We were now in very hot weather, which fhow'd its felf on every one, not only by Sweating, but by their breaking out all over into little Whales, Pimples, or Puftles, (which is ordinary in other places of the fame Lati- tudes.<ref>Great heat in Monomotapa occaſions Puſhes to come out, Dos Sanct Purchas, p.1556. ) This befides its unfeemlinefs in difcolouring the Skin, which was very Red, was very troubleſome by itching, and this last symptom was chiefly about the Back Bone, though sometimes these reddish Pustles co- vered the whole Body, and at other times they were as it were all ga- thered into one ſmall Carbuncle, very uneaſie and painful, and ſuch an one I my ſelf had, on the ſide of my Hand. I did not at all doubt but that theſe Eruptions were the effect of the Sun Beams, which throwing in- to our blood ſome fiery parts, put it into a brisker motion, whereby it was purg'd of thoſe Heterogeneous and unaccuſtom'd Particles it had from the warm Sun, and perhaps by that fermentation was likewiſe clear'd of ſome other parts might be hurtful to it, and therefore inſtead of preſcribing a Re- medy for its Cure, I told thoſe who importun'd me, that I thought this Diſtemper was the greateſt advantage they could have, and that this was the effect of the change of Climate, and a proper ſeaſoning, and what might ſecure them from future Sickneſs by purging the Blood from hot and ſharp parts, and rather than check it, wiſh'd them to help the expulſion with a little Flos Sulphuris or any other innocent Diaphoretick. If their Humour was to be com-
Of the changes in the Blood from the alteration of the Climate.
plied with, Bleeding firſt, and then Purging were infallible Remedies, which by cooling the Blood, diminiſhing its quantity, and at the ſame time making an irritation on the Glands in the Guts, caufes the Humour to come that way, fo in fome meafure by artifice fupplying the natural Evacuation by the Skin. But becauſe the other was Natural, and this Artificial, and not fo certain nor fafe, I was conftantly for the firft. Here were grounds to admire the contri- vance of our Blood, which, on fome occafions, fo foon as any thing de- ftructive to the Conftitution of it, comes into it, immediately by an Inte- ftine Commotion endeavours to thruft it forth, and is not only freed from the new Gueft, but fometimes likewife what may have lain lurking therein (occafioning fmall difturbances without breaking out into any violent Difeafe) for a great while. And from hence it comes that moft part of Medicines when they are duly adminiftred in fuch cafes are, not only fent out of the Body themſelves, but likewife great quantities of Morbific Matter, as may appear very plainly in Salivation, where not only the Mercury, but like- wife all the Humours caufing thofe dreadful Pains, Ulcers and Diſorders, are fpit out together with it by the help of the Bloods Fermentation. If it be here objected that the Sun Beams are too fpiritual and cannot be thought to be fo poyfonous: I anſwer, that it is certain the Sun Beams when concen- tred will do by a Burning Glafs moft, if not every thing, can be done by a Fire, which every Chymift knows will not only add to Lead, and fome other Bodies, thofe Particles that will weigh in a Balance, and that very confider- ably; but likewife will make fuch a change in Mercury barely Precipitated by it, as to make it almoft as great a Poifon as is commonly known.
Of other ſigns of the alteration of the Climates. This alteration of the Climate was diſcovered likewiſe by the very great and ſudden Putrefaction of Urine, which in ſome few Hours would ſtink intollerably, and all other Fermenting Liquors would Sour immediately : Fleſh, and all other Aliments would Corrupt and Spoil likewiſe in a little time: Tallow Candles would ſcarce be able to ſtand upright, and Butter would be of the ſame Conſiſtence as if half melted over a Fire in England.
It is a commonly received Opinion by ſome Ingenious Men that Lice dye. on change of the Winds from being variable to be conſtant, or paſſing the Equator; and that to the South of the Tropick of Cancer are none to be found, but this notion is certainly falfe ;Of Lice in the Torrid Zone. for although I think the great Sweatings, and little Apparel of the Inhabitants and Travellers in the Torrid Zone,occa-
