188 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



As to the blood glands, the spleen suffers secondarily in malaria, as 

 in whites. The thyroid degenerates occasionally into goiter, particu- 

 larly in certain regions and individuals (almost exclusively females). 



Lymph glands are apparently the seat of but one affection, namely, 

 scrofula. Even this is rare among the more primitive peoples, but 

 a moderate number of examples can be found in every tribe of the 

 more civilized Indians. 



The prostate gland was found enlarged in a few instances. 



Affections of the breast glands are much less common in Indian 

 than they are in white women. 



Diseases or defects of the circulatory apparatus are very infre- 

 quent. Among more than 2,000 individuals examined the writer found 

 but 3 cases of organic heart trouble (all valvular insufficiencies) and 

 not one pronounced instance of advanced arterial sclerosis. No 

 definite information could be obtained about any case of apoplexy, 

 though some rather sudden deaths are remembered. Varicose 

 veins are rare. Direct examination in many hundreds of indivi- 

 duals failed to show one very pronounced instance. Hemorrhoids 

 are also infrequent. No case of a nevus came under the observation 

 of the writer. 



Diseases of the respiratory apparatus are, on the other hand, 

 relatively common and cause numerous deaths. Among the non- 

 civilized tribes the chief of the more serious of these affections is 

 pneumonia; among the tribes on the road to civilization this begins 

 to be rivaled by pulmonary consumption. This latter disease, 

 which in all probability was extremely rare, if it existed at all, in 

 the prehistoric Indians, and w^as seldom seen up to a century ago, 

 is gradually becoming everywhere more common, even among the 

 Indians of the Sierras. It attacks especially the adolescents and 

 younger adults. It follows a very rapid course in some individuals 

 and moderately rapid in others, and is nearly always fatal; in a few 

 only it becomes chronic. Judging from descriptions, pleurisy is not 

 uncommon at certain seasons, while milder grades of bronchitis and 

 allied affections are met with quite often during the cold weather. 

 No instances of severe asthma, of "false," or of membranous croup 

 were encountered. 



Disorders of the digestive apparatus are very common, but they 

 are rarely, except in infants, of a serious nature. 

 Contrary to all expectations, typhoid is very rare. 

 Forms of bloody diarrhea or dysentery, often probably of malarial 

 origin, attack the Indians, children as well as adults, in certain 

 localities, especially in the lowlying parts of Mexico. 



Intestinal parasites (tapeworms) are heard of but seldom. 

 No case of appendicitis, peritonitis, ulcer of the stomach, or of any 

 grave disease of the liver, was observed. 



