THE MAORIS AND THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2127, 9 July 1907, Page 1

THE MAORIS AND THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE.

A correspondent sends the Auckland Herald tlio following:—At.the head of Shoal Bay is a small native Settlement, and on each occasion that I have visited it there have been eases of sickness. The natives there are in poor circumstances, and are indeed quite helpless at times. They seem to cling to the idea that they are a loomed race, and exert themselves hut little to alleviate their sufferings. Frequently, their most common ailments, such as bronehites* lung troubles, etc. are untreated, and from time to time a death occurs which only becomes known to a few. My sympathies are particularly with the voting and the very old, who suffer ■nost. It is quite impossible on occasions to persuade them to sec or fake the advice of a European doctor. Either superstition or lack of means is responsible for this, and there is no alternative but to do the

best on can under the circumstances. For example, a little child, some 18 months old, suffering from infiunza and bronehites. was brought under my notice. TV natives sat round watching it, and one of them communicated the impression which existed that tho little one was certain to die, as the mother had already lost her two previous children under similar circumstances. A thorough rubbing with camphorated oil, new flannel, and attention to diet, brought the litle sufferer round, and two days later it had almost recovered. Another instance was that of an old man who had been tumble for 12 months lo dress himself through rheumatism. The fact was he had been lying half clad on the floor of his whave, only a few incites off the ground, in a damp corner, and had contracted the trouble. After providing him with an iron bedstead and mattress, this, together with repeated applications of an embrocation, brought about a change for the better, and he soon was able to walk about, prepare his food, etc., much to his delight. There are no doubt, sco/es of similar cases amongst the Maori population where suffering exists, mainly because of ignorance, and it has occured to me that these could he minimised b~ establishing a native doctor in each, of the principal- cities, who would not only understand tho native ailments, but could also give practical advice, without, the aid of an iuternroter as to the treatment of ordinary European complaints. Lectures could he given periodically, and the interest increased by arranging for examinations bv means of distribution of papers on health subjects. This by the way, might to some extent be included ill tlio syllabus in native schools. I would like now to draw attention to an anomaly which apparently ex-

ists in regard to the administration of the Health Act. Natives, after visiting Kuropean centres, and contracting sopin 'of put' ailiilents, return to their homes, and in some eases pass away as the result of lack of medical attention. No certificate is required; the body niay be taken rroni one district to another (1 have known instances where this has been done by rail and steamer); the death is not registered in any way, and. as one authority has informed me, no questions have been asked in more than one suspicious case that lm has been afterwards made aware 61. My informant is an educated Kuropean, married to a native wife, and I have every reason to believe his statement. Under such circumstances it is not to be wondered at that tlio Aluori_ race is last diminishing, and that disease is easily spread among them.