1848.] 



The Neilgherry Mountains. 



€5 



Superstitious to a degree almost incredible, and prejudiced against 

 a,ll innovation and improvement, I fear they offer but a barren field 

 to the German missionaries who have established themselves on the 

 Neilgherries to labour amongst the Hill tribes ; and who are endea- 

 vouring to form village schools, in the hope of inducing parents to 

 send their children to them for instruction in their own tongue. 



Health and Diseases. ^P^" PO^"^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^''^^^^ 



information, as all the natives have an insur- 

 mountable aversion to entering a hospital; and though they value 

 and respect the opinion of a medical officer, they are not found to 

 come voluntarily forward to seek assistance and advice. From ob- 

 servation in their villages, and of the coolies and others who come to 

 the houses of European residents for employment, we are led to con- 

 clude that all classes of natives located on these Hills, whether of high 

 or low caste, aborigines or modern settlers, enjoy the most robust 

 health, showing that the pure atmosphere and invigorating climate 

 have the same genial effect upon the Native, as upon the European 

 frame and constitution. The most prevalent diseases amongst the 

 Burghers, who may be considered the mass of the Hill population. 

 Small Pox, a preva- Small pox, Occasionally fever, and an af- 



yaient diskse. ^^^^^^^ ^^^g resembling ophthalmia. 



The first of these is however the only one which can be called com- 

 mon amongst them, and is the greatest scourge by which they are 

 visited ; and as vaccination is not practised, the disease often commits 

 fearful ravages in their villages, carrying off whole families in a brief 

 space of time. There is no doubt that the mountaineers would wil- 

 lingly take advantage of the existence of a Vaccine Depot, if one were 

 to be established on these Hills; and as the disease certainly seems 

 local, and peculiarly virulent on them, and as it is totally impossible 

 for the two medical officers stationed in Ootacamund, to quit the 

 scene of their constant and extensive duty amongst the sick officers 

 and their families resident there, to introduce and practise vaccination 

 in the Burgher districts, it would be a great blessing to the district 

 if such an institution could be formed in it, and be the means un- 

 questionably of saving many lives. 



Health and diseases The impending measure for the location of Eu- 

 presumed causes of I'opean troops on these Hills will, it is to be hoped, 

 s\Tte!Ynd^the\Teat^ before loug, fumish striking and favorable evi- 

 SicaWund to be c^ence upon this subject. At present it can only be 

 inferred that the beneficial and renovating effect, 



?0L. XV. NO, XXXIV. i 



