260 Report 8. A. A. Advancement of Science. 



infant usually begins life with an attack of bronchitis — caused by the 

 smoky and irritating atmosphere of the hut — and, it ma}' be remarked, 

 a considerable percentage develop small ventral hernife, from coughing 

 before the umbilicus has properly cicatrised ; these small hernia? in 

 most cases gradually disappear, and those which persist rarely give 

 trouble. Onee the " red " Kafir child gets accustomed to the atmos- 

 phere of the hut, he remains comparatively free from chest troubles, 

 but amongst the " dressed " Kafir children bronchitis and broncho- 

 pneumonia are very prevalent, and cause many deaths. Dr. Melville 

 of Tsolo, to whom I am indebted for information on several points 

 referred to in this paper, has specially drawn ray attention to this 

 contrast. "Dressed" Kafirs give their infants and children tea, coffee, 

 sugar and bread, the latter usually very bad and indigestible, and in 

 consequence gastric troubles and deaths therefrom are more frequent 

 among them than in the children of the " reds," who get nothing but 

 the mother's milk and amai<)^ until at least fifteen months old. That 

 the substitution of tea, coffee and bread — generally badly made — for the 

 nutritious and easily digested diet of the primitive natives must seriously 

 deteriorate the stamina of the adults is evident. 



Concentration of Population and Infectious Diseases. 



But the factors which will undoubtedly pla}' by far the most 

 important part in reducing the rate of growth of the native popula- 

 tion are its concentration in special areas, in and ai'ound towns, and 

 the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases. ]f a colony of natives 

 were transplanted from the Transkei to a London slum and compelled 

 tf» adopt the diet and mode of life of its denizens, the process of ex- 

 tinction would not be a protracted one. The Namaqua nomad, penned 

 in one of our colonial gaols, often pines away and dies, sometimes with- 

 out any very apparent cause; but if he be in any way exposed to the 

 infection of tuberculosis, that disease will in all probability hasten his 

 end. Contagious diseases, such as syphilis and leprosy, which require 

 close contact such as chiefly occurs amongst members of the same 

 family, are not to any great extent influenced Ijy concentration of 

 population. Both these diseases are already prevalent among the 

 natives, and, despite precautionary^ measures instituted by the State, 

 are undoubtedly spreading. The number of native ami coloured lepers 

 in the colony, including those segregated in the Robben Island and 

 Emjanyana asylums, is pi'obably not far short of 2000. The future 

 eftect of this disease on the increase of the race is not, however, 

 likely to be ver}' appreciable. Syphilis is very prevalent among the 

 Bechuanas, of whom probably at least 20 per cent, are affected. This 

 disease, as already mentioned, materially affects the rate of growth of 

 this tribe, and is likely in future to do so to a still greater extent. 

 The other Bantu races of the colony appear to be more resistant, and 

 up to the present there has been no serious spread of the disease 

 among them. 



Another disease which is becoming increasinglv prevalent among 



