It Is Epidemical, Visiting These Parts Of America, Which Is Often Occasion'd
Thro' The Immoderate Drinking Of Rum, By Those
That commonly drink Water
at other Times, cold Nights Lodging, and bad open Houses, and more chiefly
by often wetting
The Feet, and eating such Quantities of Pork as they do,
which is a gross Food, and a great Propagator of such Juices
as it often meets withal in human Bodies, once tainted with this Malady;
which may differently (in some Respects) act its Tragedy;
the Change being occasion'd by the Difference of Climates and Bodies,
as in Europe. We being well enough assur'd that the Pox had its first Rise
(known to us) in this new World, it being caught of the Indian Women,
by the Spanish Soldiers that follow'd Columbus in one of his Expeditions
to America; who after their Arrival in Old Spain, were hasten'd
to the Relief of Naples, at that Time besieg'd by the French.
Provisions growing scarce, the useless People were turn'd out of the City,
to lessen the Mouths; amongst these, the Curtesans were one Part,
who had frequently embrac'd the Spaniards, being well fraught with Riches
by their new Discovery. The Leager Ladies had no sooner lost
their Spanish Dons, but found themselves as well entertain'd
by the French, whose Camp they traded in, giving the Mounsieurs
as large a Share of the pocky Spoils within their own Lines,
as the Spaniards had, who took the Pains to bring it in their Breeches
as far as from America; the large Supplies of Swines Flesh,
which that Army was chiefly victuall'd withal, made it rage.
The Siege was rais'd; the French and Spaniards retreating to Flanders,
which was a Parrade of all Nations; by which Means, this filthy Distemper
crowded it self into most Nations of the known World.
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