346 FEEJEE GROUP. 



these pains, which are rheumatic in character, continue at intervals 

 throughout the disease, and are followed by small red spots in dif- 

 ferent parts of the body. These become round pustules, varying in 

 size, and result in ulcers. After the eruption has appeared, the pains 

 about the bones cease to be so general. Sometimes they disappear in 

 fine weather, but return when it is damp and wet. In other cases 

 they lose the fugitive character, but have a constant fixed pain over 

 some bone, which is not relieved until the integuments inflame and 

 carious bones find exit- 

 In the first attack there is much irritation, particularly at night, 

 and more or less fever. This also disappears in most cases as soon as 

 the eruption is out. The mouth, arms, and umbilic, ulcerate around 

 the whole circumference. The extent of the disease about these 

 parts, Dr. Fox thinks is owing to the constant scratching of the 

 child. Very large and extensive ulcers, at the same time, exist in 

 various parts of the body, some having the appearance of a fungous 

 mass. In adults the pericranium is oftener affected than in children, 

 the bone is denuded, and frequently pieces of the table of the skull 

 come away. In some cases the eruption does not appear, or after appear- 

 ing immediately dries up. These cases are said to prove invariably 

 fatal. Cases are by no means rare of the loss of the bones of the palate 

 and nose. In several instances we observed the upper lip entirely gone, 

 and the teeth and gums denuded. The females, ha particular, are 

 very often seen with deep cicatrices about the lips, so much so that 

 in making inquiries relative to their customs, I was induced to ask 

 Whippy, if making cicatrices in their lips was one of them. Dr. Fox 

 imputes it to the dthoke, though Whippy refers it to tattooing : I am 

 inclined to believe the former is the true cause. This disease varies 

 in duration, from nine months to three years. The ulcerations con- 

 tinue longest on those parts of the body that are easily reached by 

 the fingers, and those about the mouth frequently remain after every 

 other vestige of the disease has disappeared. The ulcers begin to 

 heal in the centre, even while yet enlarging at the edges. They 

 generally attain the size of a dollar, and are apt to become fungous 

 about the mucous orifices. The natives say this disease has always 

 prevailed among them, and always speak of it as a Feejee disease. 

 We have observed something of a similar nature on the other islands 

 which I have heretofore mentioned. 



For this disease they have several remedies; and when the pain is 

 severe and fixed, they make incisions over the part, which gives 



