HAWAIIAN GROUP, 



51 



The practice of medicine was not known in ancient times ; they 

 had then no physicians, and the only medical treatment, if such it 

 may be called, was, when they had eaten too heartily of food, to drink 

 sea-water in large quantities, to produce a cathartic effect. They 

 used the loomi-loomi, or kneading the flesh with the hands, in cases 

 of fatigue, over-eating, and pains ; and this is yet quite general. 



The practice of medicine is said to have taken its rise in the reign 

 of Atapai, the predecessor of Kalaiopua, who was king when Cook 

 visited the islands ; since that time there has been a distinct class in 

 this employment. An epidemic, which prevailed extensively, is said 

 to have been the origin of this class, and their number was greatly 

 increased afterwards, in the reign of Kamehameha I. ; and after this 

 they were to be found in great numbers, furnished with a vast variety 

 of nostrums. 



STONE aiOITS, PESTLE, AND MAIKA. 



