WeUinr/ton Philosophical Society. 435 



From a medical point of view the Maoris are a singularly uninteresting race. As far 

 as is yet Jsnown, they could not hoast of one single new disease, unless it were a form of 

 leprosy called ngerengere, and even that can scarcely be called a special disease, for it, or 

 some species near akin, is very common in Fiji and in Polynesia generally. This ngere- 

 ngere was first accurately described by Dr. Thompson in an article which appeared many 

 years ago in the " British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Eeview." It is a species of 

 Elephantiasis gracorum. Ngerengere, or leprosy, was at one time frequent among the 

 Maoris, probably being most frequent among the poorest tribes. As with leprosy every- 

 where else in the world, it has almost disappeared before the march of civilization. Half- 

 putrid eels and maize, and miserable fern-root and herbs and filth, all favoured its spread > 

 whereas good, well-cooked, nutritious diet, with cleaner habits, have largely caused it to 

 disappear. 



Maori lepers were strictly quarantined. 



The disease is now very rare ; and any existing case will rapidly improve for a time 

 under improved food and care. 



I have not heard that any European ever suffered from it. 



As in all other things temporal and spiritual, we have given diseases to the Maoris 

 and received nothing in return. To them we have given measles, scarlet fever, typhoid, 

 small-pox, and many others, and probably, as time rolls on, we shall give them more. 



Maoris suffered from very few diseases, but those few were very rife. They had 

 strange theories about diseases, attributing them as a rule to the action of evil spirits 

 (atua). They thought that for every disease there was a special attia. Thus, Bongomai 

 and Tuparitapua were gods of phthisis and atrophy of the legs and arms. Tonga was the 

 god of headaches, and Hi-tangata god of the stomach ; whilst Koro-hio-ewe presided over 

 women in childbirth, and inflicted many evils. Hine-te-itvaiwa was the goddess of mid- 

 wifery, according to another account. 



By some tribes lizards [ngarara) were supposed to cause all diseases, and in the 

 afflicted part a lizard was supposed to exist ; thus, a pain in the chest was due to lizard, 

 and so with pains in the head and elsewhere. They believed that lizards actually existed 

 in those organs and wilfully caused these evils. A little green lizard {Lacerta viridis) was 

 held especially baneful. 



A similar notion prevails among the people of many savage and semi-civilized 

 nations. 



The chief diseases from which the Maoris suffered were rheumatism in all its forms, 

 consumption, and scrofula. Consumption was with them, as it is with us, the most 

 frequent cause of death. This disease, is especially disastrous to half-castes. In the 

 Maoris phthisis ran its course exactly as it does with us, and varied in no way, except that 

 the Maoris as a rule succumb very quickly, and seem to have very scant power of resisting 

 its ravages. This, however, may be due to the fact that they have no idea of care or 

 nursing. Consumption was very largely induced by the unhealthy lives led, by the hot 

 steamy air of their 2vhares, and by au utter disregard of the simplest conditions of 

 hygiene. Hfemoptysis was regarded as a sure sign of impending death. 



Scrofula was very common, as might have been expected, when we reflect how ill- 

 cooked and innutritious was the diet of the Maoris, and how specially unsuitable it was for 

 infants and young children. One of the consequences of this want of proper nourish- 

 ment was seen in the frequency of cases of humpback, due to caries of the spine — often 

 with cure by anchylosis at right angles. Colenso ingenuously accounts for the frequency 

 of crooked spines by stating that it arises from the carelessness of the women, who carry- 



