78 AROUND THE WOULD VIA INDIA. 



effecting a speedy healing of the ulcerated surfaces. 

 Venereal diseases are not nearly as common in Samoa 

 as in Hawaii or Tahiti, as the women are more virtu- 

 ous, especially in their relations with white men. The 

 humidity of the climate, the cool nights, absence of 

 clothing, inadequate cover during sleep,, are respon- 

 sible for the frequency with which diseases of the respir- 

 atory organs prevail. Pneumonia occurs in a somewhat 

 mild form, as the mortality is not great. Epidemics 

 of influenza sweep over the island almost every year, 

 and affect young and old. but the disease is mild. Ty- 

 phoid fever is unknown. Malaria in certain localities 

 is quite common, but always of the mildest type, yield- 

 ing readily to the internal administration of quinin. 

 Diarrhea among infants and children, caused by im- 

 proper diet and exposure, is a very common affection 

 throughout the entire year. The question has often 

 occurred to me whether or not appendicitis is as fre- 

 quent among the people who live largely on bread- 

 fruit, bananas, and cocoanut, that is a laxative vegetable 

 diet, as it is with us, who are more imprudent in the 

 matter of diet. That the disease is rare in the islands 

 of the South Pacific I am sure, that it does occur is 

 shown by a case recently operated on at Pago Pago 

 by the predecessor of Dr. Odell. The patient made an 

 excellent recovery. Dr. Odell has been at his present 

 post since December, but so far has not seen a single 

 case, although his clientele is very large. Dysentery as 

 observed here is not a common disease, and yields read- 

 ilv to treatment. The island has so far escaped the rav- 

 ages of scarlatina and diphtheria, the scourges of child- 

 hood in most of the civilized countries. The sanitary 

 condition of the island appears to have been improved 

 during the last few years, in consequence of which the 

 population is now increasing. 



