STRANGE HAPPENINGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 16

STRANGE HAPPENINGS.

EAST COAST MAORIS

TOKOAIARU BAY, June 29. AVhen the continued prevalence ot tuberculosis among Alaoris on the East Coast was again discussed by the Waiapu Hospital Board the allegation was made that in at least one instance a tolmnga (witch doctor) had attempted a spurious cure. A report which was submitted to the hoard stated that when Dr Turbott, of the Health Department, Gisborne, commenced a campaign to stamp out tlie disease there were about 100 definite notified eases of tuberculosis of all kinds on tlie coast. Since then 40 of these Alaoris had died. That toliungas are still active m tlie backbtocks was the opinion of the Hospital Board. One member recounted two remarkable instances of their activities. He' told of a Maori mother whose children were suffering from aki aki (Hce). Last week she had been told by the tolmnga to stand in the surf herself for some time and then bring hack bottles of seawater as medicine for the children. This was in the deptli of winter, but the woman, carried out .the 1 lie aki aki. however, was still thriving. The board reported to the Health Department the case of a Alaori hoy suffering from tuberculosis. His mother had been found to he tubercular and His father w r as stated to have died of the disease. A tohunga’s attempted treatment, it was alleged, consisted of a mixture of brandy, port and patent medicines, topped off with a blessing, after administering which he had said that the hoy would recover. When discovered by the authorities and sent to a proper institution for care and treatment the lad’s case was found to he a bad one.