THE PRESENT EVOLUTION OF MAN — PHYSICAL 291 



" Consumption is prevalent to a most disastrous extent 

 among the races of the Southern Pacific. We have 

 more particular accounts for Fiji and Tonga, Samoa, 

 Tahiti, the Marquesas, and Hawaii (Honolulu). In 

 New Caledonia the death-rate from consumption among 

 the Kanakas is estimated at two-fifths of the mortality 

 from all causes. Almost all the authorities are of opinion 

 that the great prevalence of the malady in these islands 

 dates from the time when the natives began to come into 

 more intimate relation with European immigrants, and 

 therewith to make considerable changes in their mode 

 of life ; and that opinion is borne out by the fact, that in 

 the Hawaian Islands, where phthisis at the present time 

 commits great ravages among the natives, it was of rare 

 occurrence forty or fifty years ago. On the other hand, 

 it follows from Wilson's account (1806) of the state of 

 health in Tahiti, that phthisis had been Avidely prevalent 

 in that group as early as the beginning of the century ; 

 and there are accounts to the same effect from the Tonga 

 group. New Caledonia, and other of the Archipelagoes 

 of Polynesia." — Hirsch, vol. iii. p. 187. 



" In New Zealand phthisis has made frightful ravages 

 among the Maoris, and has been one of the chief causes 

 of the gradual extinction of that race." — Ibid. p. 188. 



"On Nossi Be also the malady is pot uncommon 

 among the coloured races, particularly the Kaffirs. In 

 Madagascar and Mayotte it is as common as in Europe, 

 and rapidly fatal, as it mostly is in the tropics. In Zaii- 

 zibar, Lostalot did not happen to see many cases, but it 

 is said to be especially common among the Arabian 

 women of the higher class." — lUd. p. 189. 



" In Ca^e Colony phthisis is oftenest met with among 

 the Hottentots inhabiting the plains nearest the coast ; 

 in other classes of the population it is much rarer than 

 in the East African islands, within the tropics just 

 spoken of; while on the interior plateau of Southern 

 Africa it hardly occurs at all. There is a lack of infor- 

 mation of a trustworthy kind as to the state of health on 



