THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, April. 6, 1854. HISTORY OF THE MEASLES.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 158, 6 April 1854, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, April. 6, 1854. HISTORY OF THE MEASLES.

Friends Maories,-- -During the last few weeks a new disease has appeared among you; it has attacked all the Maories living at Kororareka, Hokianga, Kiapara, Wangarei, Hauraki, Waikato, etc., and the disease is now spreading among the Maories living in other parts of the country. For. tunately very few have died from it, and yon therefore look upon the malady as 011 c of little consequence. This is a great mistake it is often a very fatal disease, and the Maories at Olago in the Middle island found it very fatal when it broke out among them in 18i>3. I have heard that Measles destroyed nearly one-half of the whole of the Maories then living at Olago. 'llic Maories about Auckland call this new disease " Pukupuku," the English name for it, is " measles," and as it is well that you should lie acquainted with its history and treatment, I trust you will read the following account of it. Description of Measles. Measles begin upon a man, woman, or child with cough, sareness of the eyes, lassitude, sore throat, and loss of appetite. This continues for a few days when the skin becomes hot and an eruption appears first 011 the face, neck and arms, then on the body and legs. It takes three days before the eruption comes jierlectly out, and three days before it goes away, so that the illness lasts six days. You will know the eruption by feeling that it is very slightly raised above the skin, and that between the blotches, there are small spots of the skin quite free from it.

Mcnslcs generally attack a person once in liis life, and generally aftccls a great many persons alone time. The great danger of Measles is, tliat ii often brings on consumption and diseases. Treatment. When a person lias the Measles llie grcal object is to gel tbe eruption well out on llie skin, and to keep it out the proper lime. This will be accomplished by ' keeping llie body warm with blankets. If a person who lias the Mcascls goes into cold water, or exposes the body to a cold wind, the eruption may be driven inwards, I have beard of one Maori woman, who on the appearance of llie eruption, washed herself all over with cold waler, to cool the skin, the consequence was, llie eruption went in, and she died. Take irmm'ng then, from llie appearance of Measles to prcp.irc for the small pox, of which disease you have heard much, and which you can prevent by vaccination. As the small pox has lately visited the Sandwich Islands, and oilier Islands near New Zealand, I hope when you visit Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Wliauganui or any place where there arc European doctors, that you will ask some of them to vaccinate the children you have with you, or the grown up persons among you, who arc net ■vaccinated, and from them, in seven days, you can vaccinate your children and relations at home.

Where hus the disease come from? From enquiry I lliink llic measles were brought here from Hohait Town in a ship which arrived at Kororareka from that place, The disease first appealed in this Country among llio Maories. and extended from lliein to the Europeans. Your Friend, A Pocron.

l-'iur.Nns M.vonir.s,— The subject I wish to bring before you now refers lo a disease which lias lately appeared in New Zealand called the " measles. Or course it could not lie ex- clcd, that you should lie acquainted willi tlio nature of this malady ; lint von have thought otherwise, anil in your rage for quackery, you have scaled the mountain heights, and penetrated the deepest recesses of (lie forest, in quest of what you are pleased to call, "medicinal herbs" How much you knew of (heir medicinal properties will be seen from the frightful circumslaticeof your having selected poisonous barks and herbs, and by vour wanton intermeddling sacrificed no fewer than nine lives in this neighbourhood. How many others have been killed by the same guilty imprudence in other districts, il is impossible to say. One of your favourite preparations consists of the leaves of the pencil tree, the vir.mia/, and other wild shrubs jrifused in a quantity of sea water. Tlie bodies of llio sufferers are bathed with this decoction, and the poor creatures are persuaded lo lake a draught of lliis wonderful medicine which 1 suppose is intended to kill or cure. This really is a grave matter, for you may destroy your countrymen in a wholesale manner, as thev look up lo you Maori Doctors because you profess to be wiser than they. Take my advice friends and in future confine your skill to the use of of the simple mallow or plantain. From your old friend Pakeiia.

Fr.iKNnsMAOniF.s.—The ninny reports by a Gentleman lately arrived from tlic various parts or the East Coast and by letters from others of the treatment the natives adopt to cure the mcnslcs now prevailing 0111011;; tlieni, most naturally creates surprise and wonder that all the natives are not killed quicker than tfiey arc who have risked so dangerous a remedy as cold water application by bathing in the sea, and covering themselves in blankets dipped in sea water. One most probable reason they are spared to linger even a few days is most probably from the (lipase being so very mpcli milder than il is known in Europe. The Treatment of those natives in' and around Auckland by Europeans have been most favourable where tlicy have been advised at once to avoid every thing that would tend to prevent perspiration, covering themselves up warm, keeping front cold winds by no means walking in the water, and by taking warm drinks, such as tea, and oatmeal gruel with a little medicines where the head and throat has been bad, have been nearly witlibut exception, efliicacious, in removing all untoward symptoms in two or three days, without fear of anything further. The medicines necessary can be easily obtained by application to the resident Missionaries who arc instructed in the means and as you all know arc ever desirous to help you in the time of need. Abide by their directions and the remarks above and you will find everything far more to your- comfort; from your old friend Ilohcpa.