, or fo much as to puke gently.

(8) One drop of laudanum is fufficient for a new-born
infant for a dofe, which may be repeated in three hours
if necelTary.

(9) A tent is generally eredled near the field where the
Negroes are at work, and all the young children are put
there, under the care of a dry nurfe.

[ 21 ]

they fhould not be allowed to be carried to the
field with their mothers, but fliould be intriifted
to the management of fome ancient and fenfible
Negrefs, who will take care to have them proper-
]y fed.

At eight years of age, they are made to pick
grafs, carry a fmall baflcet with dung, and under
the diredtion of thofe of riper years, to pull up
' weeds in the cane-piece.

Of Chigres or Chigoes. ( i o)

It is faid there are two kinds of chigres, one
common, and the other poifonous. ^y opinion
is, that none ever are troubled with the latter in-
fedl, but fuch as are in a bad habit of body.

All the young, as well as the new Negroes,
fliould have their feet and hands examined re-

(lo) The Chigre Pulex Minimus of Linnxus, is a fpecies
of flea, bred in alhes, or in places where quick-lime has
been laid. It burrows under the Ikin, and occafions an into-
lerable itching, and fmall hard tumour on the part. Every
perfon, of whatever habit, is liable to have chigres. In a
day or two the chigre becomes as large as duck-fhot, and
of a yellowifli white colour. It is the abdomen of the in-
fe£l that is diftended with the ova, which, if fuffered to
burft of itfelf, the young ones infeft the neighbouring
parts, and the dead infe6t occafions a troublefome fore,

B3

[ 22 3

gularJy once a week : For want of tliis pre.
caution, Negroes often lofe many a joint of their
toes, &c. and fo become lefs ufeful upon a plan-
tation.

A little fnufF, mixed with a fmall quantity of
verdigreafe, is the bcft powder that can be put
into the hole from whence a chigre has been ex-
traded, (ii)

The Indians preferve themfelyes from thefe,
and other troublefome infeds, by anointing thei;- '
feet, &c. with a palle made of Roucon and oil.

Of the Itch,

♦

Negroes of every age and fex are apt to catch
the itch. (12) This difeafe requires no defcrip-
tion.

Sulphur made into an ointment, with fait but-
ter and green pepper, will cure it ; A no lefs ef-
fectual remedy is tobacco fleeped in urine, and
bathing in the fea.

(11) Negroe women are very dexterous in picking out
chigres with a pointed knife, and turn out the infe<Sl whole.
Tobacco aflies are generally put into the hole, to prevent
feftering.

(12) In all cafes of true Pfora, or Itch, the cure is beft
cffeded by fulphureous medicine^. While the ointment i$
rubbed externally, a fmall quantity of flour of brimftone
muft be given inwardly, in fyrup cr melaffes.

[ 23 1 '

There is a fpecies of itch which Negroes from
Guinea often bring with them to the Weft In-
dies. This they call the Crakras ; (i 3) it chief-
ly infefts the ankles, and often, if fcratched or
negleded, produces inveterate ulcers. m

This diforder is not to be cured by external
means only ; it requires fmart purging with fait
water, and bathing therein. If thefe do not
remove the eruption, the patient fliould be dofed
every third day, with pills made of the juice of
Semprevive and Chonch-ihells finely pounded,
with about one grain of fweet mercury (14) to
each half drachm of the compofition.

The beft external apphcation is weak mercu-
rial ointment, with a mixture of fulphur.

Of Coughs.

Coughs are common in the Weft Indies, from
the latter end of Odober (15) to the latter end
of February.

(13) The Crakras is not the itch, but the confequence of
the yaws, of which hereafter.

(14) Sulphur and mercury deftroy each other's a6tion,
as is evident in the ^thlops mineral ; therefore they (hould
never be ufed in conjundlion, externally or internally.

(15) About the latter end of Oftober, and all the month
of November, the wind fliifts to the north, and is aqcon^-

B4

[ 24 ]

(i6) They are feldom attended with a fever,
but often with lofs of appetite.

A vomit of thiftle-feed fhould therefore always
begin the cure, which a fyrup made with garden
balfam, fugar and rum, will foon remove.

A fweat, with an infulion of wild fage, is alfo
efficacious ; but the medicine moft to be depended
upon, is half an ounce of gum elemi, diffolved in
four pints of good rum. Of this a large fpoonful
Ihould be given three times a day to adults, and
fo in proportion.

I have alfo known troublefome coughs re-
moved by drinking a warm infufion of wild liquo-.
rice. (17)

The Hooping-Cough is not frequent in the
Weft-Indies: (18) 1 do not remember to have
feen it there above once or twice ; and then the
lungs feemed to be touched with a flight degree
of inflammation.

panied by cold and wet weather, and thick atmofphere.
This occafions colds, coughs, and catarrhal fevers.

(16) Thefe diforders are no way different from the com-
mon catarrhs in Britain, and require the fame manage-

r

merit.

(T7) Wild Liquorice.— leaves are ufed in peaoral
decoaions, with honey or fugar, and gendy acidulated

with lime-juice.

(18) The Hooping-Cough is frequent in all the iflands,

and at times epidemic in Jamaica.

[ 2.5 ]

In that cafe bleeding, but in fmall quantities,
is indifpenlibly requifite ; but then emetics muft
not be adminirtered.

In the cure of a Hooping- Cough, I have always
found change of air as necelTary as phyfic.

Of Worms.

Worms are fcarce more fatal to the young,
than they are to thofe who have attained to man-
hood in the Weft-Indies. Worms therefore na-
turally prefent themfelves to be treated of in this
place.

As in Europe, when uncommon fymptoms af-
flidt a patient, the venereal difeafe may be conli-
dered as the caufe ; fo in the Weft-Indies, worms
may always be fufped:ed as the parent of every
untoward morbid appearance.

The truth is, there is fcarce one fymptom with
which the animal economy may be affedted,
which worms are not capable of exciting.

The worms common in the Weft-Indies, (19)

(19) Taenia, or Tapeworm, is very common amongft the
Negroes, and fometimes white people are afflidled with
them, producing the moft acute and violent fymptoms, at
other times a ftate of ill health j nor is the caufe of thofe
diforders known, until fome portions of Tsenia are voided
by ftool.

[ 26 ]

are the fame with thofe which are common
in Europe; only the folitary, tape, or jointed
worm, as it is called, is oftener feen there than
in Britain ; and fome Creoles are much afflided
with a kind of fmall worms (20) in the llomach,
which I do not remember to have obferved in
Europe.

Worms kill more people in the Weft-Indies
than all other difeafes, the flux only excepted.

Both the dd and new world boaft of remedies
to kill worms ; but as this fatal malady is more
common in the torrid zone than in Europe, fo the
tropical remedies are more fpecifical in this com-
plaint, than the European.

I have tried almoft an infinite variety of medi-
cines againft worms : but the mofl; efficacious a-

The cure may be begun, by giving a gentle dofe of caf-
tor oil early in the morning then the following, which is
nearly a fpecific :

Take of Gum Gamboge, and Cream of Tartar, each fix
grains ; rub them in a ftone mortar, into a fine powder,
which divide into twelve dofes. In acute cafes, a powder
may be given every fix hours in a little fyrup j but in chro-
yiic cafes, two powders a day is fufficient.

(20) A courfe of lime-water is excellent for the cure of
Afcarides j half a pint, with an equal part of fweet milk
twice a day. Sea fait may be ufed plentifully j afterward^s
thQ bark to ftrengthen the fyftem.

[ 27 ]

mong them have often proved lefs fuccefsfol than
1 could have wiftied. (21)

Purgatives are undoubtedly ufeful in the ex-
puUion of worms, and among thefe the juice of
the aloes (22) juftly claims the pre-eminence.

An infufion of the roots of the ftinking weed
in water, is often a good vermifuge, efpecially if'
juice of tanfy be added thereto, v^^ith a fmall
quantity of garlic.

Many commend the juice of the wild ipecacuan
(23) as an antidote to worms. It operates with
violence, both up and down, and I have known it
fometimes do wonders.

But cowitch (24) with jnclafles, and the clari--

(ai) It is very difficult to diftinguifh worm fevers from
the ordinary fevers of children ; hence the failure of aij-
thelmintics, when given promlfcuoufly. The moft certain
fymptoms of worms, are fwelled bellies, foetid breath ; a
fwclllng of the upper Hp, and a thicknefs of the Alae na-
rium.

{22) A tea fpoonful of the juice of the frefh leaves of
the common aloes is very good j but as oil is poifonous to
all infe£ls, efpecially to Luml>ricaks, or Earth worm, the
caftor oil is to be preferred.

(23) Wi/d Ipecacuati. — The juice of the leaves and ten-
der ftalks, from one to thr.ee tea fpoonfuls for a dofe.

(24) Cow-itch. — Dip the ripe pods in fyrup, fcrapc o£F
t\itfetay or briftles, till the fyrup is as thick as honey ; from
one to three tea fpoonful for a dofe in the morning. It
a6ts mechanically in killing worms.

[ 28 ]

fied juice of worm-grafs, (25) are more to be de-
pended upon. I have alfo known good efFedts
arife from oil and lemon juice.

Sugar (26) is commonly fuppofed to favour
worms. This however I know from repeated
experiment to be a vulgar error ; for perhaps no
one thing in the Materia Medica is more deadly
to worms than cane liquor, unlefs we except
Mufcovado mixed with an equal proportion of
fweet oil,,efpecially that made by expreffion from
the coco nut, or cocoa.

The inner bark of the mountain cabbage tree,
(27). Indian pink, and the milk of the wild fig.

(25) Worm-grafs, — Take a handful of the worm-grafs,
root and all, wafh it clean, and boil it in two pounds of
water over a flow fire, to one pound •, drain the decoftion,
fweeten with fugar, and add to it a fpoonful of lime
juice.

Four ounces to be taken for four mornings, then a dofc
of caftor oil.

(26) In crop-time, weakly Negroes and children have
hot liquor from the coppers, when the fugar is boiling ;
this makes them fat and healthy, and not only deftroys,
but prevents the breeding of worms

Mufcovado fugar is of the fame nature, and when mixed
with oil, deftroys worms, by flopping the fpiraculae of the
worms.

(27) Mountain Cabbage 2V^^.— Decoaion of cabbage
bark.

[ 29 ]

al-e praifed by fome for removing this diforder.
I have not fufficiently experienced their efficacy.

The remote caufes of the frequency gf worms
in the Weft-Indies are, i. The warmth of the
climate ; 2. The great ufe of vegetable food ;
and laftly, Humidity. Its immediate caufe is re-
laxation.

Of Fevers,

Although worms are more fatal in the torrid
zone than fevers, yet thefe too prove often more
deadly there than in Europe.

Inflammatory fevers, as well as local inflam-
mations, e. g. pleurifies, Sec. are not common in
the Weft-Indies : Indeed I do not remember to
have feen buffy blood above twice in that cli-
mate, and then the blood was extradled from a
new comer, young and plethoric.

The reafon of this extraordinary exemption
from inflammatory difeafes is, i. The warmth

Take two ounces of dried cabbage bark, boil it from
three pints of water to two pints, ftrain it, and fwecten
with fugar.

Two table fpoonfuls for a dofe, every morning for a
week, then a dofe of caftor oil.

The prefent Writer has defcribed this tree, in the 67th
volume of the Philofophical Tranfa^tions, with a plate.

r 3^ ]

and moifture of the climate ; 2. Copious pcrfpi-
ration ; 3. Acidulated drinks ; 4. Impaired ap-
petite ; and laftly, La^-inefs.

Excefs in eating, drinking, and exercife, be-
tween the tropics, neither corroborate the folids,
nor increafe the denfity of the blood. Thefc
errors in the non-naturals may render Well-India
blood acrid ; but they certainly do render the.
bile peccant, both in quantity and quality.

This is the pafTport to almoft all the fevers in
the Weft-Indict ; (^S) for it may well be doubt-
ed whether ever the blood is the primary feat of
a fever, unlefs in new comers to the torrid -zone.

Of courfe, the impropriety of frequent bleed-
ings, as always pradiifed by the French, and too
often by us, muft be glaring ; and the neceffity
of carrying off the peccant matter by vomit and
&00I no iefs apparent.

Fevers in the Wefl-Indtes feldom put on the
appearance of inflammation beyond the firft

(28) White people in the Weft-Indics are liable to re-
mitting fevzTs. The fever of Negroes is inflammatory.
Bleeding ia the firft is improper, but iae<;ei3ary in the fever*
of Blacks.

Jn all feverSi let the patients lie in frefli air, and be in-
dulged with cool drinks. Siinple remitting fevei-s require
the alimentary canal to be cleanfed with gentle laxatives ;
then titf hark, tahm in j>owder or decodion.

[ 31 ]

twenty-four hours ; after that they become pu-
trid, or maUgnant, or nervous.

In the firft ftage of the difeafe, blood may be
let, but it fliould be in a fmall quantity.

Vomits (pretty ftrong in their kind, e. g. tartar
emetic) and acidulated purgatives ftould then
be adminiftered, or rather thefe jfhould be com-
bined, and repeated till the febrile fymptoms di-
minifh.

When the bilious (29) matter has once en-
tered the blood, which it will foon do, if fweats
are uncautioully ufed at firft, vomits and acid

(29) Bilious Remittents. — No emetics can be ufed with
fafety. — Gentle laxatives, as manna, and crem- tartar — caf-
tor oil may be tried. If the vomiting continues, repeated
fmall dofes of jalap and calomel, or of calomel alone, may
be given at proper intervals, till ftools are procured.

In acute fevers of the Negroes, bleed to eight or ten
ounces *, purge gently with falts, then give fmall dofes of
the antimonial powder, every three hours, till a free and
copious perforation comes on.

In all inflammatory fevers, antlmonlals arc indicated after
other proper evacuations ; fuch as antimonial wine, or the
antimonial powder of the (hops, or Dr. Jameses powder.
Tlie following will anfwer in febrile cafes.

Take of calcined hartfhorn nine parts, emetic tartar one
part •, grind them together in a ftone mortar, info a fine
powder ; twenty grains of this powder to be divided into
lix equal parts ; a dofe to be given every two, four, or
fix hours. — In all obftinate fevers, calomel may be added.

[ 32 ]

purges become then lefs ufeful, and the morbid
matter muft be thrown .out on the fkin, by means
of wild fage tea, filk cotton tea, avocato pear
tea, or what I prefer to all of -them, fourilh weak
punch.

In this diforder it often happens that a weak
purgative or emetic will produce uncommon eva-
cuations : This (hould not alarm the prefcriber,
but fliould make him fupport the patient well
with madeira whey, or well made punch.

This fever often fubfides into a remittent, (30)
and then into an intermittent fever.

A ftrong infufion of the halbert-weed leaves,
or the Spanifli carnation, drank conftantly, will
bring back the bile to its natural ftate, that is,
will remove the fever.

But for this important purpofe, the bark (31)
unqueftionably merits the palm. Nor does it
only produce a wholefome bile ; it invigorates
the whole animal economy.

In malignant fevers, neither vomits nor purges

(30) It is probable that remittents, efpecially intermit-
tents, are caufed by marfli miafma ; and before the cure is
attempted, the fick muft be removed from the vicinity of
fwamps, to a dry and airy fituation.

(31) The firft paflages being cleared, the bark may then
be given with fafety and efFedl:. In obftinate intermittents,
calomel becomes neccffary, which prevents or removes ob-
ftru£lions.

I

[ 33 ]

are eiTentialiy indicated, but medicines that ope-
rate by the fkin ftiould be adminiftered ; and as
this fever is contagious, (the mafs of blood being
diflblved and become putrid) recourfe fhould be
had to ftronger fweats than thofe lately recom-
mended. Among thefe, mufk, camphire and
caftor, are the mod to be depended upon. Then
blifters become advifeable ; but to apply them
when the difeafe is in the firft paflages, is only to
torture the patient* AVine is eminently fervice-
able in the malignant fever, as alfo in the ner-
vous, where the fame medicines will fave the pa-
tient. Only blifters are feldom neceffary.

In cafe the lungs are affected, which often hap-
pens, in any of the above mentioned fevers, a
fmall quantity of blood may be extraded, even
though the pulfe is not ftrong ; but then I would
prefer cupping, or rather epifpaltics.

Fluxes, (32)

This diforder naturally follows the former, for
it is often produced by the fame caufes, corrupt-
ed bile.

(32) Diarrhoea and dyfentery are rife, and often fatal
amongft Negroes. The avocado pear, before it is ripe, will
occaflon dyfentery.

The early ufe of emetics, and purges of the neutral falts,

C

[ 34 ]

It alfo arifes from fuddenly fupprelTed perfpira*
tion, and a too great indulgence in eating of wa-
tery crude vegetables.

Of courfe the flux prevails moft either in the
rainy months, or in autumn. It fometimes is ac-
companied with a fever, and fometimes not.

When attended with a fever, bleeding may be
performed, but a profufe difcharge of blood by
flool is no indication for drawing blood.

The flux in the Weft-Indies is either watery
with blood, or bihous witli blood, and excrement.

Both thefe dyfenteries are equally difficult to
cure, and equally dangerous, unlefs medicines are
early apphed.

The intentions then to be purfued, are, firft to
expel the peccant humours, to foften their acri-
mony, and by that means abate the gripes ; and
laftly, to ftrengthen the tone of the inteftines.

with deco6lion of tamarinds, are proper. If the diforder
does not yield to thefe, give five grains of calomel at bed-
time, with an opiate, and a dofe of caftor oil next morning.
In fluxes, with fever and fymptoms of inflammation, bleed
to eight ounces.

Where there is little or no fever, the following mixture
has done much good :

Take lime iuice three ounces — as much fea fait as the
acid will take up-»-water twelve ounces — fugar two ounces
— rum one ounce.

Two table fpoonfuls for a dofe, every three or four
hours, as the cafe may require.

[ 35 3

To perform the firft intention, vomits and
purges are requifite (33) ; but then all vomits
and all purgatives are not equally eligible. The
clafs of irritating and heating mud always be dif-
carded.

Where ipecacuan is not at hand, the follow-
ing emetic may be depended on : Bruife two
drachms of yellow thiftle feed, and infufe it in
half a gill of boihng water ; let it ftand till it
Gools, then ftrain and fweeten it to the palate.
This is a fufficient dofe for a grown up Negroe.

The yellow thiftle feed is not only a fafe emetic,
but like the ipecacuan is a ftrengthener of the
inteftines.

Some ufe the juice of the wild ipecacuan, but
it is too rough and irritating.

The pods of the lignum vitJE are alfo adminif-
tered by fome as a vomit, but they alfo are like*
wife too furly.

At night j twenty drops of laudanum fliould be
mixed with half a pint of wild fage tea to pro-

(33) Where lime juice is not at hand, vinegar with fait
does as well.

Dyfcntery requires purging, as in moft cafes nothing Is
voided but blood and mucus ; and this may be done, as a-
bove, by calomel, the neutral falts, or caftor oil.

Chronic dyfenteries may be cured by calomel purges
twice a weckj and an Q,piate every night at bed-time.

C 2

[ 36 ]

mote perfpiration, and prevent the Tick perfon^s
getting up in the night ; they fhould alfo be co-
vered with a good warm blanket, and not allow-
ed to lie on the bare floor.

On the following morning, a fufFicient quanti-
ty of caflor oil fhould be given ; and to prevent its
griping, twenty drops of fal volatile may be add-
ed thereto ; by which it will become mifciblc
with peppermint water.

The caflor oil may be wrought off by warm
water gruel, or what the Negroes call hot water.

Their food fhould be faloop, with a glafs of red
port or madeira wine in it ; they may alfo be in-
dulged in pepper pot, made chiefly of Ochra and
Angola peas, with little or no fait, but feafoned
with green pepper ; if at any time faint, a fre-
quent fymptom in this diforder, a fmall quantity
of re-d wine diluted with water, in which heated
iron hath been extinguifhed, and made more
grateful by a little grated nutmeg or cinnamon,
fhould be allowed them.

One fhould imagine it would hardly be necef-
fary to advife to cover the bellies of the difeafed
with warm blankets ; and yet, for want of this
fimple precaution, I have known many Negroes
loft.

The vomit and purgative fhould be repeated
ac leaft twice each, at the interval of a day ; and

[ 37 ]

the opiate formerly recommended lliould be given
every evening.

By this means, both the numbers of ftools will
be diminifhed, and their quality amended ; and
then recourfe may be had with fafety to lubri-
cating, and fubaftringent medicines.

Of thefe, many valuable ones are to be found
in the Weft-Indies ; the principal are the rinds
of both kinds of pomegranate ; the bark (34) and
gum of the acajou ; the feeds of the fea-fide
grape ; the Guava bark, and Guava jelly ; and
the logwood.

Thefe, either by themfelves or combined toge-
ther, and made into tea or boiled, vail feldom dif-
appoint the prefcriber.

But if any preference can be given to the a-
bove remedies, that preference is due to the log-
wood in decodion : yet will its virtues even then
be improved, by adding a gill of red port with
grated cinnamon, or the Canella of the Weft-ln-
dies, to every quart of the medicine.

The dofe to a full grown perfon, is a gill three
times a day.

Glyfters made of the ingredients above men-
tioned, are alfo excellent auxiharies in the flux,

(34) In diarrhoeas from mere relaxation, the aftringent
barks here recommended may fucceed j but in all dyfenteric
cafes, there is danger of their doing mifchief.

c 3

[ 3S ]

(35) if thrown np often in fmall quantities, and
not hot ; but efpecially if a Uttle good fuet, ftarch,
or the" white of an egg, be added thereto.

A ferviceable glyfter may be alfo compounded
of lime-water, the yolk of an egg, a Httle ftarch
made of CafTada, and a fpoonful of old rum.

At this time, pills made of equal parts of wax,
and the cafhew-tree gum, and given to the quan-
tity of a drachm a day, often effectuate a cure.

If the inteftines are ulcered, which may be
known by the foetidnefs of the difcharge, and ob-
llinacy of the diforder, recourfe fliould be had to
lime-water, milk, and the whites of eggs. And
if this prefcription fails, turpentine fhould be ren-
dered mifcible with forge-water, by means of the
yolk of an egg, and given to the quantity of two
drachms a day ; opiates will keep it from run-
ning off too fpeedily,

• In the autumnal putrid flux, (36) after pro-
per evacuations, I have known oranges, lemons,
and even limes produce lingular advantages.

(35) When fluxes have continued long, the mucus from
the inteftines is abraded, and a tenefmus harafles the pa-
tient conftantly.

Glyfters of Indian arrow root ftarch, with laudanum,
Ihould be given frequently, and retained as long as poffiblc.

(36) All ripe fruits are ferviceable in fluxes, efpecially
oranges ; and the fick may be allowed to eat of them at
plcafurc.

I

[ 39 ]

They are analogous in their operation to tlie
elixir of vitriol.

I have feldom known any recover of a flux
who had the thrufh in the mouth, and through
the whole tract of their inteftin^s.

The Blacks are lefs fubjed to aphtha, than the

white people.

If any thing can be ferviceable here, it muft
be change of air, riding, faiHng, &c. for I never
faw any advantage from medicine,s in the dyfen-
teric thrufh, no not from the bark.

I do not approve of flour dumplings, unlefs the
flour is fermented, and then the addition of frefh
fuet will make it not only nutritive, but medical
in the flux.

Negroes who have recovered of a flux, fhould
never be put too foon to hard labour ; relapfes
are almoft always dangerous.

To ftrengthen them, the bitter infufion (37}
Ihould be given for a week or two ; to which fome
toafl:ed rhubarb may be added.

An infufion of the bark in forge water is alfo
an excellent reftorative.

Where worms crawl out of themfelves from the

(37) Bitter Infiifton. — Take two drachms lignum quaffise
-^orange peel, one drachm — boiling water, a pint — Infufe
for two hours, then ftrain it, and add two fpoonfuls Oild
r^m. Give a large wine glafsful three times a day.

C4

[ 40 ]

mouth or nofe of dyfenteric patients, luch feldom
recover ; and as worms are to be found in all
Negroes, it is often abfolutely neceffary to com-
bine worm medicines with the remedies recom-
mended in this chapter.

Of the Lax or Diarrhoea. (38)

This is a common complaint in the Weft-In-
dies ; here figured ftools are feldomer feen than
in Europe.

It is never attended with a fever, and fcarce
ever accompanied with gripes ; it often arifes
from obftruded perfpiration, and often from crude
raw vegetables. Acids will alfo produce it.

Where it is habitual, and upon the flighteft
error in the articles of food or exercife is apt
to grow worfe, the moft exquifite diet is necefla-
ry ; but change of air bids faireft for removing it.

One half drachm of toafted rhubarb will gene-
rally remove it ; 'if one dofe is infufficient, two or
three moft commonly efFeduate a cure. An 0-
piate ftiould be given every night.

Purflaine fried with oil or lard, and roafted Ba-
nanas are ufeful in this diforder. Simarouba tea
is likewife good.

(38) Diarrhoea and dyfentery are modifications of the
fame diforder. The medicines in the preceding chapter
may apply here.

[ 41 ]

Dry Belly Ach.

Though fluxes are more common in the Weft-
Indies than the dry belly ach (39), yet that dif-
order too often occurs, and is frequently fatal.

It requires no defcription ; its caufe in general
is cold ; fometiraes improper food and drink.

From whatever origin it proceeds, the poor
wretch who labours under it, fuffers the fharpeft
torture, and when at worft, the mufcles of the
belly, and even the inteftines themfelves, are
fpafmodically contradled. This, if not fpeedily
removed, foon terminates either in a palfy, or
gangrene of the bowels.

The indications of cure are firft, to alleviate
the pain, and laflly, to procure a free paflage
through the inteftinal canal.

Opiates repeated every hour, and adminiftered
in large quantities, are the only anodynes I know
in nature, and the beft medicine to flop the vo-
miting, which too frequently attends this melan-
choly diforder.

Warm bathing and oils rubbed into the belly,
fcarce procure any eafe ; but bleeding in a fmall

(39) The fpafmodic belly ach is the fame as the coli-
ca poiftou : It is feldom fcen now-a-days in the Weft-In-
dies. The inhabitants live more regular, eat frefli animal
food, and drink good liquors.

[ 42 ]

quantity at the arm, or rather cupping the abdo-
men, and fcarifying, often alleviate, and fome-
times even remove the fpafmodic ftridlure. Yet
opiates are chiefly to be rehed on.

They even facilitate the operation of purga-
tives, however oppofite that may appear to theo-
ry ; and therefore they fhould always be combin-
ed with the oily cathartic formerly recommend-
ed, and with the oily or balfaniic glyfters.

Strong purges do not fucceed even after ano-
dynes have opened the palTage ; they excite
fpafms ; and yet tobacco glyfters often produqe
the moft falutary effecls. (40)

When you have reafon to fufpect the pafl^age
blocked up by curdled milk, Sec. crude mercury
with anodynes muft be had recourfe to.

The beft glyfters are made of a decoction (41)
of French and common phyfic nut, with ftinking

(40) In new rum diftilled through leaden worms, there
is probably part of that metal corroded by and diflblved in
the fpirit.

Calomel, in large dofes, is an antidote to the polfon of
lead in all cafes. In obftinate conftipations, give five
grains of calomel in the evening, and as much more in four
hours thereafter ; next morning a dofe of caftor oil.

(41) Slight deco£lions of the leaves of Englifli phyfic
nut, or of the belly ach bufli, may be ufed for common
drink. Nothing fits eafier on the ftomach, and vomitings
siyc foo» appeafed.

2

[ 43 ]

weed, of each half a handful, to be boiled in a
quart of water to a pint ; add thereto a fpoonful
of the juice of the aloes, a gill of oil, the yolk of
an egg, and a table fpoonful of laudanum, or two
drachms of diafcordium, or rather theriac.

The glyfters fliould be in fmall quantities, and
often injeded. The warm bath alTifts their ope-
ration ; and candle-greafe with fpirits may be
chafed into the belly.

But while injedlions are attempting to clear
the bowels below, purgatives fliould be taken by
the mouth, and co-operate with them.

A fudden ceafing of the pain, with a finking
pulfe, foetid breath, &c. are infallible fymptoms
of death, unlefs blifters applied to the belly, and
the bark with elixir of vitriol remove thofe ap-
pearances.

This diforder leaves a great forenefs behind it,
and like other inteftinal ailments produces flatu-
lent fymptoms, which bitters and exercife, with
bathing in the fea, are the likelieft means of re-
moving.

The Blacks are oftener tormented with the dry
belly ach than the Whites ; and among thefe,
luch are ofteneft the fubjed: of its torture, who
indulge in new fiery fpirits, with little water, and
jnuch fouring,

[ 44 3

T€tanus.

The dry belly ach often caufes the tetanus,
and all its fymptoms. This is a dreadful difeafe,
becaufe too commonly fatal. (42)

The fpeedieft affiftance is here neceflary, and
yet Avith the fpeedieft help the phyfician is often
miferably difappointed in his expedlations.

Here opiates again are what are chiefly to be
depended on ; but warm bathing, bliftering the
wrifts, the back-bone, the ftomach, the nape of
the neck, fhould alfo be ufed.

I have rubbed in blue ointment into the belly,

(42) Patients labouring under the locked jaw, are ftrip-
ped naked and laid on the ground, and in the height of the
fpafmy a large bucket of cold water is fuddenly daflied on
the body. The fpafms are inftantly removed ; the jaws are
relaxed and opened, and the ufe of the limbs reftoved.

The patient is dried, fhifted and put to bed, and fome
nourifhing food and drink provided for him. At bed-time
an opiate, and lefs or more of wine.
. Some cures are faid to have been made by eleftiicity ;
and Dr. Currie orders a liberal ufe of wine, with the cold
affufion.

See the prefent Writer's paper on Tetanus, publiflied in
the 6th volume of London Medical Obfervations and Inqui-
ries, 1784. Since which time, the nature and cure of the
locked jaw is better underftood, and more fuccefsfully treat-
ed, in various quarters of the globe.

I .

[ 45 ]

Sec. but never faw any good from it. I have fu-
migated the locked jaw thrice a day, v^^ithout
doing either good or harm ; I have cupped and
fcarified the parts affected, but all to no purpofe ;
I have given antimonial pills, (Ward's) which
have fometimes fucceeded with me in the dry
belly ach, but here they proved inefFe<flual.

I have feen the fpafms mitigated, by tying the
poor wretch down upon a board, and rubbing in-
to the members contradted, fweet oil fix parts,
fpirits of turpentine two, laudanum one. Britifh
oil has likewife done good.

Mufk, afafoetida, and alkaline falts, I have ad-
miniftered in great quantities, but I cannot fay
they ever did much fervice. Nothing, however,
fhould be negleded which has the leaft chance
of recovering the patient, for with every affiftance
he too often periflies.

I have combined cinnabar with mulk, and
given them in great quantities, in this difeafe,
but all to no manner of purpofe.

Opium then is what is chiefly to be relied on,
and it is aftoniftiing what quantities of it may be
fwallowed, without either procuring fleep or af-
feding the brain.

OftbeDropfy.

Tms difeafe, in all its appearances, is common
in the Weft-Indies.

[ 4^ ]

Heat and moilture debilitate the folids, and
break the tone of the blood in thofe climates.

Hence all ages and all fexes are there liable to
watery complaints.

In children the watery tumour is mofl: com-
monly occafioned by worms; expel thefe, and
you cure the patient.

Obftrudions of the menftrual courfes will often
caufe a dropfy of the legs, &c. in young women ;
make their menfes flow, and you reduce their
legs, &c. to their healthy ftandard.

I have known water produced in the belly,
by a Negroe's drinking too plentifully of cold
water, when he was running down with fweat.
. If the Negroe was otherwife healthy, medi-
cines that operate by fweat will carry off the
fwelling. (43)

Where the difeafe is the refult of profufe bleed-
ings, from whatever caufe, or over-purgation,
generous diet and ftrengtheners are the iikelieft
to remove it.

(43) Small and repeated dofes of calomel will effedtu-
ally obviate the evil efFedls of this imprudence, and prevent
the impenjding mifchief here, as well as in improper bath-
ing.

The writer fpeaks with confidence, and from fuccefs in
many fuch accidents. Where the cafe was urgent, he gave
two grains of calomel every three hours, till twenty grains
had been taken.

C 47 ]

A fowl fluffed with cow-itch, and made into
broth, has fometimes carried off this diforder by
ftool and urine. (44)

If the fwelhng is confiderable, and the bowels
are found, the Negroe fhould be tapped, and the
future accumulation of water prevented hy aloetic
purges and bitters.

This difeafe has fometimes been cured by gun-
powder taken inwardly with cow-pifs.

I have feen lingular good effeds from the fol-
lowing medicine : I*ut into a tin boiler with a
cover, an ounce of cinnamon, half an ounce of
nutmeg, two drachms of fait of fteel, or even fteel
fihng, a pound and a half of lime-juice, and as
much good old rum, and place it in a veffel with
boiling water for an hour, then ftrain it, and give
near a gill of it morning and evening ; it operates
chiefly by urine. A handful of fcraped horfe*
raddifli may be occafionally added. (45)

(44) Boiling deftroys the fpiculje of cow-itch, and ren-
ders it inert.

(45) Preparations of fleel are ufeful only in dropfies
from relaxation and debility, but where there are vifceral
obfl:ru£lion, they do harm. The following ele6luary is ex-
cellent here, as well as in chlorofis :

Take conferve of oranges, an ounce and half — prepared
fleel, two drachms — aromatic fpices, one and half drachm — ■
fyrup of oranges, enough to make an eledluary — the bulk
of a nutmeg twice a day.

I 48 ]

The liver is commonly afFcded in this difeafe
in the Weft-Indies, and therefore deobftruents
are properly mixed with cathartics in dropfical
cafes. (46)

In the dropfy of the fkin, fcarifications and bu-
rying in the hot fand at noon, are a remedy
which may be depended on, provided regular ex-
ercife and orange bitters lend their afTiftance.

Cholera Morbus,

This diforder is not fo common here as in Eu-
rope, but when it makes an attack, its effeds are,
in general, more deadly, unlefs remedies are
fpeedily applied.

The cholera morbus, in this country, feldom
proceeds from the too free ufe of fruits, as in
England ; with us it arifes more commonly from
poifoned crabs, and poifonous fifti.

Fifh poifon (47) is peculiar to the Weft-Indies ;

(46) Difeafed livers and obftru£lions are the mod com-
mon caufes of dropfy in the Weft-Indies. A prudent ufe
of mercury in the beginning is generally fuccefsfdl.

Tapping, if proper, fhould be done early, but much cau-
tion is neceflary in fcarifying the legs of hydropics, as there
is danger of mortification.

(47) There is a variety of poifonous fifh in the Weft-
Indies. The moft common is the black-backed fprats ; and

[ 49 ]

and what is remarkable, the fame fiOi are ofteft
falutary or otherwife, in different parts of the
fame ifland.

This, though vulgarly imputed to copperas
banks, can only with propriety be afcribed to the
fubmarine vegetables whereori they feed.

For all thefe poifons, if not immediately mor-
tal, the beft antidotes are teas of the flowers of
cedar, of the fenfitive of the chickweed, and of
the yellow prickle wood.

The indications in the cure of the cholera mor-
bus, are, firfi, to check the inordinate difcharge
up and down ; fecondly, to dilute and cotempe-
rate the humours ; and laftly, to reftore the tone
of the inteftines.

The remedies recommended in the flux will

yet if fuch fifh are laid one night in a pickle of fait, they
may be eaten with fafety.

' In cafes of fifh poifon, emetics muft be given immediate-
ly, that as much of the fifh may be ejected as poffible j then
a dofe of caftor oil.

The mixture recommended in note (32) mufl be given
freely ; it flops vomiting, and correds the contents of the
ftomach and firft paiTages. It is flrenuoufly recommended as
the mofl fafe and efFedlual antidote againfl fifh poifon what-
ever. When fuch accidents happen at fea, or where le-
mon juice eannot be got, vinegar faturated with marine
fait will do equally well.

D

[ 50 ]

check the difcharge (48) ; water gruel, fage tea,
and hot water, will render the humours lefs acrid ;
and exercife, bathing in the fea, bitters, and the
bark, will invigorate the inteftines.

Much might be added on the article of fifli
poifon. (40) It is a new and curious fubjed, but
this IS not a proper: place for an ample difquifi-
tion.

Vomiting. •

A CONSTANT rejection of whatever is taken int©
the ftomach, is a more common difeafe than the
former, and often as deadly. (50)

It always proceeds from fome peccant humour
irritating the ftomach.

Salt of wormwood mixed with lemon juice, and
fwall nved in the ad of eftervefcence, will fome-
times ftop it.

(48) The elixir of vitriol is excellent in cholera morbus.
Thiity drops may be taken in vv-iter and fugar every three
hours, till the diforder abates ; alfo the remedy in note (32).

(49) No frtisfadory i^ccount has yet been given, why
Certain hih arc poifonous at times, and not at other times.
It is curious however, that putting fifh for a few hours in
fait, prevents all accidents, and deprives them of their poi-
fonous quality.

(50) What has been faid under cholera will equally ap-
ply here.

[ 51 ]

Opiates have alfo, not unfrequently, produced
the fame efFect.

Warm water poured on toafted caflada, or oat-
meal made brown, will often flop a vomiting.

But mint juice mixed with fugar, and warm
goats milk, will generally fucceed, where the
former have failed.

Purgative glyfters Ihould be adminiftered*

Malignant Sore Throat. (51)

This diforder is a malignant fever, principally
affedling the throat, &c. How then can mercu-
rials be ferviceable in this cafe ? They relax the
folids, and deftroy the tone of the blood.

(5 1 ) Tliere are three kinds of fore throats common in
the Weft-Indies, which require different treatment :

1. The cynanche inflammatoria in Negroes 5 bleeding is
neceffary, gentle laxatives, mild antimonials, and emollient
gargles.

2. Cynanche ulcerofa, with fcarlet efflorefcences round
the floughs J three grains of the antimonial powder re-
commended in note (29) and one grain of calomel every
three hours, till a perfpiration takes place, then to be left off.

3. Cynanche maligna, or cynanche putrida.

The putrid fore-throat is fometimes epidemic, and al-
ways attended with typhoid fever ; after gentle laxatives,
bark and wine are the moft efFedual. A gargle made of
^turated lemon juice, or vinegar and fea fait, is excellent.
The writer of thefe notes feldom gave any other medicine.

D 2

[ 52 ]

How then can purgatives be ufeful? They
Weaken the habit, and fink the pulfe, which is
already naturally too low.

Nor is bleeding, in this difeafe, more to be re-
commended than cathartics and mercury ; it
thins the blood, and weakens more than either.

What then is to be depended on ?

Gentle diaphoretics ; tea made of devil's bit,
wild fage tea, weak fout punch, madeira fangree
mixed withfeville orange ; a mouth-water or gar-
gle made of canker- berry, privet, alum, honey,
&.C. is alfo ufeful. Steaming the throat with
warm vinegar does good.

For want of attending to thefe rules, more Ne-
groes for fome years paft have perifhed by fore
throats, than by any other difeafe.

Elixir of vitriol, tin(5ture of the bark, and tinc-
ture of rofes, fometimes remove the malignant an-
gina.

I never faw above two inflammatory fore throats
in the Weft-Indies. Their coming to matter
ought to be prevented by coohng purges ; but
ftiould a fuppuration enfue, the tumour muft be
forthwith opened.

A fmall quantity of nitre fwallowed leifurely
twice or thrice a-day, will often prevent the fup-
puration of the almonds of the ear, &c.

Negroes, as well as white people, are very fub-

[ 53 ]

jed'to the tooth- ach, and an external fwelling
of the glands of the neck, 8tc. called the mumps.

Thefe proceed from their lying with their
heads, &-c. too flightly covered, or from thei^^
walking to vilit their wives, 8cc. in the night-
time.

. If the tooth is hollow, it Ihould forthwith be-
cxtradled ; at this the Negroes are fufficiently ex-
pert.

The mumps is to be removed by warmth, fric-
tion, and fweet oil ; if inflamed, caftor oil may be
given.

Of the Liver and Spleen preternatur ally fwelled, (52)

Those diforders which were known to the an-
cients, but which are now unfrequent in Europe,
are common in the Weft-Indies, both among the
white people and Blacks.

(52) There are no diforders fo frequent in the Weft-
Indies as thofe of the liver and fpleen. Every acute dif-
eafe, and chronic complaints, occafion vifceral obftruflions,
and efpecially in the liver. The patients complain of a
pain in the pit of the ftomach, and of breathleflnefs when
walking up an afcent j (if a Negroe, his colour is pale ;) the
appetite is bad, and the belly irregular j lefs or more fe-
ver attends, and the patient's ftrength is wafted daily.
Jaundice and dropfy are the fure confequences, if not
fpeedily remedied.

B3

[ 54 ]

Though at firft they are fcarce to be diftiiv
guifhed, in procefs of time the fweUing may be
felt, and at laft becomes vifible. It is fcarce ever
attended with pain or feverilhnefs, but always
with lofs of appetite, and commonly with adhe-
sion to the furrounding membrane.

The Negroes do certainly remove this adhe^
lion, by frequent fridion with their fingers, by
laying the difeafed acrofs a hogfhead ; in fhort,
by putting the body in fuch an attitude, as to
enable them to infert their fingers below the fmall
ribs.

I do not remember to have feen any patient
with either or both of the above diforders, who
laboured under a jaundice. (53)

The lime juice medicine, recommended in the
chapter on the dropfy, is 'alfo fovereign in thefe
ailments, which are always tedious, but feldom
kill.

(53) In acute hepatitis, where the habit is full, bleed-
ing to eight or ten ounces is neceflary ; then fmall dofes of
the antimonial powder recommended in note (29) every
three hours, till the pores of the fkin are opened fhould
this not be fufficient, add one grain of calomel to two grains
of the antimonial powder, and continue the fame till a re-
folution of the diforder is brought about.

In chronic cafes, a fingle grain of calomel may be given
at bed-time for a week, then ftop for a few days, and go
pn as before.

[ 55 1

The mercurial pilf of the Edinburgh Difpenfa-
tory, combined with fteel filings, has fometimes
been tried with fuccefs.

If purgatives are ever thought advifeable in
thefe obftrudions, they fiiould be compofed of
gum guajac, calomel, and foap of tartar,
i Soap medicines with hog-lice have alfo done
fervice.

When the tumour points externally, and there
is reafon to apprehend, from preceding fymptoms,
that matter is formed, it fliould be let out by a
cauftic and lancet ; as fome have recovered af-
ter this operation.

Pai?i in the Stomach. (54)

Negroes often complain of a pain in the fto-
mach. This, when it does not arife from worms,

(54) A pain in the ftomach, is a name for any diforder
of Negroes, and much caution is neceflary to diftinguiflj
real from pretended complaints. Where the cafe is doubt-
ful, we fliould err on the fafe fide, and let the Negroe reft a
day or two in the infirmary.

A pain in the ftomach often turns out to be hepatitis,
or dlfeafed liver, as we ftated at note (5'i), and may be fuc-
cefsfully treated by very fmall dofes of calomel.

If it is merely dyfpeptic, aloetics, bitters and chalybeates,
are proper.

If from dirt-eating, mild treatment, warm clothing, ge-

D 4

[ 5^ ]

is always to be remedied by the following pre-
fcription :

Mix an ounce of foot, half an ounce of ftinking
weed roots, velvet roots as much, fix drachms of
orange, or lhaddoc rind, and three or four cloves
of garhc, with three pints of rum ; let the mix-
ture ftand in the fun a few days, then ftrain it
and keep it well corked for ufe.
Half a fmall wine glafsful is a dofe.
A fpoonful of the juice of femprevive will al-
fo remove it ; but the elixir proprietatis is a more
elegant remedy.

This difeafe proceeds, in general, either from
indigeftion or worms.

The roots of wild indigo, of cow-itch, and of
lemon, infufed in water, and fweetened with me-
l^fles, have often done fervice, if French authors
may be credited.

Goutf Gravel and Diabetes. (55)

I NEVER faw a Negroe wath the gout or ftone
in the urinary palTages and bladder ; the truth

nerous diet, wine and other fermented liquors, cane juice,
or hot liquor from the boilers ; thefe will induce Negroes
to defifl; from fuch pernicious pra£lice.

(55) Free people about the towns in the Weft- Indies,
who indulge themfelves in the delicacies of the table, and
in liquors, have their regular fits of gout.

[ 57 ]

is, the white people are lefs frequently tormented
with thefe excruciating ailments in the torrid
zone, than in Europe.

Warmth and moifture would therefore appear
to be enemies to the produdion of either of them.

••Where the foil is of a clayey nature, and retains
humidity fo long as to render it putrid, there the
gout may rage ; (56) though even in fuch foil it
is lefs painful, and the fits not fo lafting as in Eu-
rope, efpecially if proper perfpiration is encoura-
ged.

But if the Creoles are lefs afflided with thefe
maladies, I have feen many wafting away with a
continual difcharge of colourlefs, and almoft infi-
pid urine.

This preternatural difcharge is by fome writers
of eminence afcribed to a diforder in the liver;
but I Ihould rather impute it to a watery poverty

Gravel never happens in the Weft-Indies ; diforders in
the urethra from venereal afFedions are frequent enough.

(56) Gout may be hereditary, or brought on by intemr
perance : It may alfo be palliated, and even cured, by a
rigid adherence to diet and exercife. Animal food, fpirits,
and ftrong fermented liquors muft be avoided. Much be-
nefit has been experienced from the daily ufe of ginger
boiled with fweet milk.

When gout is attended with inflammation and fever, it
will give way to the means propofed in note (53), or to
Dr. James's powder.

[ 58 ]

of blood, and a morbid relaxation of the urinary
vifcera.

This theory of the diabetes (57) feems alfo to
be confirmed by the remedies which cure it.
Thefe are all of the aftringent kind, and may be
found in the chapter on fluxes.

- Diaphoretics, or fuch medicines as operate by
fweat, are alfo ufeful. But. neither thefe nor
aftringents will thoroughly corroborate the parts
without cold bathing, and alum whey.

Alum and bole may alfo be made into a plaf-
ter, with the white of an egg and turpentine,
and applied to the region of the loins.

The Canada baifam, &c. either dropped on fu-
gar, or mixed with the yolk of an egg, ftrcngthens
the urinary palTages.

But no remedy I know in nature is fo effica-
cious, in this and the follov\ang diforder, as pills
made of the gum elemi and pounded niccars. (58)

(57) Diabetes. — This diforder has been ably treated of
by Dr. Rollo, and the reader is referred to his work. A
diet of animal food alone is ftri£lly enjoined, and hepar ful-
phur internally is recommended.

Diabetes fometimes attends remitting fevers, and weakly
children are very fubjcft to it. The prefcnt "Writer has
cured a number of recent cafes, with the mixture of vege-
table acid and marine fait. (Vide American Philofophical
TranfatSlions, volume II.) The formula is in note (32).

(58) The infufion of quaflia in note (37), drank daily, is

[ 59 i

Patients labouring under a diabetes are al-
ways thirfty ; but they muft couiiteraft their ap-
petite to drink, and rather than Iwallow large a-
queous draughts, only moiften their mouths with
tamarind-beverage, or orange juice.

Lime-water with milk may be ufed, as alfo the
waters of the hot-bath at Nevis, which is more
powerful in all cafes of relaxation than that of
Briftol.

Where the Nevis water cannot be had, impreg-
nate good foft water with a red hot iron.

Fluor Albus. (59)

The Blacks are lefs fubjecl to this difeafe than
the white inhabitants ; among whom I have
known infants, not three years old, and women
of fixty, wafting away with it.

This diftemper is not eafily cured in Europe,
and to tell the truth, European remedies feldom
cure it in the Weft-Indies.

Aftringent injedions are the moft likely to fuc-
ceed in the fluor albus ; but the beft injedions
do not always radically remove the difeafe.

extremely ufeful in diabetes, as it prevents the formation
of fugar in the ftomach and inteftines, from vegetable food.

(59) There is much difficulty in cliftinguifhing leucor-
rhcea in Negroe women, from venereal gonorrhoea.

[ 60 ]

' The injection raoft to be depended on, is a
firong decodlion of the pomegranate bark, old
rum, and elixir of vitriol.

This, mixed with an equal proportion of lime
or Nevis-water, fhould be thrown up, thrice a-day,
to the quantity of half a gill at a time.

Fomentations of balauilines, guava bark, and
fea-fide grape bark in rum, are alfo ufeful.

The medicine to be relied upon in the fluor al-
bus, is the following :

Mix four parts of gum elemi, with two parts of
cafliew-tree gum ; add one part of fait of fteel,
and as much good turpentine ; make them into
pills of fix grains.

Give three of thefe pills three times a-day in
half a gill of pomegranate tea.

Cold-bathing, bark, and ehxir of vitriol, or tinc-
ture of rofes, accelerate the cure, (60)

Rheumatifm and Sciatic,

These difeafes are even more common in the
torrid zone than at home ; but they are feldom
acute. (61)

(60) Large dofes of prepared chalk or crabs eyes, cure
this diforder.

(61) Acute rheumatifms arc frequent in the Weft-In-
dies, and may be treated aa other inflammatory difeafeg.

[ 61 ]

Of courfe bleeding and purging (evacuation^
too frequently ufed to remove them) are almoft
always improper in this climate.

The difcharge by urine is with difficulty ex-
cited in this country, and could it be promoted
with certainty, would not carry off the rheuma-
tifm. Warmth, fridion, bathing, and oil, are ufe-^
ful in thefe difeafes.

But external remedies will not cure them, if
they have taken any root in the conftitution.

Dr. James's powder, when it operates by fweat,
is fometimes ferviceable in the rheumatifm and
fciatica.

Dover's powder is more generally ufeful. (62)
Tindure of ipecacuan, fal volatile, and lauda-
num, in equal proportions, have alfo been of fer-
vice.

But the following preparation is the only one
to be depended upon :

Mix equal parts of gum guajac, nitre, and fo-
liated earth of tartar ; add one third of cinnabar,

After the neceffary evacuations have been made, mild anti-
monials, and fmall and repeated dofes of calomel, may be
given.

(62) Chronic rheumatlfms generally yield to fmall dofes
of Dover's powder at bed-time, with one grain of calomel
for a few nights. Sciatica is probably a rheumatifm of the
nerve in the hip-joint. No medicine is fo eflFe<^luaI as Do-
ver's powder and calomel, juft mentioned.

a

r 62 ]

and make them into pills of fix grains, with me-
lalTes.

Of thefe pills give three thrice a day.

No curable rheumatifm ever refilled this reme*
dy, continued for three weeks.

Ward's pills have been adminiftered in thefe
ailments, but I never knew them produce any
lignal fervice.

Experience has taught me to think better of
the infufion of glafs of antimony in madeira. (63)

That tindture poiTelfes many virtues.

Heart-Burn. (64)

This is a very common, and though not a dead-
ly, is yet a troublefome difeafe.

It arifes from the too free ufe of vegetables, a
weak ftomach, and inert bile.

(63) This is no other than the antimonial wine of un-
certain ftrengtli. The vinum antimoniale of the (hops is
more ehgible, as the dofe can be determined accurately.

(64) The heart-burn is occafioned by the acetous acid be-
ing formed in the ftomach. Bitters, chalybeates, and cal-
careous fubftances, are generally prefcribed. Magnefia is
the fafeft of thefe, but it neutralizes only that portion of
acid it meets with in the ftomach.

The fulphurcous acid deftroys the principle of the ace-
tous and vinous ferment. Elixir of vitriol, in dofes of thir-
ty drops in water, removes heart-burn like a charm.

1

[ 63 ]

Chalk, crabs eyes, or lime-water, will always
give eafe in this diftemper ; but elTence of pepper-
mmt, fpirits of hartfliorn, or fait of wormwood,
are more to be depended on.

Vomits are always necelTary, but the muftard
vomit deferves the preference.

The Negroes are not fo fubjed: to this dif-
order as the white people, and yet they live more
upon vegetables than their mafters ; but then
their greens, 8tc. are always well feafoned with
fait, and green pepper, and they drink little punch
and no wine.

I have ,known old rum mixed with water and
fprinkled with nutmeg, periifted in as a common
drink at meals, remove the heart-burn when all
other remedies have proved ineffectual.

I know a gentleman who is much fubjedt to the
heart-burn, and whofe only relief is a large
draught of warm milk.

In this perfon the heart-burn probably pro-
ceeds from a putrid acrimony.

Ringworm,

This difeafe is almoft as common as the itch,
but is not fo eafily removed.

It affedls every part of the body, but efpecially
the joints.

t 64 ]

It is always attended with a violent itching,
and is highly infeftious.

Many remedies are ufed by the Weft-Indians
for the cure. The chief of thefe are what follow :
Rub the parts with a coarfe cloth till they be-
gin to bleed, and then fqueeze into them the zeft
of a feville orange.

Mix two drachms of gunpowder, with as much
lime juice as will bring it to the conliftence of a
thin liniment ; this rubbed in morning and even-
ing, after hard fridion, often proves effedual.

When the ringw^orms are not numerous, an ap-
plication of fait water and urine will cure them.

Bathing the parts with warm fait water and
firft runnings is always of fervice.

But the moft certain remedy which the Weft-
Indies afford for the cure of ringworms, is an epi-
them made of the flowers of brimftone, and the
juice of the ringv\4orm flirub. (65)

This vegetable is common in the iflands, and
needs no defcription. Dr. Hillary has defcribed
it in fuch a manner as an European botanift may
clafs it.

(65) In old and inveterate cafes of ringworm and her-
petic fores, a fulphureous plafter worn conftantly ver the
parts, will at length cure the complaint, efpecially if a de-
coction of farfaparilla and guiacura is given at the fame
time.

[ 6s 3

But though thefe appHcations will remove this
ailment, yet the remedies which Europe affords
are both more certain and more fpeedy.

Among thefe a ftrong folution of blue-flone in
hme-water, or corrofive fubhmate in the fame
menftruum, deferve the preference.

Purgatives are fcarce ever neceffary in this dif-
order ; but fweating, efpecially in a warm bath,
is highly expedient at the clofe of the diftemper.

Of Cojlivenefs.

This is a common, and though not fatal, is yet
a troublefome diforder.

The white inhabitants are more fubjetSl to it
than the Blacks, and the women more than the
men.

It generally proceeds from inert bile, and re-
laxation ; of courfe, warm bathing, which is fome-
times prefcribed for it, is improper ; and immer-
iion in cold water will do fervjce, though gene-
rally thought hurtful.

But cold bathing alone will not do ; mild pur-
gatives joined to bitters muft be given internally.

For this purpofe a handful of the wild fenna,
infufed in half a pint of water, and quickened
with a fpoonful of the juice of femprevive, may
be given.

Or vervain may be drank every morning as

E

[ 66 ]

tea, with fome of the halbert-weed flowers or
thofe of chamomile.

Or caftor oil, fharpened with an infufion of
Itinking-weed, or velvet-root, may be ufed.

The following pills are alfo ferviceable ; grind
up equal parts of jalap, French phyfic nut, caftile
foap, and juice of aloes, and make them into pills
of fix grains. Two taken every night will gene-
rally procure a flool the next day.

I have alfo known half a pint of fea water,
with twenty or thirty drops of the elTence of an-
timony, drank in a morning, produce falutary ef-
fe6ts.

Sometimes I have combined the bark with pur-
gatives, and have thus generally fucceeded in
curing an habitual coftivenefs.

Moderate exercife,' efpecially on horfeback, is
abfolutely neceflary.

A large fponge wetted in fea water, and ap-
plied fuddenly to "the belly, will fometimes do
fcrvice, and may be ufed, when riding is inconve-
nient.

All ftrong purgatives, efpecially thofe that are
endued with reftringent properties, are improper ;
at leaft till the bile is become healthfully acrid.

I am of opinion that the Senega rattle-fnake
root, mixed with nitre and the juice of the aloes,
would do good in this difeafe ; for though coni-
bined with an opiate, which effedually hinders it

[ 67 ]

Trom exciting a naufea, it generally produces a
copious difcharge by ftool.

Half a drachm of gum guajac diflblved in the
yolk of an egg, and mixed with vervain tea, is a
good purgative.

Tvjo or three guajac pods infufed in warm
water will often give a ftool ; a larger number of
them in the fame way, adl as an emetic.

Chocolate is a proper breakfaft and fupper to
fuch as are habitually coftive, and purgatives
may be blended therewith, fo as totally to dif-
guife their bad tafte.

In that cafe the cathartic fhould be reduced to
the fineft powder imaginable ; and if the choco-
late is mixed with water, by means of the yolk of
an egg, the tafte will more efFedually be fheath-
ed.

To fome people ftrong coffee is a purgative.

E 2

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES

O F

NEGROES.

PART III.

Leprofy, (66)

A LTHOUGH the white people in the Weft-Indies
are not exempted from this dreadful calamity,
yet as the Negroes are moft fubjedl thereto, I
ehoofe to begin the third divifion with it.

(66) In leprofy, it generally happens that the children
efcape, but the grand-children are certain of the difeafc
breaking out fooner or later in their lives.

The children of white people, who have been fuckled by
Negrefles, and who have this taint in their conftitution, arc
fometimes afFedted with leprofy*

[ 69 ]

I could write a great deal upon this diforder,
and but little to the purpofe , like the gout, it is
the difgrace of art.

I am doubtful whether it be infedious or not.
The children of infeded parents are not always
feized with the leprofy, and I have known the
wives of the leprous remain free from it for years.

It is however the part of prudence to remove
the diftempered from the found.

This diforder frequently arifes from being over-
heated, and getting too fuddenly cool. It how-
ever ofteneft breaks out without any vifiblc
caufe. (67)

Mercurials and antimonials irritate the difeafe ;
neither is any good done with farfa, falTafras, lig-
num-vitas, or China root.

I am, notwithftanding, perfuaded, that the an-
tidote of the leprofy is to be found in the Weft-
Indies. What profit, what pleafure would accrue
to the happy difcoverer ?

I once faw a Negroe man whofe wool grew
whitifh, and whofe Ikin put on a farinaceous ap-
pearance. He was a hideous fpedacle. His ap-
petite was good.

(67) Nothing will produce the leprofy or the joint-evil,
but being born of leprous parents, or by unclean nurfes.

E3

[ 70 ]

Tlje Joint^Evil. {6%)

This is too frequent a complaint, but as far as
I know, it is confined to the Blacks.

It commonly attacks the toes; the joints of
which fucceflively drop off almoft without pain,
and always without a fever.

It ftops when it reaches the foot ; and fome-
times the laft joint of the great toe prevents its
progrefs.

The patients are in all other refpeds healthy,
and produce healthy, nay fine children.

I do not remember to have feen this unac-
countable diforder demolifh the fingers.

I can fay nothing pofitive with regard to the
cure of the joint-e vil ; phyficians are feldom con-
fulted for it.

As it appears to be a topical diforder, might

(68) The joint-cvil is another fpecics of leprofy ; like it,
it is hereditary and incurable.

There was a Maroon Negroe in Jamaica, who cured fe-
veral leprous Negroes by vegetables, but he would not dif-
cover the fecret of his art.

In the inflammatory ftate, bleeding, cooling laxatives,
and a courfe of antimonial wine, have been of ufe.

■^hen this evil has eaten off the fingers, the toes, and
even the broad of the feet, it generally ftops, and the mu-
tilated being enjoys good health for many years.

[ 71 ]

not warm bathing and the bark fupprefs it in its
rife? And might not amputation check it in its
increment? When it is at the worft, I believe,
it mull: take its courfe.

Elephantiqfis, (69)

Some pretend that this enormous fwelling of
the lower extremities is curable when taken in
time.

Experience has wofuUy taught me the contrary.
But though it refills all the efforts of art, this

diforder gives rather inconvenience than pain,

and is no ways infectious.
It is luckily, however, not very common in the

illands.

Taws. (70)

It is lucky this difeafe attacks the Negroes
but once ; for it is both tedious and difficult to
cure.

(69) This is an African difeafe, and fcems to be heredita-
ry. No remedy has as yet been difcovered for it ; but when
the diforder is confined entirely to one leg, and the Ncgroc
otherwiic in good health, amputating the difeafed limb is
advifeable.

(70) Dr. CuUen, and other nofologiftsj have claffcd the

E4

[ 72 ]

It breaks out in every part of the body, but
chiefly about the hips and privities.

The eruption caufes little or no pain, and
fcarce yields any ichor. It occafions no wafting
of the flefh, becaufe their appetite keeps good.

The yaws however, when repelled, infalUbly
ruin the conftitution. This is frequently prac-
tifed by furgeons on board the flave ftiips.

The repellents ufed for this purpofe, are a mix-
ture of iron ruft with gunpowder and lime juice.
Sea water is alfo an affiftant.

This pernicious fraud is with difficulty perceiv-
able by the purchafer ; and yet it is of confe-
quence that he fhould deted; it.

When there is a glolTy fmoothnefs of the fkin,
in thofe parts where the yaws commonly break
out, you may almoft be certain that repellents
have been ufed.

But in cafe the Negroe has been purchafed be-
fore fuch difcovery, the fooner the difeafe is again

yaws amongft the Cachexia^ whereas it ought to be amongft
the Exanthemata^ immediately after fmall-pox. Our author
is the firft who viewed it in its proper light ; as he fays,
** it attacks the Negroe but once."

As the yaws are highly infectious, a houfe fliould be
provided for the difeafed, a good careful nurfe to attend
them and keep them clean. Warm clothing muft be al-
lowed them, and a generous diet given them 5 they fliould
do fome eafy work the whole time.

[ 73 ]

thrown upon the furface, the better chance has
the Negroe to regain his wonted health.

The beft method of efFedually expelling the
yaws from the blood, is by giving half a drachm
of fulphur every night, in a pint of hot fage tea.

Burnt niccars are alfo good for the fame pur-
pofe.

Venice treacle is equally ufeful.

But with all thefe, good ftrengthening food is
indifpenfibly requifite.

A fortnight's ufe of thefe means commonly
throws out all the yawey matter upon the Ikin.

A variety of external applications are then re-
commended by the old Negroes ; but if aught is
applied to the eruptions, it muft not be of a re-
pellent nature.

Keep the fores clean, by frequently walhing
them with warm water, or greafy dilh wafh-
ings. (71)

You are never to open a yaw with a lancet,
fay the French ; indeed it feldom is neceffary to
perform that operation ; but fhould it be requi-
lite, I can fee no danger from the ufe of Ifeel.

There is generally one yaw much larger than
the reft ; this the Negroes call the mailer yaw.
When that begins to dry away, and no frelh mat-

(71) Yawey fores fhould be gently walhed with cold tua-
tery but not fretted by wiping them with a rag or tow.

[ 74 ]

ter has been for fome time cad out upon the fur-
face, the expelling medicines may then with fafe-
ty be left off, and recourfe had to fuch as will
\ iTioll effeaually fecure the habit from any latent
taint.

This purpofe is bell anfwered by a gentle fah-
vation, (72) continued for fix weeks or two
months.

The quantity fpit in the twenty-four hours
fhould never exceed a quart, and the patient
fliould be made to drink abundance of warm
flops, fage tea, water gruel, milk and water, &c.
6tc. during the falivation.

I have tried almoft all the preparations of mer-
cury in the cure of the yaws, and have found
. them all to fucceed ; but that which I have moft
dependence on, is the mercury feven times fu-
blimed.

I have alfo great reUance on Plummer's pill,
efpecially if camphire be added thereto.

The common mercurial pill of the London Dif-
penfatory will cure the yaws ; but then it muft
be prevented from running off by ftool, by the ad-
dition of opiates.

(72) When the diforder is on the decline, ihen and then
only, mercurial alteratives are fafe and ufeful ; but never to
raife a falivation on any account.

In good habits, the eruption v/ill go off by itfclf, without
any medicine.

r 75 ]

The Baron Van Swieten's folution of the cor-
rolive fublimate,has been long known to the Well-
India planters as a remedy for the yaws. (73)

Undion may repel the yawey matter into the
habit ; and therefore quickfilver fhould not be
ufed in that form, to produce a falivation.

But by whatever preparation of mercury a fpit-
ting is excited, the patient mufl; be well fupport*
ed by warm and nourifliing drinks.

A decodion of lignum- vitoe, and of turpentine,
Ihould alfo be drank ; and if it operate gently by
the Ikin, fo much the better.

By thefe methods a relapfe is moft readily pre-

(73) Where the yaws have been mifmanaged, many evil
confequences enfue, as bone-achs, nocturnal pains, invete-
rate ulcers with caries, ulcerated throat, and erofions of
the cartilages of the nofe. Happily, however, thefe are
curable by mercurial alteratives, diaphoretic deco(Sl:ions, and
milk diet.

The following mjercurial tlndure feems to be the beft,
jind has been ufed with fuccefs :

Take of gum gulacum ten drachms — Virginia fnake-root
three drachms — pimento two drachms — crude opium one
drachm — corrofive fublimate thirty grains — proof fpirits
two pounds.

Digeft the whole for three days, and ftraln j give the
Negroc two tea fpoonfuls of this tlndure in half a pint of
farfaparilla. — Decodlion twice a-day.

Vide London Medical Journal, volume VIII. page 260.

[ 76 ]

vented, which is always more difficult to remove
than the firft difeafe ; and which, if it have cor-
roded the bones, is fometimes not to be cured.

When the Ikin is fufficiently cleared of the e-
ruption, and one or two large yaws remain, the
fpitting may be gradually diminifhed ; and thofe
mafter yaws, as they are called, fhould be de-
ftroyed by gentle efcharotics, fuch as blue-ftone,
verdigreafe, corrofive fublimate diffolved in lime
water, or burnt alum mixed with lemon juice.

When thefe are thus deftroyed, the lignum-vi-
tae decoction, formerly recommended, fhould ftill
be perfifted in for two or three weeks ; and now
twenty or thirty drops of antimonial wine fhould
be added to the evening potion.

A decodlion of the China-root may now alfo
be ufed.

(74) When by bad management the natural
progrefs of the difeafe has been interrupted, and
either ugly ulcers enfue, or the bones become
difeafed, thefe mufl be drefTed with red precipi-
tate mixed with yellow bafiHcon, or with the
green balfam of the Edinburgh Difpenfatory.

Antimonials and camphire fhould then alfo be
added to the calomel ; httle or no fpitting fliould
be excited ; but the medicines fliould be permit-
ted to alter the habit by gentle degrees.

(74) Sec the preceding note (73).

[ 77 3

In that cafe alfo I would recommend the con-
tinued ufe of Plummer's pill.

When the yaws are not able to open a paflage
through the callous foles of a Negroe's foot, the
patient can neither walk, nor even ftand without
exceffive pain, and his feet fwell more and more
daily.

This troublefome fymptom the Englifti call the
Tubbas, and the French Les Crapes.

The remedy for the Tubbas, is to bathe the
parts affected in a decodlion of the leaves of the
caftor bufh, and to pare the callus to the quick ;
the puftules will then make their way through
the fole, efpecially if affifted by any emollient
poultice or warm cow-dung ; and may be de-
Itroyed by the efcharotics formerly fpoken of.

No part of the puftule muft be left behind,
otherwife it will certainly regenerate, and by that
means render the Negroe ufelefs, at leaft for a
time.

Of the Nydalopia,

I NEVER faw the Hemeralopia in the Weft- In-
dies ; but the night-blindnefs I have feen there.

That however is not common in the Leeward-
Ifland government ; and all thofe I ever knew
aflfeded with this extraordinary malady, were not
Creole Negroes, but thofe brought from Africa.

[ 7S ]

The eye, to all appearance, is perfeaiy found,
even when it does not tranfmit one luminous rav
to the retina.

Neither do any of the Nydalopes complain of
head-achs. They generally too have a good ap-
petite*

At fun-fet their fight becomes dim ; and as
foon as night prevails, they become abfolutely
bhnd : in which unhappy fituation they remain
till day-light, when they recover the faculty of
feeing.

Some writers have confidered the night-blind-
nefs as a kind of ague in the eye ; but then it
would excite pain, and be attended with fome
degree of fever.

My own opinion is, that it is a periodical palfy
of the proper organ of vifion ; from whatever
caufe that palfy may be fuppofed to arife.

But waving theory, it is a happinefs the difeafe
may be cured, and more fpeedily than one could
imagine.

To effedtuate this, I generally begin by giving
a vomit ; and if the patient is coftive, a caftor
oil purge may be alfo premifed.

I then order a feton to be put in the neck,
and as foon as the difcharge is eftablifhed, I have
recourfe to the bark prepared in water, and made
more palatable with orange-peel and a little old
run).

[ 79 1

Two ounces of bark generally reftore the pa-
tient to vifion.

At firft, I combined fnake-root and valerian
with the cortex ; but I have lince found that the
bark will do unaflifted, even without the feton.

All thofe to whom I have given this fpecific
have been wrought, either up or down, pretty
fmartly, by its firft adminiftration.

The eyes Ihould be frequently bathed with
rum and water, or hungary water and that of
rofes, or camphorated fpirits, for fome weeks af-
ter the difeafe is removed.

They fliould alfo wear a (hade over their eyes
in the day time.

Of the Guinea Worm, (75)

This extraordinary worm, which choofes the
cellular membrane of the human body for its ha-
bitation, was firft taken notice of by Galen, but
is beft defcribed by the Arabian phyficians.

It is a native of Arabia, Perfia, and of Negroe-
land ; and white people who bathe in certain
waters, in thofe countries, are equally liable to it
with the blacks of Africa.

(75) The gordius, or Guinea worm, is frequent amongft
the Negroes in the Weft-Indies, whether new Negroes or
thofe born in the iflands.

2

[ 8o ]

I fancy it is not a difeafe of the Weft-Indies ;
for all thofe I ever faw afflidled therewith had
brought it with them to the new world from
Guinea.

It is a tedious, but not a dangerous difeafe,
efpecially if permitted to break through the fkin
itfelf ; and no harfti means are ufed to efFed its
removal.

I can fee no ufe of internal medicines to make
it fooner quit its nidus ; becaufe I am not con-
vinced it ever gets into the human body by drink-
ing water. (76)

Yet fulphur, garlic and pepper, are recom-
mended to be given inwardly ; perhaps aloes
Ihould be combined with them.

As it is roundifti, like a nerve, the bell way is
gently to wind it round a fmall cylinder, every
day, till the whole is extracted. It feldom exceeds
two feet in length.

If it breaks, violent inflammations and finufes
' enfue, which patience and the knife muft remove.

Ruptures.

Although the white inhabitants are more fub-
jedt to ruptures of every kind here than in Eu-

(76) Bathing in ponds and ftagnant waters, and drinking
impure waters, are fufpeaed juftly of caufing this malady.

I

[ 8i ,3

rope ; yet as the Negroes are moft afHided with
them, I choofe to treat of them in this divifion.

Ruptures in the groin, next to thofe of the na-
vel, are moft commonly to be met with in the
Weft-indies.

They, generally fpeaking, arife fromfome fprain
or over-exercife ; though fometimes the abdomi-
nal contents will fall down, without any other
vilible caufe than relaxation.

No time ftiould be loft in reducing them into
the belly by manual afliftance, and of fecuring
them, when there, by a proper bandage : For
this purpofe, every plantation ought to be furnifti-
ed with fteel trufies from England. (77)

But in cafe the rupture cannot be reduced in
the common way, fome blood ftiould be taken
away ; for by this evacuation, both the fpafm and

(77) Steel trufles fliould be made ftrong and elaftic.
The plantation furgeon fliould take pains in fliowing the
ruptured Negroc the right mode of applying them ; and
that at any time when the omentum, &c. comes down, to
remove the trufs till the rupture is reduced, a careful
attention to confining the parts within the abdomen, the
life of the ruptured Negroe is made comfortable, and he
himfelf ufeful in fociety.

Trufles need only in the day time be worn. They may
be had at Edinburgh of the beft quality, at five {hillings and
threepence each.

[ 82 ]

inflammation, which ufually attend an incarce-
rated rupture, will be removed.

But fhould phlebotomy fail, a fmart purgative
Ihould then be adminiftered ; which, with a little
afliftance from the hand, will often remove the
ftrangulation.

Good efFedls have alfo arifen, in this cafe, from
brifk injeftions, efpecially fuch as are compound*
ed of tobacco and French phyfic-nut leaves.

Smoke-gl'yfters of tobacco are no lefs ufeful ;
efpecially if adminiftered, fo as to quicken the
operation of a purgative taken by the mouth.

But if all thefe means ftill prove ineffedtual,
and the inflammation rather increafe, with vomit-
ing, &c, recourfe muft then be had to the knife ;
for if the gut once mortify, part of the foecal dif-
charge muft for ever be voided by this fmus, and
the patient runs an imminent rifk of his life.

This operation requires a fteady hand and dex-
terity in cutting ; and therefore I would never
advife it, could the rupture be reduced by any
other means.

I know a Negroe with a very large fcrotal
hernia, which increafes every full moon, and then
becomes uncommonly painful for fome days,
efpecially if he does not live very temperate dur-
ing that time, and be not purged with caftor oil.

He can himfelf reduce the gut, but the omen-

2

[ 83 ]

turn coheres, fo that he is never free from an ex-
ternal fweUing.

There are fome aftringent apphcations, which
may fo ftrengthen the relaxed parts in new rup-
tures, as to prevent their return ; but even then
a trufs fliould not be neglected.

A trufs fhould alfo be worn for years ^fter the
operation. The cicatrix occafioned by a cauftic
leldom prevents a relapfe of the inteftines.

of Burns, '<Sc. (78)

Boilers are very apt to get fcalded, efpecially
when they are obliged to continue their labours
in the night-time.

(78) There is nodiing fo common as burns and fcaldsj
and in general fo ill treated.

Immediately on fuch accidents happening, let the parts
be foaked with the coldeft water. If a fcald, apply linen
cloths dipped in cold water and common fait, and continue
this till the heat and pain are no more felt.

Cold vinegar may be ufed on the fame principle as cold
water. By thefe means inflammation is prerented, and no
veficles are formed.

Where the parts ate burned, the fame cold applications
are neceifary till the pain abates. Afterwards the Carron
ointment may be applied daily till the fores are well. This
•ointment is compofed of frefli lintfeed oU, and Hn?e water.
The caftor oil will do as well.

F 2

[ 84 ]

If the fkin is raifed into blifters, thefe fhould
be immediately fnipped, and the water let out,
otherwife that will become acrid, and erode the
fubjacent parts.

Banana leaves, or thofe of the caftor bufli, are
good apphcations againft burns ; fo is the fire-
weed.

But fweet oil blended with vinegar, or that
drawn from lintfeed and mixed with plantane
water, are more to be depended on.

White ointment and Turner's cerate may fi-
nifli the cure.

Thofe who feed the mill with canes, are fome-
times liable to have their hands ground off be-
tween the rollers, efpecially in the night-time.

Wouldfl thou prevent this horrid accident?
leave off working during the night : — or if that
cannot be done, at leaft change thofe who fupply
the mill every two hours ; by this means their
growing fleepy may be prevented.

Of Ulcers about the Ankles. (79)

I SHALL conclude this part with fome few ob-
fervations on fordid ulcers, which too frequently

(79) Of late years, much improvement has been made
in the cure of ulcers.

If they are owing to a bad habit of body, or to the yaws,

I

[ 85 ]

hifeft the ankles of Negroes, efpecially in iflands,
where the foil is of a clayey nature.

They are difficult to be cured, for I have
known a fix weeks falivation often ineffedual.

Runaway Negroes, and thofe who are naftily
lazy, or who eat dirt, a perverfion of appetite not
confined in the Weft-Indies to the females, are
moft liable to fordid ulcers : They bleed upon the
flighteft occafion, and generally produce an cede-
matous fwelling of the member.

If the ulcer has arifen from any external inju-
ry, and the patient is otherwife in a good habit of
body, he need only be purged once a week with

or venereal difeafe, the means recommended at note (73)
muft be attended to, and a generous diet of frefli animal
food.

1. All ulcers (hould be wafhed, by gently pouring cold
water on the parts,\ but by no means touch the fores even
with a probe and lint.

2. To foul and foetid ulcers, the pulp of a feville orange
roafted, and mixed with a little fugar j this, in a few days,
will correal the foetor, and difpofe the ulcer to heal.

3. Where tlie difcharge is large, fome dry vegetable pow-
ders are ufeful ; they may be either of dried vervain leaves,
or the powder of the fpurs of the prickly yellow wood.

4. Contrading the furface of the ulcer, by narrow flips
of common plafter, made adhefive with a little rofui ; thin
circular roller bandage, made moderately tight.

F3

[ 86 ]

fea water, and bathed in the fame, in order to be
cured. '

The part afFeded fliould be drefTed twice a-day,
becaufe matter foon becomes acrid in the Well-
Indies.

After wafliing the ulcer with vitriol water, and
foaking up the pus with fcraped lint, French phy-
lic-nut leaves (hould be pounded and applied
frefh to the fore.

I have Icnown that application fucceed, when
the moft pompous prefcriptions of the fliops have
failed.

' Exercife is pernicious, and yet if the Negroe
does not ftir a little, the fwelUng of his leg will
increafe.

Thofe who have ulcers about their ankles and
toes, fliould have flioes given them to wear till
they heal, and fhould ufe a bandage a confider-
able time after the part is cicatrized.

Without this precaution, a return of the fore
\s always to be apprehended.

As the white inhabitants generally wear fhoes
and (lockings, they are lefs fubject to thefe fores
than the Negroes.

But when they are afflicted with ulcers, it is a
difficult matter to heal them, becaufe fuch peo-
ple are but too much addicted to the ufe of raw,
new fpirits, than which nothing fo effeaually
contaminates the habit.

t 87 ]

In that cafe, recourfe muft be had to alterative
medicines, efpecially fuch as were recommended
to prevent a return of the yaws. (80)

(80) Wliite people with fores or fcratches, fhould never
come near Negroes in the yaws. Even the fmalleft fly from
a yawey ulcer, and lighting on a fore of a found perfon^
will infedt him with the yaws.

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES

OF

NEGROES.

PART IV.

But it is not enough to take care of Negroes
when they are fick ; they Ihould alfo be well cloth-
ed and regularly fed.

The negledling either of thefe important pre-
cepts is not only highly inhuman, but is the worft
fpecies of prodigality.

One Negroe faved in this manner more than
pays the additional expences which owners of
Haves by this means incur. But fuppoiing it did
not, it ought ferioufly to be conlidered by all
mafters, that they muft anfwer before the Al-
mighty for their condud toward their Negroes.

[ 89 1

Where neither humanity nor felf intereft are
able to make mafters treat their Haves as men,
the Legiflature Ihould oblige them. This the
French have done much to their honour. (8i)

As Negroes are ignorant, they muft be vicious ; .
this ought always to be attended to in their pu-*
niftiments.

Thirty-nine is the laQi of the law ; half that
number is, in my opinion, a fufiicient punifliment
for any offence they can commit.

Negroes muft be puniflied for their own aa
well as their mafter's fake ; but lenity Ihould al-
ways temper juftice.

A Negroe Ihould never be ftruck with a ftick>
nor ever punifhed in a paflion.

Black drivers fhould never be permitted to give
above one or two ftrokes of their whip to any of
thofe who are under their command, without leave
from the manager.

How ftiocking to philanthropy is it, to think
there are human beings who are made to a6t from
motives of fear only ! Surely were Negroes in-
ftruded in the pradical principles of Chriftianity,
they would be rendered much better fervants,

(8i) Provifion has been made by the Britifh Parliament,
and the confolidated laws in the colonies, for the proteftion
of the flave Negroes, and for their comfort and fupport.

See Edwards's Hiftory of the Weft-Indies.

r go ]

and would prevent much feverity, whereto they
now unavoidably are expofed.

Negroes Jfhould have woollen, as well as hnen
clothing given them every year. I repeat it a-
gain, the health of the gang Would fully repay
this expence.

They fhould have their allowance lhared out
to them every Tuefday and Friday. Starved
Negroes muft be runaways^

They fhould never be fed above a month on
the fame food.

They Ihould have fome mountain-ground, or
gut-fides allotted them, for planting Indian pro-
vifions ; and Saturday afternoon fliould now and
then be given them to take care of their little
gardens.

They fliould be allowed to rear fmall flock ;
and fome of the better fort of them may be in-*
dulged in breeding hogs, goats, &c.

Of Sick Houfes,

Every plantation ought to have a large lick
houfe, and if it were floored, fo much the better.

Every plantation fhould have a proper hut for
the reception of yawey patients ; this ought to be
to leeward, and at a diftance from the fick houfe,
"which fhould be built near the dwelling houfe,
but to leeward of it. (82)

(82) Sec note (70J.

[ 91 ]

Every fick houfe fhould have a chamber ven-
tilator to vvind\v^rd, and fliould receive fome light
from the roof.

Every fick houfe fliould have a neceflary ;
which ought to be cleaned, at leaft twice a day.

It fliould alfo be furniflied with a hearth and
chimney.

The nurfes are too commonly fo old that they
cannot take proper care of the fick, let them
have never fo good an inclination to do their
duty.

A nurfe fliould be fl;rong, fenfible, and fober.
It is a moft important office in a plantation.

In every plantation fome fenfible Negroe
fliould be inftrudled to bleed, give glyfliers, drefs
frefh wounds, fpread plafl:ers, and drefs ulcers.
This is of great confequence.

Were I to give a model for a complete fick
houfe, it fliould confift of four detached cham-
bers in a fquare form ; in the centre fliould be a
pump and bathing place ; and the whole fliould
be furrounded with a ftrong lemon or lime-hedge,
with a gate to lock. Round the borders fuch
herbs as are more commonly ufed in pliyfic fliould
he planted ; and there fliould be a walk round the
fquare for the convalefcents.

The chamber to leeward fliould be appropriat-
ed to fevers, fmall-pox, &(^,

[ 92 ]

That to windward fliould be for chirurgical and
common medical cafes.

That on the right fhould be appropriated for
boihng drinks, viduals, &c. of the fick, and for
lodging the nurfe ; with a little furgery.

That on the left Ihould be appointed for the
reception of venereal patients.

The windward ward Ihould have a piazza, and
each of them a neceflary and ventilator, except
the kitchen, which fliould be cooled by a window.

This plan would doubtlefs coft money ; but if
we muft have flaves, our own intereft would, me-
thinks, teach us to take all imaginable care of
them when they become fickly.

Every eftate ought to be vilited once a week
by fome phyfical perfon, and oftener, if occafion
require. (83)

. Planters fliould remember the fixth command-
ment. Thofe who prefume to prefcribe to the
lick, and are not qualified by fl:udy and expe-
rience, muft be murderers.

(83) No medical pra£titioner can do jufticc to an eftate,
who does not vifit tlie fick twice a week, either himfelf ot
his affiftant, or oftener if neceflary.

' A Cafe-book or Diary, in the following form, fhould be
kept in every infirmary. It would be of the moft ex-
tenfive ufe, as it would refrefti his own memory, or fhow the
aflTiftant what had been done. At fame time, diredl the
overfeer and. book-keeper to obferve the directions, and
fee the medicines, &c. given as prcfqribed.

•

<

Q

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O

1^

o

Si

U

o
o

to

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O
■»-"

Oh

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CO

u
"a

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CO

u

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tn
U
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u
IZi

CONCLUSION.

Every owner of an eftate ought to have the fol-
lowing medicines fent him annually from Eng-
land :

Spanilh Flies.
Caftor.

Calcined Hartlhorn.
Spirit of Hartlliorn.
Sal Volatile Drops.
Cloves.

Oil of Cinnamon.

Ipecacuan.

Jalap.

Opium.

Nutmegs.

Rhubarb.

Spirit of Lavender.
Tinctura Thebaica.
Alum.

Common Cauftic.
Crude Mercury.
Corrofive Sublimate.
Oil of Turpentine,
Plafler, common.
Turner's Cerate.
Verdigreafe.
Vitriol, blue.
— white.

With fome Ikins of leather, fome rolls of tow,
and a little hnt. Each plantation fhould alio
have a glyfter-fyringe, and a fmali one.

In the above lift I have recommended no em-
pirical compofitions. Creoles are but too fond
of quackery. If any fuch are fent, the Britifli

[ 96 ]

oil, James*s powder, and Turlington^s balfam,
feem to deferve the preference. (84)

(84) To this lift, the following articles fhould be added :

Gum Affafoetida. * Lignum QualTise, Bittcr-

* Guiacum. wood.

* Anacardium, or Ca- • Vitse, or Guia-

fhew.
Camphire.

* Aloes, Barbadocs.

Succotrinc.

Bark, Peruvian,

* Caribbsean, or Ja-
maica.

* Cabbage, or Worm-
bark.

cum.

Sarfaparilla in bundles.

Calomel

Red Precipitate.

Emetic Tartar.

Sugar of Lead.

Glauber Salts.

Nitre.

Salt of Tartar.

Thofe thus marked *, are produced in the fugar colo-
nies.

LINNiEAN INDEX.

Acajou,
Aloes,

Angola Peas,
Avocato Pear,
Balauftine,
Banana,

Barbadoes Pride,
Canella,
Canker Berry,
Cafhew Tree,
Caflada, bitter,

' Sweet,

Wild,

Caftor Bufli, 7

CaftorOil, 3

Cherry Tree, (Cafliew),

Chickweed, Well-India,

China-root,

Cow-itch,

Flower-fence,

French Phyfic-nut,

Green Pepper,

Guava,

Halbert Weed,

Lignum-vitse,

Logwood,

Anacardium Occickntale,
Aloe Perfoliata,
Cytifus Cajan.
Laurus Perfea, ' -
Punica Granatum,
Mufa Paradiftacd.
Poinciana PulcherAma,
Canella Aromatica.
Solarium Bahamenfe.
Anacardimn Occidentals.
Jatropha Manihot,

Janipha.

— GoJJypifolia.

Ricinus Americanus.

Anacardium Occidentale.
Hollojieum Cordatum.
Smilax China.
Dolichos Pruriens.
Poinciana Pulcherrima.
Jatropha 'Multifida.
Capficum Baccatum.
PJidium Pyriferum.
Hieracium.
Gujacum Officinate.
Hamatoxylum Campichenfe.

G

[ !

Mountain Cabbage-tree bark,

Niccars,

Ochra,

Phyfic-nut, Englifh,
■ French,
Plantane, Englifh,
Pomegranate,
Ring-worm Shrub,
Senega Rattlefnake Weed,
Sea-fide Grape,
Senfitive Cane-piece, *i

Mimofa, j"

Silk Cotton Tree,
Simarouba,
Spanifh Carnation,
Stinking Weed,
Thiftle-feed,
Velvet-root,
Vervain,
Wild Cedar,

Cinnamon,

Ipecacuan,

> Indigo,
» Liquorice,

« Poppy,

— Sage,

• Senna,

Worm-grafs,
Tellow-prickle wood,

! ]

Geoffraa InermU.
Guilandina Bonduc,
Hibtfcus Efculentus,
yatropha Curcas.

Multtfida,

Plantago Major.
Punka Granata.
Caffia Alata.
Polygala Senega.
Coccoloba Uv 'iferd.

CaJJla Chamacrtjla.

Bmnbax Ceiba.
^unjjta Simaruba.
Poinciana Piilclyerrime.
CaJJia Occident alls.
Argemone Mexicana,
Cijfampelos Pareira.
Verbena Jamaicenjts.
Bignonia Peniaphylla.
Canella Aromatica.
Afclepias Curnjfavica.
Indigofera Anil.
Abrus Precatorius.
Argemone Mexicana,
Lantana Odorata.
Cajfta Senna Italica.
Spigelia Anthelminthica,
Zanthoxyhwi Clava Hercules.

FINIS.

BOOKS

PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY

MUNDELL ^ SON, EDINBURGH,

AND

LONGMANS REES, LONDON.

I. AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY AND CURE
OF FEVER, Endemic and Contagious, more exprefsly
the Contagious Fever of Jails, Ships, Hofpitals, the Con-
centrated Endemic, vulgarly the Yellow Fever of the Weft-
Indies ; to vv^hich is added, an Explanation of the Prin-
ciples of Military Difcipline and Economy, with a Scheme
of Medical Arrangements for Armies, by Robert Jack-
fon, M. D. in one volume 8vo- — Price 7s. boards.

" Dr. Jackfon, it appears, has been engaged in the medical department
of the army ever fince the year 1774, and fpent a large portion of that
time in the Weft-Indies and in America. Fever, as the moft frequent
and moft fatal difeafe in thofe countries, employed the greater part of his
attention. He has been accuftomed, he fays, to take minutes of the
cafes he attended, and from time to time to corredt and arrange them.
In the year 1791, he publiflied the refult of his obfervations to that time.
This work having been well received by his brethren of the profeffion of
phyfic, he was thence induced to continue his labours, in order to make it
worthy of their acceptance.

" The author has fmce had opportunity of feeing and treating the con-
tagious fever, as it appeared in the Britilh army in England, Holland, and
Ireland, from the year 175)3 to the year 1796; and the yellow fever,
which committed fuch dreadful ravages among our ti'oops in the Ifland of
St. Domingo during the years 1796, 1797, and part of the year 1798;
and it will be found that his induftry has equalled his opportunities.

He has taken a large and comprehenfive view^ of his fubjedt, and,
introduftory to the parts we have noticed, has given the hiftqry of the
contagious and of the concentrated endemic, as they appeared in the
parts where he principally refided, with humane aud judicious obferva-

[ ICO ]

troo* °" °^ ^"^^^^ mortality attending them among our

r ■\ Jh^"^, m'^", *1 colledlion of cafes, feemingly impartially and

laithtully detailed, the author giving thofe in which he failed as w ell as
thofe m which he was fuccefsful. On the whole, we recommend this
work to the ferious periifal of medical men, particularly of thofe employ-
ed m the army and navy in the Weft-Indies or America."— i///////^ Critic
for January i^oo,

" The confcquences offerer are very accurately detailed, and the local
aftion of a febrile caufe, either as thrown on the inteftines producing
diarrhoea and dyfentery, or on the Ikin occafioning eruptions or ulcers
carefully examined. '

On the whole, we think this work truly original, and that it dif-
plays much ufeful information ; and we can recommend the author as a
man of ability, judgment, and oh{txsaXiov\."— Critical Rcvienv, December
iSoo.

" This work appears to be the refult of much careful obfervation, and
to merit the attention of prartitioners who are attached to the army.

" The accrtunt of difledtions of patients who died of the yellow fever
is valilable, becaufe it feems to be formed from numerous and accurate
obfervations.

" The fubjoined treatife on military difcipline, &c. contains ufeful ob-
fervations, and fliould be perufed by military men." — Monthly RevieiVf
November I'j^ci.

2. OBSERVATIONS on the ZOONOMIA of ERAS-
MUS DARWIN, M. D. by Thomas Brown, Efq. one
large vol. 8vo. — Price 8s. boards.

" Mr. Brown is the firft formidable antagonift whom the novelty of
Dr. Darwin's theories has provoked. He has entered on his inveltigation,
however, with all the refpedl due to the great talents and extenfive know-
ledge of the author whom he criticifes ; and whatever may have been
our partiality to the beautiful fabric which he attempts to overthrow, we
muft confider him as a champion worthy of being admitted to the en-
counter.

" To conclude, we think that this book is a very refpecflable fpecimen
of the author's talents and attainments. With much vigour and acute
nefs of mind, it exhibits a liberal and truly philofophical fpirit; and
though we have ventured in fome inftances to exprefs a difference of opi-
nion with Mr. Brown, we cannot take leave of his performance without
intimating our hope that we lhall have frefh occaiions hereafter of giving
our unbianed fuffrage to his abilities." — Monthly Review, June and July
I79p. -

3. ELEMENTS OF CHEMISTRY AND NATU-
RAL HISTORY ; to which is prefixed, the Philofophy
of Chemiftry, by A. F. Fourcroy, the fifth edition j with

Notes by John Thomfon Surgeon in Edinburgh, 3 vols.

royal 8vo. — Price il. lis. 6d. in boards.

" This Edition has a claim to our attention on account of the Notes which
Jiave been added by the Editor, and which we have indeed perufed with
much pleafure. Mr. Thomfon has not, like many Editors, contented him-
felf with giving the text of his author with only a few fiiperficial remarks;
on the contrary, he has added many copious and valuable Notes to each
chapter, the felediion and number of which difcover much judgment, and
confiderablc extent of cliemical reading. By thefe Notes, alio, this Edition
has in a great meafure been made to keep pace with the rapid progrefs of
Chemical Science fmce the publication of the original work. The Notes
on the Animal Kingdom, Part IV. are particularly inllrudlive and interefl-
ing; the fame may indeed be faid nearly of the whole : and we have no
doubt that this Edition will be found highly ufeful to chemical fbudents/*
Monthly Revinzu, Dec. iSoi.

4. ESSAYS ON THE DISEASES OF CHILDREN,

with Cafes and Difleclions. EfTay I. Of Cynanche Trache-
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perial Oclavo, illuflrated with finely coloured DiiTedions.
— Price 15 s. in boards.

In the courfe of the Seafon nvill be piihlijhedy

ESSAY II.
Which will comprehend thofe Diseases of the Intestines
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-, Vol. II. Partl. containing

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I

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7. ENGRAVINGS OF THE ARTERIES, illuftratW
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io. THE WORKS OF THE BRITISH POETS, with
Prefaces Biographical and Critical, by Robert Anderfon,
M. D. 13 vols, royal Bvo. — Price 9I. 155. fewed.

" From what we have already faid on the fubjeft of this Work, its ga-
ner'al character may eafily be inferred. It appears to us an ufeful and com-
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rinccd diligence and judgment in colletSiing and arranging his materials."
Mtntbly Revieiv, SeJ>t. 1 798.

** The Biographical and Critical Prefaces, as they are an original work»
require a more diftindt and particular examination. To the executioa of
this plan, Dr. Anderlbn feems to have brought powers well adapted to its
completion. He appears to poffefs an accurate acquaintance with our
poetry. His criticii'ms evince a mind capable of eftimating the genuine
beauties of the Mufe, and candour willing to give praife in return for the
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" We confider the prefent work as a valuable acquifition to Englifh li-
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jBriti/h Critic, Fib. 1 796.

" To edit a complete colledlion of the Poets of Great Britain, was an
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writers that the prefent colledion derives its great and ditlinguiflied value.
The admirers of Englifli literature are highly indebted to the publifliers
arid the editor of thefe volumes."— Cr;><Va/ i^fi'/ew, Jan. 1799.

I 103 ]

11. ANDERSON'S COLLECTION OF POETICAL
TRANSLATIONS from the Greek and Latin Poets, (be-
ing the 12th and 13 vols, of the above work) containing
thofe of Pope, Weft, Dryden, Pitt, Rowe, Hoole, Pye,
Cooke, Fawkcs, Creech, Grainger, &c. 2 vols, royal 8vo.
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12. THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, L.L.D.
with Critical Obfervations^on his Works, by Robert An-
derfon, M.D. one volume 8vo. Price 6s. boards.

" Thefe fafts and particulars are well feledled and arranged ; connect-
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which are congenial with thofc of the hero of the narrative. He has ad-
mirably emblazoned Johnfon's excellencies, without concealing his defedls :
And we may Afenture to fay, that thi« work, which we have examined with
much pleafure, is written with fl.rength, elegance, ^ood tailc, and found
judgment." — Monthly JReviezo, May I796.

" The narrative part is well digefled and neatly written, and may be
pronounced a very fair and accurate memoir. It perhaps contains a more
complete chronological enumeration of the Dodtor's writings than is to be
met with elfewhere. To the narrative Dr. Anderfon has added a general
critique on the character of the man and the merit of the author ; and this
part of the work has fufficient originality to claim the attention of the
Public. We think ourfelves juftified in adding, as further commendation
of the prefent publication, that Dr. Anderfoii appreciates the fubjecSl: of
this memoir with great impartiality ; and that his flyle pofTefles a degree
of accuracy, clofenefs, and Ilrength, not unworthy the Johnfonian School."
Analytical Revietu for January 1 796.

" Dr. Anderfon, in elegance of language, and acutenefs of critical and
philofophical judgment, has perhaps furpaflfed his predeceflbrs ; his narra-
tive is cleaf and regular, his ftyle manly, and his decifions ufually judici-
ous : It abounds with proofs of accurate perception and jufl difcrimina-
tion.

" Dr. Anderfon concludes the Life of Johnfon with characters of him
t&ken from other authors, but none of them in accuracy and merit furpaf-
ling his own," — Btitijh Critic, January 1 796.

13. ANDERSON'S EDITION OF SMOLLETT'S
MISCELLANEOUS WORKS ; containing the Life of
the Author, with Critical Obfervations on his Works —
Adventures of Roderick Random — The Adventures of Pe-
regrine Pickle — ^Plays and Poems— The Adventures of
Ferdinand Count Fathom — An Account of the Expedition
againft Carthagena — The Adventures of Sir Launcelot
Greaves — Travels through France aiid Italy — ^The Expedi-
don of Humphry Clinker — And the Adventures of an

I 2

[ IC4 ]

Atom, 6 vols. 8vo, printed on a wove paper, hot-nreiictl
nevi^ edition. — Price 2I. 14s. bound. '

14. PICTURES of POETRY, Hiftorical, Blographi-
f:al, and Critical, by Alexander Thomfon, Efq. Author of
Whift, and the Paradife of Taile, fmall 8 vo.— Price cs.
boards.

" Mr. Thomfon acquired confiderable fame by the publication of hi«i
Paradife of Tafte, which forms the inlrodudlion to a poetical plan of
confiderable extent, intending chiefly to comprehend " a view of the Pro-
■ grefs of polite literature, from the earlieft period to the prefent time and
t)f which this work forms about one fourth part. The ingenious author,
from this fpecimen, appears to poITefs rcfources adequate to the extent and'
importance of his fubjedl." — Monthly Mirror for Augujl 1799.

*' To accompliili with fuccefs a defign fuch as that which Mr. Thom-
fon has conceived, not only confiderable poetic talents are requifite. but a
fund of cli ffical learning, nice tafte, and a difcriminating judgment. We
tijtnk thai;, with fonie limitations, Mr. Thomlbn has manife.ted valid
^laims to thefe qualities ; and that, on the whole, this portion of his work
is executed with a degree of ability which entitles it to public patrocage.''
Monthly Re'vieiu, October 1800.

1 5. THE PLEASURES OF HOPE, with other Poems,
by Thomas Campbell, fmall 8vo. — Price 6s. boards.

" So uncommon ii degree of merit appears in the firfl; and principal of
thefe poems, that we cannot let it pals without particular notice. The
Pleafures of Hope are furely as good a fubject for a rifing poet as can
well be chofen. It is the very eflence of genius to form ideal fcenes of
future gratilication. This fubje<fl is treated by Mr. Campbell with much
genius, and in general with good judgment ; certainly with a very Angu-
lar fplendour and felicity of veriification." — Briiijh Critic, July 1799.

16. POEMS, by Ann Bannerman, fmall 8vo.— Price 55.
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'* We are always pleafed when we have an opportunity of placing be-
fore our readers fpecimens of poetical performances of merit. The prefent
publication will be found entitled to the higheft commendation for vi-
gour, elegance, and harmony." — Britijh Critic, Avgi/Jl iSoo.

17. THE WORKS OF DON FRANCISCO QUEVE-
DO, tranflated from the Spanifli, containing, a New Life
of the Author — his Seven Vifions — Curious Hiftory of the
Night Adventurer — the Life of Paul the Spanifli Sharper
' — Fortune in her Wits — Proclamation by Old Father Time
— A Treatife of all Things whatfoever, paft, prefent, and

[ ]

to come— and Letters on Several Occafions ; 3 vols, royal
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18. PLUTARCH'S LIVES, tranflated from the Origi-
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19. MANDEVILLE'S FABLE OF THE BEES, or
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20. THE YOUNG MISSES MAGAZINE, containing
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-^vay to mend them, as well as to think, artd fpeak, and zOi
properly 5 no lefs care being taken to form their hearts to
goodnefs, than to enlighten their underftanding with ufeful
knowledge. — A fhort and clear Abridgment is alfo given
of Sacred and Profane Hiftory, and fome LelTons in Geo-
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21. LETTERS WRITTEN BY A TURKISH SPY,
who lived five-and-forty years undifcovered at Paris ; giv-
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the moft Remarkable Tranfa61:ions of Europe, and difco-
vering feveral Intrigues and Secrets of the Chriftian Courts
(cfpecially of that of France) from the year 1637 to the

t io6 ]

■year x682, a new edition, 8 vols. i2mo. Price il. 8s.
bound.

22. C. CORNELII TACITI OPERA, recognovit, e-
mendavit, fupplementis explevit, Notis, Diflertationibus,
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4to, 5I. I OS. boards.

23. Idem Liber, 4 torn, royal 8vo, 3I. 3s. boards.

In this Edition are included the Notes added by Brotier to the Paris
lamo edition, incorporated with thofe he had formerly publiflied
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24. Q^HORATII FLACCI OPERA, cum Scholiis ve-
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Varias Le£tiones et Obfervationes addidit Jo. Matthias Gef-
nerus. Quibus et fuas adfperfit Jo. Carolus Zeunius, Prof.
Gr. Litt. Viteberg. Editio nova, priore emendatior, 4to,
il. 4s. boards.

25. Idem Liber, royal 8vo, 12s. boards.

speedily icill be puhlijhcd^
THE

POETICAL WORKS

O F

JAMES GRAINGER, M.D.

WITH

MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS,

BY

ROBERT ANDERSON, M. D.

This edition of the Poetical Works of Dr. Grainger, contains the SugTur
Cane, a Poem in Four Books, with Notes, reprinted from the 4to edi-
tion 1764; with an Index of the Linnean names of Plants, Stc. ; Ly-
ric Poems, Love Elegies, and Mifcellaneous Pieces, now firft colletfled;
and Tranllations from Ovid's Heroic Epiftles; and a Fragment of the
Fate of Capua, a Tragedy; now firft printed from the Author's MSS.

ALSO,

Speedily ivill be publijhedy in one Volume, fmall Sw,

VERSES,

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC,

BT

GEORGE HAT DRUMMOND, A.M,

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