470 Transactions.—-Miscellaneous. 
I think that, viewed by the light of modern research, which shows that 
all epidemic diseases are due to the propagation of minute vegetable organ- 
isms in our bodies, it is somewhat strange that these organisms, which like 
vaccine tend to sterility when repeated too often, should not have flourished 
far more on such virgin soils as the bodies of the Maoris. It has occurred 
to me, but of this I have no proof, that the phthisis which is so invariably 
and so speedily fatal to the Maoris, may owe some of its severity to the 
importation of phthisis germs of a stronger and more virulent nature, such 
germs finding a most nutrient soil in the bodies of the weakly constitutioned 
Maoris. 
Other Factors. 
Alcohol has undoubtedly assisted in killing the natives. The liquors 
drunk by the natives are usually the poorest, the worst, and the most 
adulterated. Alcohol seems to affect them just as it does ourselves. It 
kills them indirectly, by leading to various diseases, and directly by leading 
to severe accidents. Maoris when drunk will lie about anywhere in the rain, 
or on a damp soil, or with wet clothes on, and this of course leads to more 
deaths through coughs and colds and rheumatism. The large revenues 
arising from the sale and lease of their lands are chiefly spent on aleohol. 
The sexes drink alike, and drink till all the money is gone and the landlords 
refuse to give them any more credit. 
Tobacco is another evil agent: for the incessant smoking of the worst 
and most fiery brands, by men, women and children, is certainly produe- 
tive of a lowered vitality, which shows itself in an enfeebled progeny, and 
renders all classes more accessible to evil influences. 
Among all Maori experts there is a consensus of opinion that our 
mode of clothing ourselves, imperfectly adopted by the Maoris, has been 
to them a source of disease. Formerly, on entering their whares with 
wet mats, they simply flung them aside, whereas, now, their modern Euro- 
pean clothing they keep on, and do not change until they are dry. Moreover 
they do not regulate this clothing to suit changes of weather, but will wear 
warm clothes in the sultriest weather, and in bitter cold will put on a>y 
seanty garments they may have. This undoubedly does lead to many evils, 
and especially in the case of children, and tends to many disorders which 
eventually end fatally. 
I agree with certain writers in thinking that indolence is also a eause Of 
their decrease. Formerly they were foreed to work continually for a living, : 
now they lead the laziest of lives ; this laziness generates a host of evils. eo 
In the United States it has been observed that negro slaves kept at work 
tS lala laa ie + etoadily de 
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