Note 39 — Chapter X

As some may think an Apology necessary for a Translation of this Chapter on a Disease, which never, or very seldom, exists in this or the adjacent Island, I shall observe here, that, abstracted from the Immorality of a narrow and local Solicitude only for ourselves, we are politically interested as a Nation always in Trade, and often at War (and whose Subjects are extended into very distant and different Climates) to provide against a sudden and acute Distemper, to which our Armies, our Sailors and Colonies are certainly often exposed. A Fatality from this Cause is not restrained to our Islands within the Tropic, where several Instances of it have occurred during the late War: but it has also been known to prevail as far Northward as Pensylvania, in their Summers, and even in their Harvests. I once received a sensible Scald on the Back of my Thumb, from the Sun suddenly darting out through a clear Hole, as it were, in a Cloud, after a short and impetuous Shower in Summer; which Scald manifestly blistered within some Minutes after. Had this concentrated Ray been darted on my bare Head, the Consequence might have been more dangerous; or perhaps as fatal as some of the Cases recorded by Dr. Tissot, in this Chapter. K.