# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Introduction/Part 2

Of the Diseases I observed in Jamaica, and the Method by which I used to Cure them.
Before I conclude this Introduction, I think it necessary to give an Account of the Diseases of Jamaica, and how I endeavour'd to relieve them. This may be useful to some, and I am sure would have been to me, had I been so fortunate before my going thither, as to have met with any such Observations. I was told that the Diseases of this place were all different from what they are in Europe, and to be treated in a differing Method. This made me very uneasie, lest by ignorance I should kill instead of curing, and put me on trying with the utmust caution the Remedies and Methods I had known effectual in Europe, which in a very little time, I found to have great success on the Diseases there. My Medicines had the better operation, because people had a belief I could help them, and submitted to the taking Remedies in the order they were prescribed without changing the Medicines, altering the Method, or judging harshly in case the Person died. Indeed, at first, the Inhabitants would scarce trust me in the management of the least Distemper, till their observation of the good effects the European method had in the Duke of Albemarle's numerous Family, in the same Diseases, brought them to make trial of what I could do with some of the meaner sort, accounted in desperate Conditions. I shall give some of these Observations both in the Voyage thither, and during my abode there, in as few words as I can, chiefly relating Matters of Fact, whereby, abating some very few Diseases, Symptoms, &c. from the diversity of the Air, Meat, Drink, &c. any Person who has seen many sick People, will find the same Diseases here as in Europe, and the same Method of Cure. For this reason I have put down some very ordinary Observations and Methods, that this matter may be very plain. For my own part I never saw a Disease in Jamaica, which had not met with in Europe, and that in People who never had been in either Indies, excepting one or two; and such Instances happen to People practising Physick in England, or any where else, that they may meet, amongst great numbers, with a singular Disease, that they had never seen before, nor perhaps meet after with a parallel instance.
Of a Cholera Morbus, want of Appetite, &c.Captain Nowel aged about forty, Cholerick, who had drunk very hard, and was very thin of Flesh, sent to me, he was ill of a Cholera Morbus, Vomiting, and going often to Stool. I found him weak, not able to bear any farther Evacuation, I gave him there​fore about 15 Drops of Laud. Liquid. Cydomat. in a convenient Vehicle. His Vomiting being stop'd, I gave him for his Loosness the Decoct. alb. for his ordinary Drink, and order'd him Rice Milk and Milk-Meats for his Food, which, with the help of the Laud. repeated, soon cur'd him of that Indisposition. He continuing to drink hard, weakned his Stomach, so that he vomited almost every Morning, lost his Appetite, and complain'd of a great pain in his Breast under the Sternum, which I ghess'd to be some small Inflammation in the Mediastinum, or other Membranes of the Thorax. I try'd by bitter Wine, and other Stomachics, to rectifie the Stomach; by Milk-Diet, Diet-Drinks, Steel-Course, and Bleeding to Cure the latter, but without success, the Reason I ghess was his drinking Drams in the morning, chiefly Brandy and Sugar. He reduc'd by these means, his Stomach to that weakness, that at last, since I came from Jamaica I have been told he could keep nothing therein but the Milk of a Negro Woman he suck'd.
Of a Tertian.Mr. Rhadish was seiz'd with a Tertian Ague at Plimouth, and cur'd by the Cortex Peruv. given as usually, without any return.
Mr. Mark Collet, in the thirtieth year of his Age, at the same place and time, was seiz'd after the same manner, only there was very little Intermission, and he was delirous for several hours. Upon the Of an intermitting Fever, with little intermission, Deliria, &c. taking of this Bark given by the Ship-Doctor, by my Directions, he was perfectly cur'd. He had before my seeing him, taken in vain abundance of Juleps and Cordials, been Blister'd, Bled, &c. It was a while before I, who was generally in another Ship, could find out the Intermission, the Fever being scarce ever off.
In February 1688. he was taken in Jamaica after the very same manner again, I had him Bled and Blister'd, he being delirous. I gave him, for his cold Sweats and weak Pulse, about ten Drops of Spirit of Hartshorn every four or five hours, and after a full discovery of the Intermission, I cur'd him with the Cortex.
Mr. Anthony Gamble, aged about Forty five, a Cook, given to Drink, had, some years before I saw him, in an Engagement with some Turkish Ships, a great part of the Flesh of his right Hypochondre shot away with a Cannon Bullet. He fell into very great pains in his Belly, which was bound. I gave him some Extractum Rudii, to loosen his Belly, which not succeeding he had Glisters, Suppositories, Decoctions, Bolus's of Ther. Venet. Draughts with some Drops of liquid Laud. in proper Vehicles, Juniper, and other Cordial Waters, outward Fomentations, and Bags Emollient and Anodyne of all sorts contriv'd to procure a Stool, as well as ease the Pain, but the Disease was too violent to yield, to any of those Medicines, before ​several days of intolerable Pain were over, when by an easy ordinary Of a Colick.Glister he was relieved, and escaped that time. Drinking very hard, some time after, he fell into the Hemorrhoids with intolerable pain, and at the same time had a Flux and Fever, the Flux being a Crisis of the latter. He sent for a Chirurgeon, who gave him at night, as I suppose, a Bolus of some Opiat Medicines, which stop'd the Looseness, but increas'd the Fever to that extremity, that he was in great danger. I, on all these accounts, order'd him to be Bled to ten Ounces, gave him cooling Juleps, and directed the Anus of Hemorrhoids to be easily anointed with Ung. Comitiss. and Popul. In some time he recover'd by degrees his former state of health, but was very often subject to violent Colicks, which I judg'd might be occasion'd by some part of the Guts adhering to the Cicatrix of the great Wound in his Hypochondre, and by that means occasioning some small stop or obstructions to the passage of the Excrements in that place, as it happens, for another Reason, to those troubl'd with Ruptures; but in some time (which was requisite for the Guts to do their Office, the Excrements to be moistned, and pass this stop) it usually went off. He was very much troubl'd with the Hemorrhoids, and inflam'd swell'd Eyes, the first I cur'd with Bleeding, and the Ointments before mention'd, the latter with Bleeding, Purging and Blistering, according to the greatness or stubborness of the Disease.
Of a Consumption or Hectic.A Seaman, aged about Forty, had a quick Feverish Pulse, especially towards the Evening; a very troublesome Cough, which had been his Companion for some Months. I order'd him to take some Pectoral Medicines, and at night an Anodyne Draught, by which he found some ease. I chang'd, after a while, his Medicines, and gave him Locatelli's Balsam; but he grew weary, and went to change the Air. He came, in about nine Months after, to me, very much emaciated, with his former complaints, only in every respect worse, with a great Looseness, for which I gave him every Evening about ∋j. of Ther. Ven. with gr. j. Laud. Lond. which stop'd his Looseness and other Symptoms. I know not what became of him afterwards, he not coming near me, but by the common course of such Distempers, 'tis likely he died soon after.
One Saturday evening, when we were in hot Weather, a Hog being kill'd, and the Blood sav'd (to make Puddings) till Monday morning, they prov'd very hurtful, for although some, who had eat of them, complain'd not, yet several others were taken violently ill; some Vomiting with great pain, and others Vomiting and going to Stool with great Anxieties. Being call'd, and asking if they had eaten or drunk any thing to occasion such great disorders, I concluded the ​Puddings to be the Cause, and whereas 'twas advis'd to stop the Of several People sick by eating Hogs-Puddings the Blood of which they were made having been kept too long. Vomiting, I thought it most proper to forward it; for that it seem'd to be the readiest and easiest way to follow the motion of Nature, and to discharge the Cause, especially considering the Puddings were scarce yet out of the Stomach. I therefore gave small Beer and warm Water with a little Infus. Croc. Metall. and help'd them up, and after a sufficient Evacuation, gave some Cordial Draughts of Conf. Alkermes, Cinamon water, and Syr. Caryophyll, and all the persons were in a little time very well. The best way of managing most Persons Poison'd or Surfeited, is by Vomits, if the matter remain in the Stomach; Purging if it be in the Guts, and Diluting.
One — — who had had a Gonorrhæa often, and a pretty while before he complain'd, had many Symptoms of the Pox, which threatned his Life, or at least the present flatting of his Nose. The question was whether being at Sea he might be flux'd, I told them I saw nothing to hinder it in such an urgent Case, and therefore advis'd one, who pretended to understand Salivation well, to do it by Unction, as the surest way to Root out the Distemper. He put him into a Of a Salivation ill manag'd. very close Cabbin, anointed him, and the flux rose very well, and the Symptoms ceas'd: I concluded all would go on as usually they do in such Cases, and gave the Person who had the care of him general Directions how to behave himself. But it prov'd otherwise, for he was ignorant of the Method of treating in a Salivation, spar'd his Medicines, substituted others in the Places of those I order'd, alledging amongst his Comrades, he knew better. He likewise kept his Cabbin too hot, as well by burning two Candles always there, and never suffering a vent to the Steams, as by giving a great many Cordials, or hot Sudorifics. By these several means unknown to me, he inverted the Course of Nature, and threw what ought to have come by Spitting, through the Pores of the Skin, wherefore in about Fourteen days his Spittle thickned, the Serum being thrown out another way, and he was choak'd and died, notwithstanding what could be done for him.
A Gentleman, aged about Forty, of a Sanguine Complexion, much given to Drinking and Venery, fell ill of the Gout, for which he following some Emperics Advice, plaister'd all his affected Joints Of the bad effects of tampering or endeavouring to cure the Gout. with Tar, whereby in some time he fell into a Quinsie, there being a translation of the Matter from the Joints to the Throat. I had him immediately Bled to a good quantity, for fear of Suffocation, and gave him a Dose or two of Extr. Rud. which working well, he was freed of his sore Throat. He, afterwards, by the use of Bitter-Wine, and Elixir Proprietatis, recover'd his Appetite, but drinking several months afterwards to a great ex​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/108 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/109 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/110 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/111 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/112 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/113 ​as Bolus's of Diascord, &c. which I suppos'd had in part brought her to this. I told them I hop'd the best, and prepar'd her some Cortex Peru, with which, and the use of cooling diluting Drinks she entirely recover'd, although she was by every Body thought to be in a desperate condition.
Of a Lethargy in a ChildMr. Fletcher's Child, about a year and a half old, was taken with a sleepy Disease. It lay with the Eyes always shut, and asleep. I advis'd the Mother to give it a little Manna immediately, and to Blister its Neck, which being done, and the Physick working well, the Child recovered entirely its Health.
Of a Lethargy in a WomanOne R. a Tavern-keeper's Wife, about Forty years of age, Fat and Phlegmatic, was upon excessive drinking of Brandy, taken with a Lethargy, inclining to an apoplectick Fit. She would on very violent irritations lift up her Eye Lids, but would not speak. I immediately order'd bleeding, blistering in the Neck and Arms, gave her Эii. of Diagridium in a Glass of Water, with some Drops of Sp. Sal. Armon. Ordered one to hold to her Nose the volatile Salt of the same in a Bottle, and a Snuff for her of Majorane, Betony, and White Hellebore, which being put to her Nose, she snuft up very often. By the help of these Medicines she first went to Stool in the Bed. Her Blisters rose, and then on the use of the Snuff she Snees'd. She was plied hard with them two days, then look'd up more, could say a word or two, and call for the Pot to make water. I continued them two days longer, and she grew better, but being morose would take nothing, and shut her Eyes. I told the standers by, to frighten her, that I would get a Pan of Coals and burn her with them on the Head, which so alarm'd her, that she took things, and was well above a year. But then, I suppose, on the like occasion, fell into an apoplectick Fit, and being sent for, before I came she was dead.
Of a Tertian in a Black BoyA little black Boy, of a year and an half old, belonging to Tho. Rowland was taken violently ill of a Tertian. I gave him the Cortex prepd. as usually, which being forc'd down, the little one was well without relapse.
One Stephen Lego, a Wheel-wright, aged about Forty five, Phlegmatic, sent for me. He was sitting in a Chair, with his Legs swell'd like Posts, on a Stool before him. He could not lie down, nor so much as lean down his Head, for an Orthopnæa. Of a DropsieHe had likewise a very violent Cough molesting him at all times. One would have thought he could not have liv'd three hours ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/115 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/116 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/117 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/118 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/119 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/120 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/121 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/122 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/123 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/124 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/125 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/126 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/127 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/128 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/129 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/130 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/131 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/132 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/133 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/134 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/135 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/136 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/137 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/138 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/139 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/140 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/141 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/142 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/143 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/144 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/145 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/146 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/147 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/148 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/149 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/150 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/151 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/152 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/153 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/154 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/155 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/156 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/157 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/158 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/159 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/160 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/161 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/162 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/163 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/164 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/165 ​swell'd. I found this to be the beginning of a Consumption, and perfect Febris Hectica, having no Symptoms, but such as are common to our English, and all other Hectics. I therefore order'd him, Bals. Sulph. to preserve his Lungs from being tainted, order'd him a Diet Drink of Sarfa, &c. with Barley and Raisins, and gave him in the Evenings to keep off his Cough, an easie Opiate, with which, and good Diet he was cured. A Steel Course is much commended here in this Distemper, and a furr'd white Tongue is reckoned one of the chief Pathognomonics of this Disease, which is nothing but what often accompanies the Hectic in England, and every where else.
A Boy of about Thirteen years of age, had a great and ugly swelling on his Leg, which yielded great quantities of an Ichorous Sanies from the Bone. He had some marks of Ulcers remaining about Of the Kings-Evil. his Eyes, which shew'd him to be scrophulous, or troubled with the Kings-Evil. He had been flux'd in several hot Houses, and proceeded with after several Methods, by several Physicians, who ordered the matter so that this Tumour had been almost cur'd several times, but by neglect it return'd. He found great relief in washing and bathing in salt-water. I ordered him to be well purged thrice a week, with Pil. Coch. Min. and Merc. Dulc. Sometimes I chang'd this for a Vomit of Infus. Croc. Metal. and gave him a Diet-Drink, made of the Woods, Roots, Sarfa, &c. boil'd in Lime-water. He put to the Ulcer some Basilicon with Precipitate, and sometimes without, with which he grew much better. I left the Island before he was quite well, but order'd them to prosecute the cure the same way.
The Negros and Indians of Plantations usually have Fires near the places where they and their Children sleep. They make these Of Burns. Fires both for their Healths sake, and to keep themselves from Gnats, Mosquitos, or Flies, which would be troublesom, were they not kill'd by the smoak. The Slaves are usually so well wrought in the day, and sleep so fast at night, that they do not easily awake. Several of their young ones fall into these Fires, whereby their Arms or Legs are sometimes burnt off. I always found a Cataplasm of Onions, Salt, and white Soap beaten together, to do very great matters in the cure of such Accidents, and these ingredients are almost every where to be had.
Of a Rupture.One about three years before she advis'd with me, had been troubl'd with a long and tedious Delivery, in which she found in the Childs coming away a crack as if something had broken in her Groin. She complain'd to me of a great pain there, in which was ​a small lump, which was about the bigness of a Pigeons Egg. I took it for a Rupture, ordered her to lye with her Heels and lower parts high, to endeavour by an Anodyne Carminative and Discutient Fomentation to put up the Gut, and gave her an easie Opiat in the Evening. This did well, and she was better, but still had Pain. I desir'd her to take great care to be quiet, and to repeat these Medicines as she found occasion, upon which the Pain went away, and she was better.
One came to me complaining he was troubled very much with Itch about the Os Pubis, which proceeded from Lice or Ascarides. I Of Ascarides advised him to rub and wash all the part over with Sope and Water, but that did not kill them. I then ordered him to beat some of the Seeds of Staphisacre, and strew it on the part, which kill'd them all in a very short time. It is an almost certain Remedy for any Vermin of this kind.
One of about Fifty five years of Age, given to good Fellowship and Drinking of Drams, had been very ill of the Belly-ach, several times, on which he had lost the use of his Limbs. He had not long before I saw him been taken with a very severe Fit, and was recovered out of it by the help of Ginger in Cyder and Wine mixt, and heated with Sugar. After the violence of the Fit was over, because he was very weak, he had suckt two Negro Womens Milk, by which he was perfectly recovered. He seem'd to be very Hypochondriac, was Melancholly, and look'd Yellow in the Skin and Eyes. Being consulted for his Health I advis'd him, because he had no Of the Belly-ach. Stomach nor Appetite to Victuals, to take an infusion of Gentian Roots, Centaury Tops, &c. in Madera Wine, and a Diet-Drink of Sarsa, China, &c. mix'd with an equal quantity of Cow's Milk every Morning. Now and then as his Belly was bound up, I order'd him a Pill of Extract. Rud. whereby he was kept Soluble. By these Medicines his Health was preserved without any great Sickness, but coming on Board in order to a Voyage for England, and drinking Punch more than ordinarily, he first fell into an unusual Weakness of his Hands, and afterwards into Pains all over his Body. I would have remedied these Symptoms by Bleeding and Purging, but that his Weakness put a stop to any such Courses. He grew worse, having had no Stool for some Days (for he had, besides his Colick, a Rupture) and complained very much of Pains every where, especially in his Belly. I gave him Extract. Rud. gr. 15. which did not work, wherefore in some hours more I gave him thirty Grains of Pil. Ruffi for his Jaundice and bound Belly, which with Sena boil'd in Chicken-Broath, or great Quantites of thin Water-​gruel did not relieve, but he grew phrentic and idle in his Talk. I gave him, after a while, a very strong Decoction of Sena in Water, which took effect, working four or five times, but it was so far from alleviating his Distemper, that he grew worse. He lost his Sight quite, although his Eyes look'd well and without blemish, for which I order'd him to be bled. I blister'd him in the Neck likewise, and thought his Distemper uncurable, if at Full Moon, or two or three Days after, he did not recover. He slept not, but had strange Persuasions or Imaginations in his Head, and dos'd at first, but afterwards fell into a perfect Lethargy. When his Sleepiness was over, he awak'd, but seem'd to be pensive at some strange things in his Mind. I apply'd Blisters to his Wrists, and on the Day of the Full Moon, he came to see somewhat, and at the same time recover'd some of his Understanding; yet, a great many things were blotted out of his Memory, so that the Remembrance of things past, not only during his Sickness, but likewise before, were lost, and some Imaginations and Fancies, were so fast imprinted in his Mind, during the time of his being not Compos Mentis, that afterwards, when he discours'd and reason'd very well, there was need to take Pains with him to undeceive him, and make him sensible of his Mistakes, but in a few Days that Reason and Experience had taught him to judge rightly, he was well. When he was recovering, it was very hard for him to bring out some Words at first, which, I suppose, might proceed from his forgetfulness of them. This blindness is not a very common Symptom with the Cholic, or Belly-ach, but yet appears now and then. I have my self seen several Instances of it. There appears no Blemish in the Eye in this Case, and they are struck Blind unknown to themselves or the by-standers, till they come to try their Eyes upon any occasion. This sort of Gutta Serena goes off in some Days, and they recover their Sight, at least as many as I have seen or read of, recover'd it by the use of Bleeding, Purging, Blistering and Cephalics.
The End of the Introduction.