the Spring and Fall are not unlike those Seasons in
_England_, only the Air is never long foggy, nor very cloudy; but clear,
sometimes of a bluish Colour, occasioned by the thin Smoak, dispersed in
the Air, from the Flames of the Woods and Leaves, which are fired in
Hunting, to drive the Beasts from their lurking Places; or in the Spring
to burn the old Leaves and Grass, that there may be the better Pasture
the next Summer.
The Months of _December_, _January_ and _February_ are generally much
colder, and _June_, _July_ and _August_ are much hotter than in
_England_; tho' sometimes 'tis on a sudden very cool in Summer, and
pretty warm in Winter, the Weather being governed by the Wind; which
with sudden Storms from the _North-West_, and sometimes from the _West_
and _South-West_ bring violent Gusts or Tempests, with Thunder,
Lightning, and Rain very terrible, but soon over.
The _North West_ Winds are exquisitely sharp and cold, proceeding from
Clouds arising from the vast Lakes and prodigious snowy Mountains that
lie to that Quarter; but the Southerly Winds and others are very warm.
The Days and Nights are there always much nearer the Equality of twelve
Hours, than in the Latitude of _England_.
At the sudden Changes of the Weather, from Heat to Cold, People are apt
to take Cold, often neglecting to shift their Cloaths with the Weather;
which with Abundance of Damps and Mists from the Water, and by eating
too plentifully of some delicious Fruits, makes the People subject to
Feavers and Agues, which is the Country Distemper, a severe Fit of which
(called a _Seasoning_) most expect, some time after their Arrival in
that Climate; but the Goodness of God has furnished us with a perfect
_Catholicon_ for that Sickness, _viz._ the _Bark_; which being taken and
repeated in a right Manner, seldom fails of a Cure, unless the morbifick
Matter comes to a Head again from fresh Causes, and so returns with
Mastery; upon which Recourse must be had to the same specifick Remedy;
besides which there are several Ways of Cure, but none so universal and
sure as that.
Some for Want of timely Care, through Ignorance or Obstinacy, will
permit the Distemper to lurk about them so long, till at last it has
reduced them to an irrecoverable, lingering, ill Habit of Body;
especially if they live meanly, drinking too much Water, and eating too
much salt Meat; and this _Cachexy_ generally ends their Lives with a
Dropsy, Consumption, the Jaundice
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