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WEST I N D I E S .
not, they have still the consciousness of doing their d u t y .
I do not mean to assert, however,
that all negroes are incapable of gratitude, although the greater number consider t h e personal attentions of their master and mistress as their right, and view it in no other light. Of all t h e diseases to which
negroes are
liable, none is so difficult of cure as t h e mal d'etomac;
and as this disease is of great import-
ance, and is extremely curious, from its connexion with dirt-eating, I make no apology for speaking at some length of one or two particular cases.
This disease assumes different f o r m s ;
but in most cases, it is attended by deep d e pression of spirits, and this not only in adults, but in young subjects. was in J
The first case I saw
, a boy of about six years of age,
the son of L
: she h a d been a very indif-
ferent character, never at w o r k ; she was, however, very positive in her determination of curing this child.
T h e first day I saw h i m , he was
sallow, all t h e clear black hue of his skin was g o n e ; he did not complain, and when urged to