1. Although the aborigines of this colony are liable to the usual
diseases of Europeans, I invariably found years back that they seldom
had the common diseases, as rheumatism, &c., &c., to the extent
Europeans have. Yet I may state, that eight-tenths of the mortality
amongst the aborigines of Victoria arises through intemperance,
bringing on pulmonary disorders, pleurisy, pneumonia, disorders of
the chest, consumption, &c., which carries them off so speedily that
the ablest medical treatment, when available, seldom saves them. I
may safely state that when their respiratory organs are once affected
recovery becomes hopeless. I have witnessed this so invariably within
the last 10 years, as to look forward for death as soon as they are
afflicted in the chest.
2. The aborigines, however, were not so affected in their respiratory
organs years back as at present; they have only been carried off so
precipitately since they have become slaves to intoxicating liquors. I
have known blacks, years back, to labour under diseases of the lungs
for nine or more months, but now seldom so many weeks, and often not so
many days.
3. There is a peculiarity even in their pulmonary disorders to the
European; there is not that straining distressing coughing which
Europeans labour under; the phlegm comes free without much exertion and
pain to the invalid, but accompanied with blood.
4. Wounds of whatever kind which do not affect a vital part are
more readily cured than in white people. I have seen most desperate
wounds inflicted by their weapons, that would have kept Europeans
for months invalids, healed in an incredibly short time, and to the
astonishment of medical men. Wounds, whether by accident or otherwise,
are immediately attended to by their doctors; if in the fleshy part of
the body, they suck the blood from the wound, and continue sucking it
till blood ceases to be extracted. If little blood comes from {57} the
wound they know all is not right, and will put the patient to pain by
probing the wound with their lancet (a sharp bone), or place the body
or limb in that position as to compress the opposite part to force
blood. They know well the consequences of stagnant blood or matter,
especially in the upper parts of the body. When the wound is thoroughly
cleansed they leave the rest to nature, clap a lump of pidgerong (a
kind of wax oozing from trees) on the wound; should there follow a
gathering, they open the wound afresh, and see all right, and again
cover it over with the pidgerong or gum.
5. _Rheumatism._―Their general remedy is friction. If very severe
about legs or thighs, the doctor gets a good mound prepared of ashes,
excavating the ground 18 inches, made solely from bark, which never has
any grit, but mere ash. If lumbago, the patient is laid on his stomach,
the doctor rubs most unmercifully the hot ashes on the part affected,
as a butcher would in salting meat; if in thighs or legs, the patient’s
feet are put into the mound of heated ashes, about half way up his
legs, where he sits whilst the doctor is rubbing the hot ashes on the
parts affected. During this process the doctor is incantating, blowing
occasionally a portion of dust into the air with a hissing noise. When
sufficiently operated upon, the invalid is wrapped up in his blanket.
6. _Boils._―The blacks treat boils and swellings thus:—When hard, they
lotion the part well with decoction of wattle bark; when obstinate,
they boil wild marshmallow, and poultice; if the tumour softens and
does not break, they apply their sharp bone lancet.
7. _Eruptions on the Skin._―The aborigines are deeply afflicted with
a disorder called by them bubberum, white men call it itch, but it
is in no way like it; it appears as a raised dark scab, and spreads,
joining each other, till it in severe cases covers almost all the lower
extremities. It seldom affects the head or upper parts, but I have
known it almost cover the thighs and downwards, so as to cause them
much difficulty in moving about. Their native cure for this distemper
is to grease the parts affected every night and morning with wheerup
(a red ochre) mixed with a decoction of wattle bark. I knew one
instance of this disease becoming most distressing to a white man in a
respectable position who was continually cohabiting with black lubras.
8. _On Burns._―Through their imprudence and carelessness they often get
severe burns, which they cure by dabbing the parts over with melted
fat, afterwards dash the parts affected over with a pulp made of
oppossum fur and dust of the wheerup.
9. _On Dysentery._―The aborigines of Australia are very subject to
dysentery, but not to the fatal extent as Europeans; their remedy
of this disorder is drinking plentifully a decoction of wattle bark
and eating gum through the day, and pills night and morning made by
themselves of wattle bark and gum.
10. _Pains in the Head, Bilious, &c._―If of long standing, the patient
is compelled to lie on the back; the native doctor puts his foot on
the patient’s head above his neck as long as the patient can bear it,
till water literally gushes from the patient’s eyes. However rough this
treatment, I have known this operation to give relief, and the patient
cured.
11. _Disorders of the Lungs, Spitting of Blood, &c._―The blacks study
much the colour of the spittle in those affected in the lungs, and
know well its stages. When the patient begins to spit blood, there is
much attention paid to him; should this increase, which generally is
the case, the native doctors have a consultation. When once the black
doctors hold a consultation, they will not let the patient take any
more medicine from the whites. The invalid is laid down on his back,
is held firm by three or more blacks, whilst the native doctor keeps
continually pressing with his feet, even to jump, on the patient’s
belly. I need scarcely state that this cruel practice brings on
premature death.
12. _Venereal Disease._―Though this disease in the first instance
must have been contracted from the whites, the native doctors have
prescribed a cure, which, though simple, I have found efficacious.
They boil the wattle bark till it becomes very strong; they use it as
a lotion to the parts affected. I can state here from my own personal
knowledge of three Golburn blacks having this disease so deeply rooted
in them, that the then colonial surgeon, Dr. Cousin, on examining them
said life would not be saved unless they entered into the hospital,
and an operation performed, which they would not consent to. After
18 months these three blacks returned to Melbourne among the tribes
(two {58} were young, the other middle aged,) perfectly cured, and
the blacks assured me they had used only the wattle bark lotion. Dr.
Wilmot, our late coroner, also saw these three blacks whilst in this
state and after their soundness, and in his report upon the aborigines
stated “however violent this disease may appear among aborigines,
that it could not enter into their system as it did in European
constitutions.”
13. In the aboriginal primitive state in times of sickness, as
influenza or other diseases prevalent, they invariably carried fire
about with them wherever they went; this was of bark only; a thick
bark, which they provided for the day’s journey.
14. _Fevers._―The aboriginal doctors’ treatment in fevers is strictly
the cold water system; no matter what kind of fever it may be, cold
water is the remedy, accompanied with prohibition of animal food. The
doctors have a quantity of water by them, fill their mouths full, spurt
it from the mouth over the whole of the patient’s body, back and front,
and for a considerable time to the navel, then with their hands throw
it over the face and breast; then lay the patient on the back, breathe
and blow at the navel, incantating continually while operating. If the
patient be young, the doctor will carry him, and plunge him or her
into the creek or river. The adult patients will voluntarily, by the
assistance of their friends, plunge themselves in three or four times a
day. The blacks obstinately persist in this mode of treatment, although
they find generally death is the result. I was not a little surprised
to find many years back that this also was the mode of treatment among
the natives of the South Sea Islands. As soon as fever attacked them,
they crept to the banks of the Yarra, and plunged themselves in three
or more times a day, as the aboriginals of Australia. I was called to
witness their habits when a party of them were enticed over by the late
Mr. Boyd; they were located at Mr. Fennel’s (Mr. Boyd’s agent) by the
banks of the Yarra.
15. I attach to this report on the diseases of the aborigines the
opinions of 29 gentlemen, situated in various parts of the colony, who
one and all bear testimony to the awful mortality amongst them.
_Names._ _Diseases._
Mr. Orr Intemperance and venereal.
″ Lane Scorbutic.
″ Templeton Intemperance and venereal.
″ Sherard Intemperance and exposure.
″ Shuter Consumption and decline.
″ Wilson Intemperance and exposure.
″ Feskin Bronchitis, pericarditis, psoriasis, and intemperance.
″ McLeod Intemperance and exposure.
″ Ormond Consumption, venereal, and intemperance.
″ Cook Syphilis.
″ Aitkin Liver complaints; intemperance; rheumatism.
″ Skene Syphilis, consumption, and rheumatism.
″ Beveridge Pulmonary consumption and venereal.
″ Allen Influenza.
″ Craig Influenza, consumption, and intemperance.
″ Gilles Intemperance.
″ Strutt Intemperance and violence.
″ J. M. Allan Influenza; inflammation of lungs; venereal.
″ Godfrey Drunkenness; consumption; venereal.
″ Gottreux Bronchitis; affection of the chest.
″ Currie Pulmonary complaints; intemperance.
″ Lydiard Syphilis; intemperance; rheumatism.
″ Stewart Consumption; intemperance.
″ Mitchell Pulmonary consumption; venereal.
″ Coake Consumption and old age.
″ Huou Influenza; intemperance.
″ Wills (Omeo) Intemperance; gun-shot wounds; venereal.
″ Featherstonhaugh. Pulmonary; venereal.
″ Lewes Atrophy; influenza.
{59}
16. A return from a public hospital, I deem, would be a fair criterion
for the Central Board, embracing the _two points_, _mortality_ and
diseases.
RETURN of ABORIGINAL NATIVES admitted into the Melbourne Hospital from
1st January to 8th November to date.
─────────────+──────────────────+─────────────+─────────────────────────+─────────────────────
DATE. │ NAME. │ TRIBE. │ DISEASE. │ REMARKS.
─────────────+──────────────────+─────────────+─────────────────────────+─────────────────────
April 17 │ Tommy Buckley │ Gipps’ Ld. │ Burnt back │ Discharged, July 20
July 4 │ Maria │ Yarra │ Pneumonia │ Discharged, July 24
September 14 │ James Shaw │ Hopkins’ R. │ Pleurisy; Phthisis. │ Died, October 21
September 18 │ Sandy │ Sydney │ Pneumonia and Phthisis. │ Died, September 25
October 30 │ Tommy Buckley │ Gipps’ Ld. │ Pneumonia and Phthisis. │ Died, November 2
October 30 │ Tommy Nannering │ Yarra │ Pneumonia and Phthisis. │ Died, November 2
─────────────+──────────────────+─────────────+─────────────────────────+─────────────────────