SPINAL CURVATURE. 
39 
which terminates in a permanent affection of 
the spine; it usually appears in early life, com¬ 
mencing in the form of an intermittent or 
remittent. The body is reduced almost to a ske¬ 
leton ; and the disease terminates in death, or a 
large curvature of the spine, so as considerably to 
diminish the height of the individual, and cause a 
very unsightly protrusion of the spine between 
the shoulders, or a curvature inwards, causing the 
breast-bones to appear unusually prominent. 
Multitudes in every one of the Society Islands are 
to be seen deformed by this disease, which the 
natives call tuapu , literally, projecting; or, as we 
should say, humped-back. 
After this curvature has occurred, the patient 
usually recovers, and, although greatly deformed, 
does not appear more predisposed to disease than 
others. Those individuals are often among the 
most active, intelligent, and ingenious of the 
people. 
Connected with this disease, there are two re¬ 
markable circumstances. I am not prepared to 
say that it is hereditary, but the children of such 
persons are more frequently the subjects of it than 
others. It is also singular that it should prevail 
principally among the lower classes of society, the 
farmers and the mechanics. I know of no prin¬ 
cipal chief, and I cannot recollect any one even of 
secondary rank, thus afflicted : yet their rank and 
station are hereditary. This single fact renders 
more striking than it otherwise would be, the dif¬ 
ference in appearance between the chiefs and 
people, and it may certainly warrant the inference, 
that the meagre living of the latter exposes them to 
maladies, from which more generous diet and com¬ 
fortable modes of life exempt their superiors. 
