168 DISEASES. 



appear to be most subject to it. Not only do natives often die 

 of nostalgia before they are landed, but many die from this cause 

 after their arrival in Fiji ; and the only way to cure those atfected 

 is the one least likely to be followed, that is, " to send them home." 



In the eastern part of the Solomon Group, one commonly meets, 

 natives limping along with large ulcerous sores on the soles of 

 the feet, seated usually near the base of the toes. They are often 

 caused by stepping on the shai-p corals when fishing on the reefs, or 

 by splinters of wood piercing the skin of the soles of the feet when 

 walking in the bush. As a rule, the native pays no attention to 

 these sores, and from neglect the ulceration extends both on the 

 surface and to the deeper tissues, exposing the tendons and the 

 metatarsal bones. Ultimately some or all the toes may be lost, and 

 an unshapely clubbed foot arises from the subsequent contiaction of 

 the cicatrised surface. At other times, where the ulceration has 

 been superficial but has extended between the toes, adhesion and 

 perfect union of the lateral surfaces of the toes ensue, and a continu- 

 ous covering of skin bridges over the intervening spaces. Mr. 

 Nisbet, the government agent of the labour-scooner " Redcoat " from 

 Fiji, showed me a Solomon Island native with a foot of perfect form 

 but with apparently no toes. A continuous covering of skin covered 

 the whole foot like a thin sock, and the toes were only recognisable 

 by the touch. The man appeared to be but little incommoded by 

 this obliteration of the toes. Among the natives of New Britain, as 

 we learn from Mr. Ilomilly,i " the toes are not unfrequently joined 

 together by a tough membrane," a defect which does " not seem to 

 impair their activity." This evidently results from superficial 

 ulceration in the manner I have above described. 



These ulcerous sores, if left exposed to the irritation of sand, 

 dirt, and flies, may last for years and may ultimately cause death. 

 Dr. Livingstone in his "Last Journals" (vol. ii. chaps. 2. and 3) 

 speaks of the ulcers of the feet from which many of the slaves die in 

 the region west of Tanganyika. They eat through everything 

 muscle, tendon, and bone, and often lame permanently. " Tlie 

 wailing of slaves tortured with these sores is one of the night sounds 

 of a slave camp." These irlcers, however, as they affect the Solomon 

 Islanders, have a natural tendency to heal. When staying with 

 Bishop Selwyn at Gaeta in Florida, I accompanied him on his 

 morning round of visits to his patients, most of them being the sub- 



1 " The' Western Pacific and New Guinea." London, 1S8G, p. 21. 



