On the Aborigines of Brazil. 1 55 



although their surface was uneven, and rougher than the rest 

 of the skin. The vicinity of the spots was frequently paler 

 than the sound skin; in some cases, almost quite white. 

 These patients suffered from enlargement of the liver. 

 This disease of the skin is said to be hereditary, and is con- 

 sidered by the neighbouring races, a national sign of the 

 Puru-Purus, the Amamatis and the Catauixis, on which ac- 

 count they go by the name of * the spotted.' Perhaps this dis- 

 ease may be derived from the amphibious life of these savages, 

 their bad food, and the custom of anointing themselves with 

 crocodile, or Lamantin fat. In the same neighbourhood, I 

 also saw a cachectic Indian of the race of Catauixis, who 

 had on his face and arms many white spots and points, and 

 was distinguished besides by an almost morbidly excessive 

 growth of hair. This disease too is said to be heredi- 

 tary, nay infectious also: individuals who have laboured 

 for some time under any of these various skin diseases, have 

 a cachectic appearance, which distinguishes them at first sight 

 from their healthy neighbours. The uniform copper red 

 colour changes into a dirty yellow, or into a characteristic 

 livid paleness, and a muddy heavy look pervades their dark 

 eyes. In such cases the hair gets gray, earlier than is usual, 

 in the American race. In general the Indian preserves 

 his straight, shining black hair up to his 60th year, without 

 any perceptible alteration. The women become gray earlier 

 than the men. 1 may here take the opportunity to mention 

 a very peculiar disease of the hair, which I observed not in 

 Indians, but in a woman of mixed Indian and European blood. 

 Long hairs grew under the cutis of the arms and knees, 

 and developed themselves with suppuration, and though pull- 

 ed out, renewed themselves from time to time. I saw her 

 at Joazeiro on the river S. Francisco, where common salt 

 effloresces from the soil, and she reminded me of the disease 

 called Wolosez, which occurs on the Don, at Tscherkask 

 and in other places in the south of Russia, where the soil 



