Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26
UNDER THE EQUATOR.
Life In the Caracas and the Influence OF
Cocktails.


Life In the Caracas and the Influence Of
Cocktails.
HOW THE CLIMATE HAS TO STAND THE BLAME FOR
THE RESULTS OF INTERCHANGEABLE RANGE
OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CASES OF
YELLOW FEVER SAID TO BE EXAGGERATED.
Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR.
CARACAS, VENEZUELA, September %.
1t Is rather amusing to note the solicitude
expressed in some Of the recent newspapers re-
ceived from the United States in regard to the
ravages of fever in this remote part Of the
world, semi-tropical and only little way from
the equator. The impression seems prevalent
that the disease extends to all of this country
and also that it is of the virulent type SO often
seen in the southern states and Of which Florida
has had such a terrible experience. But, in
fact, nothing could be farther from the truth,
at least SO ar as this particular locality is con-
cerned. Caracas, it must first be understood,
is situated in an upland valley, sort of table
land. just over the Andean range from the sea
and 5000 feet and more above its level. 1t has
the most perfect natural drainage and is con-
stantly swept by the mountain breezes, while
the ocean Is only six miles away in q direct
line
The city is built along the valley, and reaches
up toward the foot hills some two miles back from
the La Gualra river struggling in a most uncouth
fashion with its one-story adobe houses over
the barrancas that seam the gentle slopes to the
root OF the great mountain peak that towers
above the town, rising sharply several thousand
feet into rounded, tree-cOvered submits. to
descend even more precipitously into the blue
caribbean beyond Brown, dust-colored dwell
1ngs, they remindNbne strongly from distance
OF the hard clay-like nests of a certain species
Of ant.
THE RANGE OF THE THERMOMETER.
Owing to the elevation of this valley above
the sea, although it seems very hot in the direct
rays of the sun, yet the variation of tempera-
ture as measured by the mercury is marvelously
small. Falling to $50 in cloudy or rainy
weather, or during cool nights, when the sea
winds sweep down from the mountain tops
1t then seems to have touched the
less afternoons to $50, or Whereabouts,
when everything seems baking under the trop-
lcal sun. 1t is not uncommon, however, for
the thermometer to hover betweenS0o and 78o
for days at time, with so little variation that
1t would need an instrument to detect it. In
deed, few houses here have any such luxury as
window glass, and the children appear, has
been said by a traveller whose Latin was not
alb owe suspicion, lin nubibus."
But everybody knows that the thermometer
",
IT 1t may be SO termed, or the impression Of
heat or cold that is received by different per-
sons. Some people come here clad in heavy
WOODEN clothing, exercise actively, do not spare
their accustomed glass, and find it very hot.
Others think it comfortably cool.
The truth lies, as it frequently has been OBJ
served, somewhat between these two extremes
The altitude and temperature are both quite
high, so that any active exercise will naturally
bring on q profuse perspiration. There is
always some air stirring. any exposure to q
current will induce a chilly sensation, the pores
are closed and the result is "a cold" OF course
the same thing ia constantly occurring, but in
the changing climate of the United states the
conditions under which it takes place are
somewhat different. Here the person is said
70 nave the fever" and so far, during a resi-
dence OF several months in the country, this is
all there is to large proportion Of the 30
called cases of this disease.
ONLY BAD COLD.
The fact is, that what is generally designated
here in common talk ''the fever" and goes
abroad in the gossip Of imaginative correspond
ents as contagious disease, is usually only a
mild remittent type il it is anything more than
bad cold. II the sanitary conditions of the
house or locality are bad. az is but too often
the case, typhoid symptoms may develop. and
IN the interior lowlands or down along the
Orinoco swamps malarial poisoning is doubt
less very material element.
But on the rocky slopes of the wind-swept
port OF La Gualra, though it is most of the time
SO hot that an illustrious American visitor re-
Gently told me he did not believe it was more
than two miles and half from hades, or in the
cooler mountain valley Of Caracas, anything
like what u known as 'yellow fever" in the
United States is only bug-bear to friRhtep
children. It simply does not exist
Our well-informed consul at La Guaira, Hon.
". y: Bird, says that in q residence in that port
p ton ho hoo -
genuine case Of that dreaded disease. He
speaks Of that town a. an exceptionally healthy
one, or ct least that it would be il the least at
tention was paid to even the moro common OBJ
servancss OF cleanliness, either personal or
about their houses To one accustomed to a
New England town the filth is something ap-
palling. ''The only wonder is" tourist of the
medical profession recently said to me, ''that
everybody Il not sick"
THE DHApLY COCKTAIL.
had an opportunity few weeks ago to dis
cuss this subject with much-traveled English
man, who had lived many years in tropical
America and was familiar with all its principal
diseases. he was at one time sent out by an
English company to Maracaibo, located on the
lake OF the same name, in low, marshy dis
trict, and VIGOROUSLY the most unhealthy place
on this coast He took position which four
fellow-countrymen had vacated by death within
one year, and actually grew fat on it, He had
spent many months of hard work ON the ORR
noco and in the mines Of the interior. where
every other white person was sick. He had
doctored many victims Of mountain fever in
the Rockies OF North America, and apparently
had considerable practical knowledge Of fevers
in general I said to him: "You seem to have
experienced q wonderful immunity from
this class OF diseases and certainly show
no traces OF their effects; pray tell me what do
you consider the most commonly predisposing
cause in these hot climates"
His reply was a laconic one and to the point:
Cocktails before breakfast" They have
killed many good man. The same thing was
repeated in another form in O conversation I
had with Spaniard who had spent most of
his life in the West Indies and on this coast, or
a. he phrased it, 'Rum before coffee"
An Englishman or an American comes here
from much cooler climate; he feels the ener.
waiting influence of the steady heat and droops
under it. Instead of resting, keeping out of
the sun, using no stimulant but coffee, avoid
ing much fruit and regulating his diet, he be-
gina by hracing nm ON q hrandY-smash n aonL-