tends to induce these diseases. They expose themselves to all kinds of weather; they will sleep without any covering; and their conduct in other respects is such as to bring on diseases of the worst description.
On the Government Stations in Victoria, where considerable numbers of Aborigines are now located, and where their ailments are treated by professional gentlemen who report regularly to the Board for the Protection of Aborigines, the most common diseases are catarrhs, influenza, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, phthisis, rheumatism, glandular affections, inflammation of the kidneys or liver, lumbago, tabes mesenterica (in one case with chorea), eczematous affections (as psoriasis, &c.), hydatid tumours in the lungs, &c., low intermittent fever, ophthalmia; whooping-cough, affecting adults as well as children; gonorrhœa, and syphilitic diseases. The natives are not free either in these establishments from prevailing epidemics, as measles, scarlet fever, &c.
There is one complaint which seems to be indigenous. Collins mentions it. He says that the natives living on the sea-coast, who feed chiefly on fish, have a disorder greatly resembling the itch. They term it Djee-ball-djee-ball. It was sometimes virulent, and those afflicted with it were rendered loathsome. Mr. Taplin says this disease amongst the Narrinyeri is called Wirrullume, and resembles pustular itch, but is not communicable to Europeans; even half-castes seldom have it, although they may sleep with persons suffering from it. The application of sulphur, he adds, is a specific against the Wirrullume. Mr. Gason reports that a cutaneous disease, which he thinks is the itch, and called by the Dieyerie people Wittcha, is prevalent at Cooper's Creek. The symptoms are innumerable small pimples all over the body, causing considerable irritation, only to be temporarily allayed by rubbing the parts affected with a sharp instrument or stone—the hand alone being insufficient to afford relief. It is very contagious, spreading from one person throughout the camp, and is probably caused by a general want of cleanliness and allowing mangy dogs to lie with them. They are subject to this disease once a year.
The late Mr. Thomas stated that this kind of leprosy, or itch, was called by the natives of Victoria Bubburum; and that they had it always amongst them. He knew scarcely one above twelve years of age that was not affected with it. He added—"All animals, dogs, cats, and even opossums, if kept by the blacks as pets, are soon affected with it; the animals lose all their hair, and soon show only a bare skin."
Boils are common, too, amongst the natives in some parts. Mr. Gason says that a disease—Mirra—afflicts every native once in his life—sometimes at three years of age, but more frequently at fourteen or thereabouts. The symptoms are large blind boils, under the arms, in the groin, or on the breast or thighs, varying in size from a hen's egg to that of an emu's egg. The complaint endures for months, and in some instances for years, before it is eradicated, and during its presence the patient is generally so much enfeebled as to be unable to procure food—indeed he is often rendered quite helpless. The only remedy employed is the application of hot ashes to the parts affected.
Mr. John Green informs me that he has observed the blacks to suffer from a disease which is obscure in its origin, and develops symptoms not observed
