Tropical Hygiene. gers, which" Blacky," indeed, knows full well, and takes especial care to turn to his own advantage. But this is a trifling consideration. The European, contemplating, with great satisfaction, the multitude of changes he has thus cheaply amassed, and calculating the very rea⚫sonable terms of ablution, determines to enjoy, in its fullest extent, a luxury which he deems both salutary and grateful, independently of all considerations respecting appearance. It is therefore very common to see him shift his linen three or four times a-day, during the period of his noviciate, when perspiration is, indeed, superabundant. But, let me assure him, that he is pursuing an injudicious--nay, an injurious system; that the fluid alluded to, already in excess, is thus powerfully solicited; and the action of the perspiratory vessels, with all their associations, morbidly increased, instead of being restrained. But what is to be done? The newly-arrived European justly observes, that he finds himself drenched with sweat, three or four times a-day, in which state he cannot remain with either safety or comfort. Certainly, it would be useless to point out the evil, without suggesting the remedy; and happily it may be obviated, to a considerable extent, in a very simple and easy manner. In those climates, when linen becomes wet in a few hours with perspiration, it by no means follows that it is soiled thereby, in any material degree. It should not, therefore, be consigned to the wash, but carefully dried, and worn again, once, or even twice; and that, too, with Dress. out the smallest infringement on; the laws of personal cleanliness, but with the most.salutary effect on the health. It is astonishing how much less exhausting is the linen, which has been once or twice impregnated with the fluid of perspiration, than that which is fresh from the mangle. By this plan, no more than one shirt is rendered unfit for use every day; and in cool weather, or at sea, not more, perhaps, than four shirts a week. Necessity, the mother of invention, first taught me this piece of knowledge, in consequence of having lost my stock once, by sailing suddenly from Trincomallee; but I know that, however trivial the circumstance may appear, an attention to what I have related will, in reality, prove more beneficial than precautions of seemingly greater magnitude. Its rationale is in direct unison with the grand and fundamental object in tropical prophylactics-TO MODERATE, WITHOUT CHECKING THE CUTICULAR DISCHARGE. The property which frequent change of linen has, in exciting cuticular secretion, and the effects resulting from the sympathy of the skin with the stomach, liver, and lungs, may account, in a great measure, for the superior health which accompanies cleanliness, in our own climate; and, on the contrary, for the diseases of the indigent and slovenly, which are almost invariably connected with, or dependent on, irregularity or suppression of the • cuticular discharge. Intelligent females well know the peculiar effect of clean linen on themselves, at particular periods. Tropical Hygiene. To the above observations on dress, I may add, that no European should, where he can avoid it, expose himself to the san between the hours of ten and four in the day. If forced, during that period, to be out of doors, the chatiah should never be neglected, if he wish to guard against coup de soleil, or some other dangerous consequence of imprudent exposure. Food. FOOD. ALTHOUGH I entirely agree with Celsus, that"sanis omnia sana ;" and with a late eminent physician, that an attention to quantity is of infinitely more consequence than quality, in our repasts; and although I also believe, that an over-fastidious regard to either will render us unfit for society, and not more healthy after all; yet, when we change our native and temperate skies of Europe for the torrid zone, many of us may find, when it is too late, that we can hardly attend too strictly to the quantity and quality of our food, during the period of assimilation, at least, to the new climate; and that a due regulation of this important non-natural will turn out a powerful engine in the preservation of health. It is now pretty generally known, from dire experience, indeed, that instead of a disposition · to debility and putrescency, an inflammatory diathesis, or tendency to plethora, characterises the European and his diseases, for a year or two, at least, after his arrival between the tropics; and hence provident Nature endeavours to guard against the evil, by diminish-. Tropical Hygiene. ing our relish for food. But alas! how prone Not only "by dishes tortured from their native taste," but by the more dangerous stimulants of wine or other liquors, as well as condiments and spices, which should be reserved for that general relaxation and debility which unavoidably supervene during a protracted residence in sultry climates. Here is an instance where we cannot safely imitate the seasoned European. Indeed, there are no points of Hygiene, to which the attention of a new-comer should be more particularly directed, than to the quantity and simplicity of his viands; especially as they are practical points entirely within his own superintendance, and a due regulation of which, is not at all calculated to draw on him the observation of others--a very great advantage. Every valetudinarian, particularly the hectic, knows full well the febrile paroxysm which follows a full meal: the same takes place in every individual, more or less, whatever may be the state of health at the time. How cautious, then, should we be, of exacerbating these natural paroxysms, when placed in situations where various other febrific causes are constantly impending over, or even assailing us! The febrile stricture which obtains on the surface of our bodies, and in the secerning vessels of the liver, during the gastric digestion of our food, as |