The following Account of the Ages of different Persons who died in Connecticut, between the years 1771 and 1777, and from 1777 to 1782, when compared with those of other States and Countries, will serve to shew the advantages which its Inhabitants enjoy in point of health and longevity over most others.

OTHER calculations of a similar kind, made in different parts of the state from the bills of mortality, confirm the justness of the [Page 13] above proportion.— See the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for more accurate bills of mortality, communi­cated by professor Wigglesworth, &c.

The following is an Account of the DEATHS which happened at Salem, (situate 15 miles north east of Boston, and which contains about 6000 Inhabitants), from January 1st, 1790, to Januaay 1st, 1791.

OF which 106 were males, 90 females—11 negroes and 3 Indians are included.

[Page 36] ABOUT 1 in 70 dies annually in New-Ha­ven.

THE Small-Pox, by the vigilant execu­tion of the laws subsisting in the several New-England states, has never prevailed ge­nerally among the inhabitants, except in Boston, where it was epidemical, A. D. 1649, 1666, 1678, 1689, 1702, 1721, 1730, 1752, and in 1764, and where the success attending inoculation, though at that time in its infant and imperfect state, became in­contestibly evident.

IN New-York, Pennsylvania, &c. the like precautions have not been taken, and the Small-Pox has been often epidemic there, especially in their capital towns—and inocu­lation has been practised with almost incre­dible success, whenever the cold and abste­mious regimen has been observed, notwith­standing the too liberal and injudicious use of mercury. Since the practice of giving mercury has been growing into disrepute, and another more simple, consisting princi­pally of mild laxatives, vegetable diet, and [Page 37] exposure to a colder temperature than usual during the eruptive Fever, there is scarce an instance of one in a thousand dying of this disease.

^* A. D. 1721, the number of individuals in Boston was 10,567, at which time the disease was very common. The number of those who died of it was 844, which was, according to Mr. Gales calculation in his Historical Memoirs, about one in seven. At this time only 286 were inoculated in and about Boston, whereof 6 died, i.e. 1 in 48. This was the first introduction of ino­culation into America. It was introduced into London about the same time by Lady W. Montague in the reign of George the [...]st.

[Page 38] A. D. 1730—Of 4000, which had the disease in the natural way, about 500 died, i.e. in the proportion of 125 to every thou­sand. Of nearly 400 inoculated, 12 died, or about 1 of 33.

A.D. 1752, there was an exact account taken, by order of the magistrates of the town of Boston, and rendered upon oath, (in order to remove the prejudices and objections made against inoculation) of all who had the small pox, either in the natural way, or by inocula­tion, and of the precise number of those who died of it in either way: By this account it appears that the number of those who had the disease in the natural way, including blacks, amounted to 5544; of which num­ber there died, including blacks, 574—The whole number inoculated, including blacks, was 2113, of which 30 died. At this time all present had the Small-Pox, except about 174; the total of residenters at that time (including 1544 negroes) was 9710. Those who fled to escape the Small-Pox were esti­mated at 1800.

IN 1764, of 3000 inoculated patients, on­ly [Page 39] 5 died, and these were children under five years of age.

THREE hospitals were afterwards erected in different parts of Massachusetts, for the purpose of receiving patients desirous of be­ing inoculated, and regulated in such man­ner, as to prevent the infection from spread­ing, or being communicated to any of the rest of the inhabitants, as was expected; but through some trespass of the rules, and the refractory disposition of some of the patients, the whole utility of the institution was frus­trated: Whereupon the law permitting ino­culation was repealed, and another passed prohibiting it under severe penalties. Since that time, any person who has the mis­fortune to enter that state with the dis­ease, or any of the infection adhering to his apparel or goods, and any one is thereby in­fected with the disease, he is liable to pay to the party so infected treble damages and costs of suit.

THUS the practice of inoculation for the Small-Pox stands wholly interdicted within [Page 40] the New-England states, and the inhabitants are deprived, through a mistaken policy, of rendering one of the most formidable and loathsome diseases mild and harmless.

Of the CLIMATE of NEW-YORK
The following is an Abstract of Dr. Mitchell's Remarks respecting the Climate of New­York.

MR. Kalm remarks, that at "Albany the wind blows commonly from the south in Summer, and brings a great drought along with it. Sometimes it rains a little, after which the wind veers to N. W. blowing for several days from that point, and then re­turning to the south." See Kalm's Travels, Vol. II. page 243.

THE same gentleman informs us, that the cold is generally very severe on the river Hud­son; at Albany, in the middle of winter, the ice is sometimes three or four feet thick. "On the 3d of April, 1749, some of the inha­bitants [Page 52] crossed the river with six pair of horses. The ice commonly dissolves here about the latter end of March or beginning of April. The water at this time, some years, rises three fathom higher than it commonly is in sum­mer. The inhabitants make no use of stoves, and their chimneys are so wide as to admit a cart and horses to be driven through them.

"THE water of the wells (continues Mr. Kalm) in this town was very cool, when I was there in June 1749, but had a kind of acid taste, which was not very agreeable. It also contained a number of little insects which were probably Monoculi: These in­sects were from one and an half geometrical line to four in length."

MR. Kalm thinks this water not whole­some, but the inhabitants who drink it every day, do not feel the least inconvenience from it. Albany is about 146 miles from New­York.

The following Information respecting the Dis­eases, depending on Climate and situation was communicated to the Author by Dr. John Jones of Philadelphia, formerly Professor of Surge­ry, &c. at King's College, New-York— ^* at present Vice-President of the College of Phy­sicians of Philadelphia.

HE has also sometimes observed Intermit­ting and Remitting Fevers to be very gene­ral after the autumnal equinox, when the season has been rainy; though there are [Page 55] no sources of Marsh Miasmata; neither marshy grounds, nor ponds of standing water within its vicinity. About a mile above the city there is one pond, from whence the city is supplied with fresh water; but it is always pure.

An ACCOUNT of the Quality of the WATER at PHILADELPHIA.

THE greatest part of the pump-water of Philadelphia, which is the only kind that is drank or made use of for tea-water, or culinary purposes by the inhabitants, is im­pregnated with selenite, or a combination of mineral acid with calcareous earth.

WHEN this water boils, a whitish powder is separated from it, which forms a crust on all the vessels in which it is frequently boil­ed.

THIS water is called hard, because it does not mix uniformly with soap, but curdles or runs into flakes.

A SMALL quantity of the sal. tartari, or clean dry pot-ash, added to this water pre­cipitates the selenite contained in it. Ten or fifteen grains are commonly sufficient to pre­cipitate what is contained in a pint. The exact proportion may always be found by ad­ding [Page 68] a few grains from time to time till it ceases to occasion white clouds.

THIS water is very disagreeable to the pa­lates of most people who reside at a distance from the city, and is sometimes offensive to their stomachs and bowels. But custom has rendered it both agreeable and wholesome to the inhabitants; so that they have not a wish for any other.

IT is a common opinion that water im­pregnated with calcareous earth, or any sto­ny matter, subjects those who make constant use of it to the Stone or Gravel. But what­ever other mischief these waters may have to answer for, they are innocent of this. For very few, comparatively, of the inhabitants of this city are troubled with that disease. Besides, there are numerous circumstances recorded which prove, that calculous con­cretions in the kidneys and bladder are all of an animal origin, intirely different from every species of fossil stone in every thing except the name.

[Page 69] THERE are several medicinal springs in Pennsylvania impregnated with iron, but none with aerial acid, or fixed air, as yet known.

THOSE most noted are, one called Harrow­gate, four miles from Philadelphia—one at Bristol, on the river Delaware, twenty miles above the city—one in Chester county, cal­led the Yellow Spring, about thirty-two miles from the city.

BRISTOL and the Yellow Spring are much neglected for want of suitable accom­modations; but Harrowgate, where the en­tertainment and accommodations are toler­able, is much frequented, though it is by no means so strong a Chalybeate as either of the others.

THAT the yellow Spring, in Chester coun­ty, is strongly impregnated with iron, is rendered certain by the following circum­stances: The conduits, or canals, through which the water passes, are lined with a yel­low scum like ochre, as well as the basons [Page 70] and reservoirs into which it is received. This yellow matter, collected, washed, dried, and thoroughly roasted over a strong fire, is capable of being attracted by the magnet; and, when sublimed with sal ammoniac into flowers, and afterwards dissolved in spirits of wine, affords a bright and styptic tincture of iron. Other concurring remarks of their chalybeate nature, are likewise afforded by the purple colour they make when mixed with a strong infusion of green tea, and of a blacker colour with powder of galls, and the iron mould they occasion upon linen—The same dried scum, being digested in volatile alkaline spirits, will occasion a blue colour when mixed with common water. These waters also impart an astringent or styptic taste to the tongue—these are all certain cha­racteristics of a fine irony rust, or the real and material existence of iron in these waters.

FROM the sensible quality of these waters they appear to be perfectly neutralized, for they have not the least taste of acidity.

CHEMICAL experiments prove that no [Page 71] metals are soluble, or can possibly enter the composition of water, unless the metal be first dissolved or converted into a salt, or vitriol.

OF all the metals there is none that dis­solves so readily, in all kinds of acids, as iron. Thus pure water itself, on account of the fixed air, or aerial acid, which enters its composition, soon dissolves, and forms a uni­on with this metal. A piece of red hot iron, quenched in water, communicates an astrin­gency to it; and it is a familiar observation, that the moisture of the air, rain, &c. corrodes iron, turns it into rust, and impregnates itself therewith. In the same manner all springs which wash the beds of iron ore, or pass through red clay grounds, become impregna­ted with iron ^*.

Of the CLIMATE of PENNSYLVANIA.
The following Account of the Climate of Penn­sylvania, is extracted principally from the Observations of Dr. Rush.

THE river Delaware was frozen over near three months during the Winter of 1780: The thickness of the ice in the river, near the city of Philadelphia, was from 16 to 19 inches, and the depth of the frost in the ground was from four to five feet, according to the exposure of the ground and the qua­lity of the soil.

IN the month of January, the mercury stood for several hours at 5 degrees below 0, in [...]enheit's thermometer, and during the whole of this month it never rose, except one day in the city of Philadelphia, to the freez­ing point.

"THE cold of the Winter of 1783—4 was as intense, but not so steady as that of 1780—A thaw took place in January, this [Page 73] year, which rendered the Delaware naviga­ble for a few days.

THE Summer which succeeded the Win­ter of 1780, was uniformly warm. The mercury in the thermometer, during this Summer, stood on one day, the 15th of Au­gust, at 95°, and fluctuated between 93 and 80° for many weeks. The thermometer stood in the shade in the open air.

THERE are seldom more than 20 or 30 days in Summer or Winter, in Pennsylva­nia, in which the mercury rises above 80° in the former, or falls below 30° in the lat­ter season.

THE warmest part of the day, in Summer, is at 2 o'clock in ordinary, and at 3 in the afternoon in extremely warm weather.—From these hours the heat gradually dimi­nishes till the ensuing morning.—The cool­est part of the 24 hours is at the break of day.

THERE are seldom more than three or [Page 74] four nights in a Summer, in which the heat of the air is nearly the same as in the preceding day.—After the warmest days, the evenings are generally agreeable, and of­ten delightful.—The higher the Mercury rises in the day time, the lower it falls the succeeding night. When the Mercury is at 80° it generally falls to 68° while it descends when at 60° only to 56°. This disproportion between the temperature of the day and night in Summer, is always greatest in the month of August. The dews at this time are heavy in proportion to the coolness of the evening: They are some­times so considerable as to wet the clothes; and there are instances, in which marsh-mea­dows, and even creeks, which have been dry during the Summer, have been supplied with their usual waters, from no other source than the dews which have fallen in this month, or in the first weeks of September. There is another circumstance connected with the one just mentioned, which contributes very much to mitigate the heat of Summer; and that is, it seldom continues more than two or three days very great without being succeeded by showers of [Page 75] rain, accompanied sometimes by thunder and lightning, and succeeded by a north west wind, which produces a coolness in the air, that is highly invigorating and agreea­ble.

THE warmest weather is generally in the month of July, but intensely warm days are often felt in May, June, August, and Sep­tember, (particularly in the two last menti­oned months.)

THE transitions from heat to cold are often very sudden, and sometimes to very distant degrees. After a day in which the mercury has stood at 86° and even 90°, it has sometimes fallen, in the course of a single night, to the 65th and often to the 60th degree. In a Sum­mer month, in the year 1775, the mercury was observed to fall 20° in an hour and an half. The weather is equally variable during the greatest part of the Winter ^*. The mercury [Page 76] fell from 37 to 4½° below 0, in 24 hours, between the 4th and 5th of February, 1788.

THE rivers Delaware, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna, have been frozen so as to bear horses and carriages of all kinds; and thawed, to be passable in boats, two or three times in the course of the same Winter.

DEWS begin to fall very copiously in August.

THE time in which frost and ice begin to shew themselves in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, is generally about the latter end of October, or beginning of November; but the intense cold seldom sets-in before the 20th or 25th of December. The coldest weather is commonly in January. A cold day in Winter is often succeeded by a mode­rate evening.

[Page 77] THE greatest degree of cold which has been observed at Philadelphia, within the last 20 years, is 5° below 0; and the greatest degree of heat upon record, in the same place is 95°.

THE standard temperature of the air is 52½, which is the temperature of our deep­est wells; as also the mean heat of the com­mon spring water.

THE Spring in Pennsylvania, is generally less pleasant than in many other countries. In March, the weather is stormy, variable, and cold. In April, and sometimes in the beginning of May, it is moist, and accompa­nied by a degree of cold, which has been cal­led rawness, and which, from its disagree­able effects upon the temper, may be called the Sirocco of this country.

THE month of May, in 1786, will long be remembered, for having furnished a very uncommon instance of the absence of the Sun for 14 days, and of constant damp or rainy weather.

[Page 78] THE month of June ^* is the only month in the year which resembles a Spring month in the southern countries of Europe. The wea­ther is then generally temperate, the sky is serene, and the verdure of the country is uni­versal and delightful.

THE Autumn is the most agreeable season of the year in Pennsylvania. The cool eve­nings and mornings, which generally begin about the first week in September, are suc­ceeded by a moderate temperature of the air during the day. This weather continues with a gradual and almost imperceptible in­crease of cold, till after the middle of Octo­ber: After which more rain falls, and cold­ness succeeds. The indians predict the cold of Winter from the quantity of rain which falls during the Autumn ^†."

IN Winter the winds generally come from [Page 79] the north west in fair, and from the north east in wet weather. The former are un­commonly dry as well as cold, the latter are insufferably cold and moist.

THE winds in fair weather in the Spring, and in warm weather in the Summer, gene­rally blow from the south west, and from west north west. The south west winds fre­quently bring with them refreshing showers, and moderate the heat of the weather, par­ticularly when succeeded by a north west wind.

THE dissolution of the ice and snow in the Spring, is sometimes so sudden as to swell the creeks and rivers in every part of the state, to overwhelm large tracts of land in their vi­cinity, and destroy the crops of the disap­pointed farmer and grazier. The wind at these times commonly comes from the south west.

^* IT is a prevailing opinion, that the ex­tremes [Page 80] of heat, moisture, and cold, are an­nually diminishing in this state, by the clear­ing of woods, draining of swamps, and o­ther arts of cultivation.

NOTWITHSTANDING what has been said in favour of the prospect of a change of cli­mate for the better in the United States, it must not be concealed, that it has been con­fidently asserted by gentlemen of extensive geographical knowledge, that no such change has taken place in the climate of China, the capital of which, Pekin, is situated in lati­tude 39° 54, which is nearly the same de­gree of latitude, and on the same parallel with Philadelphia, though almost the whole extent of country north of it is cleared, and in a state of the most perfect cultivation.—The greatest cold experienced there in the [Page 90] course of five years, was 5° below 0, the greatest heat was 98°; but in July, 1773, the Mercury rose there to 108 and 110.— Vid. the quotation in Dr. Rushe's account of the climate of Pennsylvania; and Kirwan's Estimate of the temperature of different Latitudes.

WE have incontestable proofs that heat does not altogether depend upon proximity to the equator, but varies at inconsiderable distances, chiefly according to the elevation of the ground, and the current of the winds, as also from the nature of the soil.

UPON these, the temperature of the cli­mate, the colour, strength and activity, the constitutions and health, of the inhabitants greatly depend. And it is a fact, which ought to be known to every body, that in countries the most noted for sickness and mortality, and in the hottest climates, those who have it in their power to select elevated situations, where the soil is gravelly and dry, may enjoy good health, provided they lead temperate and regular lives, during every [Page 91] season of the year.— See Linds' Essay on Hot Climates.

ACCORDING to the observations of Mr. Reinhold Foster, it is not only the clearing of woods, but cultivation and population, that alter the climate of a country, and make it mild and temperate. "The Romans look­ed upon the winters of Germany and Eng­land as very severe; but happily both coun­tries have at present a much more mild cli­mate than formerly, owing to the three cir­cumstances above-mentioned.

"NEAR Petersburgh, under 60° N. L. the river Neva, was covered with ice in 1765, in the beginning of December, and cleared of it April 11th, 1766. At Tsaritsin, which is under 48° 40. N. L. the river Volga was covered with ice the 26th of November, 1765, and the ice broke in the river, April 27th, 1766 (all old stile). Is it not almost incredible, that in a place almost 12 de­grees nearer to the south, the effects of cold should be felt longer and more severely than [Page 92] in the more northern climate? And though the neighbourhood of Petersburgh has a great many woods, the cold was, however, less severe and lasting: Tsaritsin, on the con­trary, has no woods for many hundred miles in its neighbourhood, if we except some few trees and bushes along the Volga and its isles, and the low land along it; wherever the eye looks to the east, there are vast plains without woods, for many hundred miles.

THE clearing a country of woods cannot, therefore, alone contribute so much to make the climate milder, but cultivation does more. In an hundred square miles near Tsaritsin, there is not so much cultivated land as there is within ten miles of Petersburgh; it is in proportion to the number of the inhabitants of both places, and this makes the chief dif­ference of the climate. There is still another consideration; Petersburgh lies near the sea, and Tsaritsin in an inland country, and, ge­nerally speaking, countries near the sea have been observed to enjoy a milder climate. These few remarks will be, I believe, suf­ficient [Page 93] to enable every body to judge of the changes of the climate in various countries, which, no doubt, grow warmer and more temperate as cultivation and population in­crease.

MR. Kalm (in Vol. II. p. 249) says, the corn near Quebec, in Canada, formerly was never ripe till the 15th or 16th of Septem­ber; but that for some years previous to the year 1749, the harvest began in the last week of August (old stile).—The inhabitants also informed him, that formerly the corn never ripened; but since the woods have been suf­ficiently cleared, the beams of the sun have had more room to operate, and it ripens perfectly.

"SOME parts of Italy bear melancholy proofs of the alterations that accidental causes make on the atmosphere; for the Campagna di Roma, where the ancient Romans enjoyed as salubrious air as is to be found on any part of the globe, is now almost pestilential, through the decrease of inhabitants, which has occasioned a stagnation of waters and putrid exhalations."

Of the DISEASES of PENNSYLVANIA.

DAILY observations convince us, that the diseases which occur in this state, are not very numerous or complicated, except in the city, where the greatest part of the in­habitants are employed in sedentary occu­pations.

THE diseases which occur in the country are generally of an inflammatory nature, and are most frequent the latter end of Autumn, and in the early part of Spring; these are often occasioned by unavoidable or imprudent ex­posure to cold and rainy weather, and by the neglect of changing wet and damp clothes for dry and warm ones; but more commonly by the neglect of putting on a Winter dress as soon as frosty weather begins in Autumn, and by the imprudent practice of changing warm and thick cloathing for a thinner and cooler dress too early in the spring: Even in the low and marshy situations, the richer inhabi­tants, who have dry apartments, and who [Page 95] live on substantial diet during the autumnal season, when Intermitting and Remitting Fe­vers are epidemic, are much less liable to be affected by the poisonous effluvia of the pu­trid soil than the poorer class, who are more exposed, and obliged to live abstemiously, and to go thinly clad. The poorer class of people, who reside in the towns and large vil­lages (though labouring under all the disad­vantages of indigence) where the impurities with which the atmosphere is charged, in consequence of the action of heat upon a moist soil, and the extrication of fixed air from decaying and putrid vegetables, is cor­rected by numerous fires, and ventilation is favoured by the arrangement of the houses into streets, are less subject to the disorders in question, than those who live in detached houses, or in the suburbs, where that advan­tage is wanting.

THE great and sudden changes which so frequently happen in the state of the weather, both in Summer and Winter, may be con­sidered as the principal causes of the diseases [Page 96] of this state.—For it appears from Kirwan's Estimate of Climates, that there is no coun­try in the known world, so subject to sudden and violent changes of weather as this.

The following is a Catalogue of all the Diseases, depending on climate and situation, which oc­cur at different seasons of the year, in this state, viz.

• Phrenitis, or inflammation of the brain;
• Opthalmia, or inflammation of the eye;
• Erysipelas, or inflammation of the skin;
• Odontalgia, or tooth ach;
• Rheumatism, or inflammatory affection of the muscles and joints;
• Catarrh, or taking cold;
• Cynanche Tonsillaris, or inflammatory quinsy;
• Cynanche Trachealis, or suffocating catarrh;
• Pleurisy, or inflammation of the pleura;
• Peripneumony, or inflammation of the lungs;
• Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver;
• [Page 97] Splenitis, Nephritis, Cystitis, Hysteritis, & c.
• Gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach,
• Enteritis, or inflammation of the intestines.

• Colic, Diarrhoea, and Cholera.

• Intermitting Fever, Remitting Fever, and the Dysentery.

INFLAMMATORY diseases, however, are not confined to Winter or Spring, but fre­quently occur at all seasons, especially to per­sons accustomed to daily exercise, in every kind of weather, and to free indulgence in animal food and spiritous drink.

THE Epilepsy, the Apoplexy, and the Palsy, occur more frequently the latter end of Autumn, and beginning of Winter, than at any other season. The Gout, occurs, more [Page 98] frequently in the Spring and Autumn, than at any other season; but there are very few people troubled with it at all here. Hemor­rhages, are more frequent the latter end of Spring and beginning of Summer than any other time.

THE greatest number of the cases of Phthisis, Pulmonalis, which have come un­der my observation, have been preceded by Hemoptysis.

ALL the cases of Tetanus that I have hi­therto seen, except one, were occasioned by laceration, or puncture of tendinous or mus­cular parts. The only case which ever came under my care, that was not occasioned by external injury, was occasioned by exposure to a N. E. wind, accompanied with rain, when the person was debilitated, in conse­quence of confinement, and the free use of Mercury.—This patient was a pilot by oc­cupation, in the 32d year of his age, and had been much addicted to free and irregular liv­ing.—He was entirely deprived of the power [Page 99] of swallowing by the disease; but was reliev­ed in about 30 hours, in consequence of be­ing put into a semi-cupium of water as warm as could be borne without injury by a person in health, and by emollient oily Glisters, con­taining 60 drops of Laudanum, repeated every six hours.

AS soon as he recovered the power of swallowing, he took a bolus of opium, gr. ij. Tart. Emet. gr. ¼ every six hours, with Snake-root tea, for two or three days; after which he gradually recovered without any other medicine.

CONTAGIOUS diseases occur at all sea­sons, particularly the Small Pox, Measles, Scarlatina-Anginosa, Cynanche-Ulcerosa, or Putrid Quinsy, Typhus, Hooping Cough Mumps, &c.

OF late years the Small Pox has never been entirely extinct in the city of Philadel­phia: The Measles has been less constant: The Scarlatina has been epidemic here in the [Page 100] Autumn and Winter, for some years past; but at present, it is only Sporadic, viz. in October, 1791.

SOME one or more contagious disease, be­ing always more or less prevalent in the city, is one reason why a greater proportion of children die annually in the city than in the country.

THE Influenza, or contagious Catarrh, has been epidemic in America three differ­ent times. The first time of its appearance that I can find recorded, was in the Autumn of 1733; previous to which it had spread over every country in Europe, beginning in the North of Germany. From Europe it ap­pears to have been imported into America. It was again observed, and recorded particu­larly by Dr. Thomas Bond, in 1761. At that time its progress was traced from the West India islands to Halifax in Nova-Sco­tia, where it appeared in the Spring; from thence it reached Boston, and the neighbour­ing states, and afterwards spread in a most [Page 101] rapid manner over the whole continent of North America, without being retarded in its progress by any alteration in the sensible qualities of the atmosphere or the course of the winds, till the month of July, after which it was no more heard of.

THIS disease made its appearance a third time in America, in 1789. It was first obser­ved at New-York, in September, from whence it spread, in the course of six or eight weeks, over every part of the union, and pas­sed to several of the West-India Islands; but whether it proceeded to the Spanish settle­ments in South America, or whether the Aborigines of North America were affected by it, I have not been able to learn. Per­sons of all ages and descriptions were affected by it in Philadelphia; and its contagious ef­fects were so uncommonly rapid, that many supposed its cause was blended with, or sus­pended in the atmosphere, and conveyed by the winds; but the analogy of every other species of contagion contradicts this suppo­sition. Its continuance in Philadelphia was [Page 102] about six weeks: how it was generated, or from whence it was derived, I have not been able to inform myself. The origin of this disease appears to be as obscure as that of the Small Pox or Measles. The first account of its appearance in Europe, upon record, was in the year 1557, at which time its progress was traced from Asia to Constantinople, &c. The symptoms in general resembled the com­mon Catarrh from taking cold; but it differed from it materially in being attended, in most cases, with a considerable prostration of strength, and impaired vigour in all the func­tions of the body.

I WAS always guided in my practice by the symptoms present, and do not recollect a case that did not do well: The symptoms were so mild with multitudes, that they re­quired no medicinal aid. In general, mild Antimonials, and the Antiphlogistic Regi­men, were found serviceable; and when the inflammatory symptoms subsided, Opium afforded relief to the Cough.

[Page 103] SEVERAL were benefited by bleeding; but in general the patients recovered sooner when it was omitted, except when Pneumonic symptoms; such as acute pain, and full or hard pulse indicated it ^*.

[Page 104] THE Hydrophobia is so rare an occurence here that I have never seen a case of it. Dr. Rush and Dr. Percival have, in my opinion, thrown more light on the nature of this dis­ease than any other writers.

THE accounts which have been published respecting the fascinating power of Snakes in this country, have originated in ignorance and credulity, and are entirely groundless; as well as those tales which are often told of their breeding in the livers of Dogs which have been bitten by them.

THE experiments of the industrious and ingenious Fontana, of Tuscany, furnish am­ple proof, that the bite of the Viper is sel­dom [Page 105] fatal to men, or the larger class of ani­mals, though it instantly kills small ones: hence a presumption arises, that the remedies employed by the Indians owe their credit to ignorance of this circumstance. According to the last quoted writer, the immediate ap­plication of Lunar Caustic, to a part bitten by a Snake, prevents it from having any ill effect: This produces an eschar, and a con­siderable wound, which is afterwards to be dressed with common Cerate.

FEWER diseases prevail in Autumn, when the ground is frequently refreshed by show­ers, and the ponds are replenished with wa­ter, than in dry ones. This circumstance is thus explained by Dr. Rush ^* "While the creeks and rivers are confined within steady [Page 106] bounds, there is little or no exhalation of fe­brile miasmata from their shores." "The dry Summers of 1780, 1781 and 1782, by reducing the rivers and creeks, far below their ancient marks, while the wet Spring of 1784 and 1785, by swelling them beyond their na­tural heights, have when they have fallen, left a large and extensive surface of moist ground, exposed to the action of the sun, and of course to the generation and exhalation of febrile miasmata."

As tables of Meteorological Observations will be annexed, which will shew the varia­bleness and vicissitudes to which the weather is liable in this climate, I shall add nothing farther on the subject here; but shall now proceed to give an account of the diseases to [Page 107] which the inhabitants of Philadelphia are more particularly liable.

THE diseases to which the opulent and fashionable class of the men; are most sub­ject are these, viz. Apoplexy, Palsey, Epi­lepsy, Dyspepsia, Jaundice, Gout, Asthma, Hypochondria, Dropsy, &c.

THE ladies are most subject to the follow­ing, viz. Head-ach, accompanied with sick­ness at stomach, Spasmodic, Asthma, Hys­teria, Dyspepsia, Hypochondria, Catarrh, Hemoptysis, Phthisis Pulmonalis, Colic, Menorrhagia, Abortion, Sterility, Melancho­lia, Chronic weaknesses, &c.

DAILY observation teaches us, that the generality of the diseases just mentioned, to which men of fashion and opulence are most subject, proceed from excessive indulgence in the pleasures of the table, and in drinking wine and other liquors to excess, joined to the want of proper exercise—dosing away the salutary hours of the morning in bed; re­spiring [Page 108] the confined air of a chamber; and to discontent of mind for want of some in­teresting pursuit.

By the joint effects of intemperance and indolence, the digestion sooner or later never fails of being impaired. And as on the due performance of digestion, much of our health, ease, and prospect of longevity de­pends, we ought most studiously to avoid every thing that has a probable chance of in­terrupting it.

THE quality of Aliment most wholesome, may generally be determined by the experi­ence of each individual: The principal in­convenience arises from quantity.

THE judicious Dr. Fothergill observes, that "the Author of Nature, has so form­ed and constructed the organs of digestion, that we can gradually accommodate our­selves to every species of Aliment. A great part of the eastern world, subsists principally upon rice and other vegetables: many coun­tries [Page 109] live almost solely on fish; others on a mixed diet of animal and vegetable sub­stances, without suffering injury."

No kind of food hurts us, if gradually ac­customed to it; but this is not the case in re­gard to quantity. From errors in this, in a great measure, proceed the formidable proge­ny which have already been enumerated.

"IN a weak stomach, a large proportion of bread is indigestible; it turns four, produces Heart-burn, Flatulencies, Spasmodic pains, &c. Valetudinarians should therefore always use it with moderation."

IN Philadelphia animal food, of one kind or other, constitutes the chief part of our nourishment.

THAT there are some kinds of more easy, some of harder digestion than others, is well known to every body. The most difficult of these, will be digested without occasioning much disturbance, if taken in small quanti­ties; [Page 110] but if a person eats as much of ham, salted beef or bacon, as he ought to do of fresh fish or chicken, he may, and generally will, suffer by it.

AFTER a plentiful dinner of animal food, it is now the custom here, to introduce deserts of rich Sweet-Meats, Custards, Jellies, and Fruits, and of various kinds; all of which at such time is unnatural and improper, because of the extraordinary stimulus such a load of heterogeneous substances must give to the fi­bres of the stomach, both in a mechanical and chemical sense. "By these means fresh labour is added to a tired digestion." The rule where fashion cannot altogether be dis­pensed with, is carefully to observe, that the sum of all together, does not exceed due bounds, or encroach upon the first feelings of satiety.

WITH respect to strong liquors, the less in quantity, when in good health, the more consistent with the preservation of health and long life. The safest and most natural [Page 111] practice is to drink as much wine and water, or any other agreeable fermented liquor, dur­the repast, as thirst or inclination may re­quire, and then to dismiss the bottle entire­ly; after which a dish of strong coffee may be introduced with propriety.

"THE sick Head-ach, as it is called, is generally the consequence of an indigested meal, frequently of a heavy supper; and for the cure, requires the occasional use of mild Pukes, laxatives of Rubarb with Columbo­root, and a strict attention to regimen and daily exercise in the open air in seasonable weather."

THE diseases to which the women of fa­shion are most subject, in general, proceed from the opposite extreme: From too great abstemiousness in meats of a nutritive quali­ty; from wine, but especially from the want of exercise, while they indulge too much in regaling themselves with strong infusions of palatable, but noxious, Tea.

[Page 112] A CONSIDERABLE number of their com­plaints also, proceed from the frequent changes of dress, and the alternate vicissi­tudes from heat to cold, to which fashion, and the love of pleasure, expose them. There are instances of young ladies in this city, who, for the sake of an elegant and admired shape, apply a leather bandage, dipt in wa­ter, round their waists every night when go­ing to bed, which contracts as it becomes dry. The pernicious effects of this experi­ment must be evident to every person of common sense. They are also often injured by confined air.

"THE plant in the green house, the Sheep in the cot, and the most admired Beauty be­neath her gilded roof," are equally injured by confined air.

FROM the best information which I have been able to obtain, more than one-fifth of all the children born in this city, die under two years of age—A considerable portion of these, fall victims to the contagious diseases [Page 113] which never cease to prevail; but the greatest part die of Cholera, Diarrhaea, and Remitting Fever."

MECHANICS who follow sedentary occu­pations, are particularly subject to Dyspep­sia, Colic, Costiveness, Haemorrhoids, Hy­pochondria, OEdema, Pain in the Thorax, Phthisis, Scurvy, Itch, Gravel.

"OF all the causes which conspire to ren­der life short and miserable, none has greater influence than the want of proper exercise."

WHOEVER examines the structure and functions of the human body, must be con­vinced of this.

"THE Body is composed of an infinite number of vessels, whose Fluids cannot be pushed on, without the action and pressure of the Muscles; but if the Muscles remain in­active, the Fluids will stagnate, and obstruc­tions will be formed, which cannot fail to oc­casion diseases. Both the sanguiferous vessels [Page 114] and the Lymphatics, are furnished with nu­merous Valves for the purpose of preventing the retrograde motion of their contents; but without the assistance of the Muscles, this admirable contrivance is of little use."

THIS part of the animal oeconomy proves to a demonstration, the necessity of exercise for the preservation of health.

"WHEN confined and unwholesome air is added to the want of exercise, diseases must be the consequence."

IT is owing to the combination of these two circumstances, that so many of the children of the poorer sort of the inhabitants of this city die annually.

THE exercise of walking is preferable to any other mode, for those who are not great­ly debilitated or infirm; because a greater number of Muscles are thereby put in action than by any other.

[Page 115] THOSE who are confined to sedentary em­ployments, should therefore devote a certain portion of their time, to taking a walk every day a few squares in the open air, and em­ploy one afternoon of every week in some active diversion.

A NUMBER of tradesmen are often crowd­ed together in the same small apartment; this is particularly the case with Weavers, Taylors, Shoemakers, &c. In this situa­tion they generally continue for many hours at a time, often with the addition of several candles burning, whereby the air becomes charged with the Phlogiston issuing from them, as well as from the Lungs, which ren­ders it unfit for expanding the Lungs suf­ficiently, and of supplying the blood with the matter of heat. See Priestley's Philosophi­cal Experiments; Crawford, on Heat; and Goodwin on Respiration.

MANY Artists are liable to diseases, in consequence of their particular occupations. Chemists, Brass-founders, workers in the [Page 116] various Minerals and Metals, Painters, Prin­ters, &c. owing to the noxious effluvia (in­separable from those occupations) being re­ceived into the system, by the Lungs or Stomach.

"THE Scholar, the Philosopher, and the Statesman, who devote almost the whole of their time to study and reflexion, seldom fail to impair their constitutions, or of becoming Valetudinarians."

"AND many young ladies, who regard­less of exercise, customary meals, or necessary repose, are perpetually employed in reading Love-inspiring Novels, not only impair their constitutions, but pervert their imagi­nations, and corrupt their morals to such a degree, that they are ever after rendered unfit for the offices of domestic life, and unquali­fied to promote domestic felicity."

"THE constant confinement of children within doors, and at School in crowds, proves destructive to the lives of multitudes, and [Page 117] never fails to render the constitutions of those whom it does not destroy, delicate and in­firm."

"To be shut up several hours in the day in a School, as soon as a child can speak intel­ligibly; secluded from the benefit of exercise, and the refreshment of the open air, and compelled to learn what he cannot compre­hend, is not only cruel, but inhuman." See Dr. Gregories Essays.

AMONG the very poorest sort of people in the city, are sometimes engendered Fevers of the most contagious and malignant nature, as well as the most loathsome cutaneous dis­eases. These proceed from want of proper food and raiment, and from living in close, confined, and dirty apartments; in Garrets, Cellars, &c.—destitute of the common ne­cessaries of life, in a vitiated atmosphere.

"IT is remarkable, that not only the hu­man species, but Cattle also, which have been [Page 118] kept upon too scanty an allowance of pro­vision, or on that which is of a bad quality, are generally afflicted with diseases of the skin, which seldom fail to disappear when plentifully supplied with that which is wholesome, and more nourishing."

"THE diseases to which Labourers and Mechanics, who are employed in laborious occupations, are most subject, are, for the most part, very different from the foregoing: To these, the Erysipelas is very incident: This is occasioned by whatever gives a sud­den check to the perspiration, after the heat of the body has been considerably augmented by exercise or any other cause; by the drink­ing of cold water, wet feet, keeping on wet cloaths, sitting or lying on the damp ground, or exposing the body to a current of air while in a state of increased perspiration."

PEOPLE who reside in the country, are often injured by handling a small tree, grow­ing in m [...]ist swampy grounds, called by Linnaeus Rhus Vernix, or poison Sumac, and [Page 119] by a small creeping Vine, resembling the Ivy, called Rhus Radicans, or Poison Vine. These like the juice of the West-India Cashu Nut, raise numerous minute Vessications over the surface of the skin, and cause considerable tumors of the parts affected. The vessica­tions contain a thin transparent serum; they frequently ulcerate and become purulent.—The cure consists in washing the parts, not ulcerated, with weak Lead-water, or com­mon Cold-water, and in dressing the ulcerat­ed parts with Goulard's or Turner's Cerate.

THIS class of people are very apt to be affected with Vomitting and Purging, Bilious Colic, &c.—From eating heavy four bread, vegetables of difficult digestion, and drink­ing weak stale small-beer, or the like.

"SUCH as have to lift or carry heavy burdens, as Porters, Labourers, Carpenters, Shipwrights, &c. are very subject to Her­nias, and to spitting of blood," &c.

"THIS last is owing to the vessels of the [Page 120] Lungs being over distended, from their be­ing obliged to draw in the air with much greater force, and also to keep their Lungs more distended than is necessary for com­mon respiration."

THE following is a copy of a letter from Dr. B. Rush, dated January 19th, 1791.

MANY cases have come under the author's notice of persons of an infirm habit falling into the slow Nervous Fever, or Typhus Mi­tior, [Page 123] after having been debilitated more than common by fatigue and grief, without being exposed to contagion, but only in conse­quence of a sudden check of perspiration. Hence it appears that the same remote cause produces a different form of disease, according to the difference of constitution on which it operates.

THE combined debilitating effects of fa­tigue and grief are very common causes of this Fever, in persons of relaxed and infirm Constitutions, and it appears to depend intire­ly upon a diminution of nervous energy, but is most commonly the effect of infectious efflu­via. See Dr. Hunter's opinion respecting the effects of vitiated air in producing Nervous Fever, in the London Medical Transac­tions.

THE Pulmonary Consumption appears to be the most frequent, as well as the most fatal of the Chronic Diseases which occur in Phila­delphia. The greatest proportion of those who die of this malady, from the most ac­curate [Page 124] observations which I have been able to make, belong to the society of the Friends; and of these, the number is nearly in the proportion of three females to one male.

PERHAPS the want of vivacity in the peo­ple of this society, and the sedentary lives of their females, are the principal causes of this difference; these certainly in some measure counter-balance the advantages which they enjoy from their superior cleanliness, neat­ness, and sobriety.

THE late judicious and experienced Dr. Fothergill, in my opinion, has given the best directions for the successful treatment of the Pulmonary Consumption of any author that has written on the subject. See his Works in Quarto, published by J. Cokely Lettsom, M. D.

THE method of treating this complaint by the daily exhibition of Pukes, as recom­mended by Dr. Reid, is in general a very injudicious and pernicious one. The one [Page 125] recommended by the late Dr. Brown, is still more exceptionable.

THE improvements proposed by Dr. Rush, I have never had an opportunity of seeing put in practice; but have had con­siderable experience of the good effects pro­duced by observing the method recommend­ed by Dr. Fothergill, particularly in the in­cipient stage of the disease. When the dis­ease is contracted in a northern climate, the patient should always pass his Winters, if possible, in a climate within the tropics.

Of the CYNANCHE TRACHEALIS, or Suffocating CATARRH, vulgarly called the HIVES.

THE diagnostic Symptoms of this Dis­ease are; a hoarseness, with some shrillness and ringing sound, both in speaking and coughing. At the same time, there is a sense of Pain about the Larynx; some dif­ficulty of respiration, with a whizzing sound in inspiration, as if the passage of the [Page 179] Air was straitened—The cough, without exception, in all that I have seen, was dry, harsh and sonorous—Together with these Symptoms, there is a frequency of Pulse, a Restlessness, and generally an increase of Heat—Neither redness nor tumour are perceptible within the Fauces, nor any alteration in the size of the Tonsils externally.

WITH the described Symptoms, and par­ticularly with great difficulty of breathing, and a sense of strangling in the Fauces, the Patient some times suddenly expires.

THIS Disease attacks infants at the breast less frequently than after they are weaned. After this period, the younger they are the more they are liable to it: The frequency of it becomes less as children advance in age and vigour; and there are no cases recorded of children above twelve years of age being af­fected with it. It very frequently occurs in Philadelphia, both in Autumn and Spring, and even in Winter, among the infants of the [Page 180] Germans who generally sit in rooms heated by close stoves.

IT often manifestly comes on from ex­posure to cold and damp Air, after having been previously heated or thrown into pro­fuse perspiration.

PERHAPS the slavering of Saliva, by wetting and chilling the neck, may favour the operation of colder Air.

THE frequency of its commencing with the ordinary Symptoms of a Catarrh, fa­vours this conjecture.

THERE have been many dissections made of infants who have died of this Disease; and there has almost constantly appeared a preternatural Membrane lining the whole internal surface of the upper part of the Tra­chea, and extending in the same manner downwards into some of its Ramifications. This preternatural Membrane may be easily [Page 181] separated, and sometimes has been found se­parated in part from the subjacent proper Membrane of the Trachea. This last is commonly found without any appearance of Corrosion or Ulceration; but it frequently shews the vestiges of Inflammation, and is covered by a matter resembling Pus.

FROM the remote causes of this Disease; from the Catarrhal Symptoms commonly attending it; from the Fever constantly pre­sent with it; from the same kind of preter­natural Membrane being found in the Tra­chea when the Cynanche Maligna is com­municated to it: and from the vestiges of In­flammation on the Trachea discovered upon Dissection, we must conclude, that the Dis­ease consists in an Inflammatory affection of the Mucous Membrane of the Larynx and Trachea, producing an Exudation analogous to that found on the surface of inflamed Viscera, the thinner parts of which evaporat­ing, and being carried off by the Air in Res­piration, [Page 182] leaves the remainder thick, dry, and solid.

THOUGH this Disease manifestly consists in an Inflammatory Affection, it does not commonly end either in Suppuration or Gangrene.

THE peculiar and troublesome circum­stance of the Disease seems to consist in a Spasm of the Muscles of the Glottis, which by inducing a Suffocation, prevents the com­mon consequences of Inflammation.

WHEN this Disease terminates in Health, it appears to be by a resolution of the Inflam­mation; by a ceasing of the Spasm of the Glottis; by an expectoration of the Matter exuding from the Trachea, and of the crusts formed there; and frequently it ends only with an Expectoration, resembling that which attends a simple Catarrh.

[Page 183] WHEN it ends fatally, it is by a Suffocati­on, in consequence of a Spasm affecting the Glottis; but sometimes probably owing to a quantity of Matter filling the Bronchiae.

As the Disease has been incontrovertibly proved to be an Inflammatory Affection, the cure at present is generally attempted by the same means as have been found most suc­cessful in other Inflammatory Affections.

CLIMATE.

FROM Mr. Jefferson's Meteorological Tables it appears, that the South-West Wind prevails equally at Williamsburg and Monti­cello; that the North-East is next to this the principal Wind towards the Sea-Coast, and the North-West is the predominant Wind at the Mountains. The difference between these two Winds to sensation, and in fact, is very great; the North-East is loaded with vapour, inso­much that the Salt Manufacturers have found that their chrystals would not shoot [Page 265] while that blows, it occasions a distressing chill, and a heaviness and oppression of the spirits. The North-West is dry, cooling, elastic, and animating. The Eastern and South-Eastern breezes come on generally in the afternoon. They have advanced into the country very sensibly within the memory of people now living. As the lands become more cleared, it is probable that they will ex­tend still farther Westward. The farther they extend into the Country, the less moist they become, as they deposit it in their pro­gress.

[Page 267]

AT Williamsburgh, in August 1777, the Mercury in Farenheit's Thermometer was at 98°, coresponding with 29½ of Reaumur. At the same place, in January 1780, it was 6°. corresponding to 11½ below o of Reau­mur. I believe these may be considered as the extremes of Heat and Cold in that part of the country. The latter may most cer­tainly, as at that time York River at York­town was frozen over, so that people walked across it; a circumstance which proves it to [Page 268] have been colder than the Winter of 1740-1, usually called the hard Winter, when York River did not freeze over at that place. In the same season of 1780, Chesapeake-Bay was solid from its head to the mouth of Pa­towmac.

AT Annapolis where it is 5¼ miles over be­tween the nearest points of land, the ice was from five to seven inches thick quite across, so that loaded carriages went over on it.

THOSE extremes of Heat and Cold, at 6° and 98°, Mr. Jefferson observes, were in­deed very distressing, and were thought to put the human constitution to the extent of trial. Yet, continues the same respectable Author, a Siberian would have considered them as scarcely a sensible variation.

AT Jenneseitz, in that country, in latitude 58° 27′, we are told, that the cold in 1735 sunk the Mercury by Farenheit's Scale to [Page 269] 126° below nought; and the inhabitants of the same country use stove rooms two or three times a week, in which they stay two hours at a time, the Atmosphere of which raises the Mercury to 135° above nothing.

LATE experiments shew, that the human body will live in rooms heated to 347 de­grees, that is 135°. above boiling water.

THE hottest point of the twenty-four hours is about four o'clock, P. M.; and the dawn of day the coldest.

ON comparing the extremes of Heat and Cold at Williamsburg, with the same at Paris, it appears they are in greater at Paris.

THE access of Frost in Autumn, and its recess in the Spring, do not seem to depend merely on the degree of Cold; much less on the Air's being at the freezing point. That other circumstances must be combined with the Cold to produce Frost, is evident [Page 270] from this also, that on the higher parts of Mountains, where it is absolutely colder than in the plains on which they stand, Frosts do appear so early by a considerable space of time in Autumn, and go off sooner in the Spring than on the plains ^*. This greater privilege a­gainst the Frost on Mountains, is undoubt­edly combined with the want of dew there. That the dew is very rare in their higher parts, I may say with certainty, (says Mr. Jefferson) from twelve years observations, having scarcely ever seen during that time, an unequivocal proof of its existence at all on them during Summer.

That unfortunate fluctuation between Heat and Cold, so destructive to Fruit, prevails less in Virginia than in Pennsylvania in the Spring Season; nor is the overflowing of the [Page 271] Rivers in Virginia so extensive or so frequent at that Season, as those of the New-England States;—because the snows in the former do not lie accumulating all Winter, to be dis­solved altogether in the Spring, as they do in the latter.

IN Virginia below the Mountains, the Snow seldom lies more than a day or two, and seldom a week; and the large rivers very seldom freeze over. This fluctuation of weather, however, is sufficient to render the Winters and Springs very unwholsome, as the inhabitants have to travel in almost perpetual slop.

DISEASES.

THE Climate of this State so nearly re­sembles that of South-Carolina, that I shall omit giving any farther description of it here, and shall only enumerate such Diseases as are most prevalent. Dr. Smith informs me, that, ‘East of the Mountains, a spurious kind of Pleurisy, accompanied with profuse expectoration of a thin gleety Mucus, is the most prevalent complaint in the Winter and Spring seasons; the Pulse, in this Disease, is more frequent, but never so hard, full, or strong as in the true Pleurisy; the inflamma­tory symptoms are observed to subside much earlier, and are very apt to be succeeded by symptoms resembling those of the Typhus, or rather of the Remitting Fever.’

"MODERATE bleeding, at the commence­ment of the Fever, is generally of service, but a repetition is seldom found salutary; [Page 334] and copious bleeding has invariably occasi­oned such a state of debility in a number of cases in which I have employed it, misled by servilely copying the practice of Syden­ham, and the Lectures of a celebrated fo­reign Professor, that I am now always mo­derate in the quantity I direct to be taken away." But mild Emetics, and especially nauseating doses of Antimonials with mode­rate purging, and the early application of Blisters to the Thorax, or back, are the re­medies which I have found most generally beneficial.

IN the language of Armstrong, I may truly say—

CHARLESTOWN.

THE Metropolis of South Carolina stands in the Latitude of 32° 45, and about 4° West of Philadelphia, and 79 from Lon­don, on a W. S. W. Course. This Town is built on a narrow Peninsula, which is formed by the conflux of Ashley and Cooper Rivers, which are broad and deep, and dis­charge [Page 358] their Waters into the Ocean about six Miles below the Town.

IN these Rivers is a rapid Flood and Ebb, and the Tide in common rises and falls about five feet, but at New and Full Moon seven Feet. As the Gulph of Florida runs with a swift Current towards the Northeast, at the distance of about 15 or 20 Leagues from this Coast, it will be readily under­stood why a strong N. E. Wind should al­ways make a High Tide in those Rivers, as by directly opposing that Stream, it is made to recoil on the Coast of Carolina, and thus causes the Rivers to Swell.

THREE sides of this Town are washed by the above Rivers; the Ground between them being so Low and Level, that it is not seven feet, nor is the Country for 20 Miles in circumference 10 feet higher at a Medium, than the surface of full Sea is at Spring-Tides.

[Page 359] THIS is both a healthy and an agreeable situation in such a Climate, for it stands, as it were, in a large Plain, having a Sea open to it in front, and washed by the waters of two spacious Rivers on either side. Some of the Streets are conveniently wide, but most of them are much too narrow. ^* Besides their being a Nursery for various Disorders from their confined situation, they have been found ex­tremely inconvenient in cases of Fires, the de­structive effects of which have been frequent­ly felt in this City. The Streets, however, from East to West, extend from River to Ri­ver, and running in a straight line, not only open beautiful prospects each way, but af­ford excellent opportunities by means of subterranean Drains for removing all nuisan­ces, and keeping the City clean.

[Page 360] WHEN the South Wind blows, it is al­ways Warm and Moist, because it comes from the Warmer Latitudes, and sweeps over a great extent of Sea; that which comes from the Southwest and West is Sultry and Moist in Summer, because it passes over large spaces of heated, marshy, overflowed, or Wood Lands, and in Winter it brings Damps or Rain, being fraught with the ex­halations that are made from the above Soils, as well as by those Vapours that are collected and condensed by the high bleak Moun­tains that lie behind. On the contrary, the Northwest and North Winds are Cool and refreshing in the Summer, but Chilling in Winter, and at all Seasons they dispel Clouds and Fogs by their pure elastic pressure.

IN the Summer Months, a Southeast Wind commonly springs up about 10 o'Clock A. M. which is called the Sea Breeze; this begins very gently, but gradually increases [Page 361] in strength, and fans briskly till 6 or 7 in the evening, when it gradually abates, and ceases before night. About 8 o'Clock at night a small Westerly Wind arises and continues till the same hour next Morning, and then ceases likewise—After a pause of about two hours, the Sea Breeze sets in again as be­fore, &c.

OF THE WATER.

THE Water in common use for Drink­ing and Cooking at Charlestown is always Brackish. Fifty-five cubical Inches of this Water was found to weigh Six Grains more than an equal Bulk of Rain Water; and when the same weight of Sea Salt was ad­ded to the Rain Water, it precipitated a Solution of Silver when mixed with Spirits of Nitre, became of a Milky colour with Oil of Tartar per deliquium, and tasted like the Well-Water.

[Page 362] THE manner of living in Charlestown is much after the English fashion; but either weak and acid Punch, or Rum and Water, is used by many for constant Drink, and Peo­ple in easy circumstances make too liberal use of Wine, particularly at and after Din­ner, to the great injury of their Constitu­tions.

TEA and Coffee are also so cheap, that one or other is used twice a-day by people of all descriptions; for want of Markets in the Country, more Salted and Smoaked Meats are consumed by the People there than in the Town; they, however, abound with Poultry, Milk, wholesome bread, made of Maize or Rice, and the most delicious Fruits.

[Page 366]

An Account of the Weather and Diseases which occur in Charlestown at the different Seasons of the Year.