a 
328 FEEJEE GROUP. 
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 here- 
tofore mentioned. 
For this disease they have several remedies; and when the pain is 
severe and fixed, they make incisions over the part, which gives 
relief. The ulcers are usually left to nature, no applications being 
made until they are very foul, from the quantities of pus discharged, 
which serves in place of a covering. The mother takes a child who 
is affected with the disease to a running brook, and with a sharp shell 
or piece of bamboo, scrapes the ulcers all down even with the skin; 
she then rubs them with soot, and the ulcers usually heal rapidly after 
such treatment. It seems a very painful one, but I did not find the 
children complain or cry much while undergoing it. 
They generally believe that the disease will run its course, but they 
avoid eating pork or any thing sweet, as they have found, by expe- 
rience, it is hurtful and aggravates the disease. If the eruption has a 
tendency to dry up at too early a period, Dr. Fox says they give an 
infusion which has the effect of driving it out; but he did not learn 
particularly what it was. 
While at Levuka, Dr. Fox had several of the white men, affected 
with the disease, under treatment. One of them had had it for about 
a year. Dr. Fox says that this man was improving when he first saw 
him, but was still labouring under severe pains in damp weather. All 
the ulcerations had been healed excepting one upon the frontal bone, 
which was exposed. This ulcer was of the size of a shilling. He 
placed his patient on a generous diet, gave him sarsaparilla freely, and 
before we left Ovolau his pains had left him entirely. The outer table 
of the skull came away, and the parts healed over it. He saw this man 
a month afterwards, when he was perfectly well. He adopted the same 
treatment with a number of others, applying the Citron ung. to the 
ulcers, which operated like a charm, healing them up very rapidly. 
Foreigners are not exempt from this disease. If they remain any 
time in the group, they are affected in the same manner as the natives. 
Age seems to influence it but little. 
The natives assign no cause for the disease, but Dr. Fox thinks the 
climate, diet, and habits of the natives, are the general causes pro- 
ducing it. 
