FEEJEE GROUP. 329 
The influenza is at times prevalent among the natives, where the 
, foreigners call it the “dandy cough.” It was so prevalent, that 
scarcely one escaped. ‘The natives give it the name of the Papalangi 
disease, as they suppose that it was brought among them by the whites. 
It made its appearance among them some years since, and again about 
a year before our arrival. Dr. Fox thinks, from the description he 
received from the natives, that it resembles in all particulars the epi- 
demic that raged so extensively in America about the same time. From 
the natives’ account, the last time that it occurred, there were not 
enough of well people in the village to look after the sick. In some 
villages one-half the population died. Whippy did not think this account 
exaggerated, and many of the whites say that at least one-tenth of the 
inhabitants fell victims to it, either at the time of the attack or from the 
effects of it. 
Whippy said that the mode of treating it was to drink plenty of 
warm water, roll themselves up in mats, and lay themselves down in 
their houses, where many of them died. Tui Levuka, when asked for 
information about it, spoke of it with much dread. 
From the observations throughout the group, we found that elephan- 
tiasis did not prevail to the extent that we had remarked at the more 
eastern and northern groups. It is said to prevail most at the isle of 
Kantavu, but as we had but little communication with its natives, I am 
not able to assert that this is correct. 
Dr. Fox remarks, that rheumatism is very common, more particu- 
larly among the women. Acute rheumatism is not very prevalent. 
The pain is principally experienced in the long bones, and they relieve 
it as they do other pains, by making deep incisions over the part 
affected: for this purpose sometimes, when cutting about the joints, 
they sever the tendons. The effect of this practice is seen in large 
scars upon almost every individual. 
Dr. Fox saw a lad, of ten years old, who had been cut in all direc- 
tions for a severe rheumatism he was subject to. Exostosis of all the 
long bones, and also of the skull, were apparent on him. He had, 
however, received so much relief from it, that he rather sought the 
operation. He suffered the most severely at night, and in bad weather. 
Dysentery has never prevailed here as an epidemic, although cases 
now and then occur, from irregularities, as elsewhere. The disease 
of the spine which we found so prevalent at the Samoan Group, is 
quite rare here. 
Of phthisis pulmonalis Dr. Fox did not see a case, and he thinks it 
must be rare. In his inquiries among the white men, he heard of a 
disease somewhat resembling it, and which, he thinks, may be it, or 
VOL. III. 2C2 42 
