PAST AND PRESENT. 223 



is the regular custom of the country for the coolie to 

 have his hot bath every evening, yet they don't wash 

 their clothes. The winter clothing is all put away in 

 boxes during the summer ; and although small-pox is 

 never absent from the larger towns, still when winter 

 comes round, and their garments for that season are 

 brought again into use, small-pox is sure to increase. 

 The loss of infantile life from this scourge was excessive 

 before they took eagerly to vaccination. Even to the 

 present day it is looked on as a fatality, and no pre- 

 cautions are taken against its spreading. I have over 

 and over again met mothers in the streets carrying a 

 child one mass of small-pox. 



Neither lunatic asylums nor poor-houses exist in 

 Japan. Idiots and deformed people are very rarely 

 seen. During the number of years I have spent in the 

 country I never saw one of the former, and but very 

 few of the latter. I presume, not knowing for certain, 

 that both descriptions of unfortunates are quietly put 

 out of the way. 



Heart disease is common, which is not to be wondered 

 at ; for although both sexes are brought up to endure 

 hardship, exposure, and heavy work, particularly in 

 carrying great weights, still there is no doubt that they 

 very much tax and strain their endurance and strength. 



