Under the head of “All other Diseases” is included one “lethargus,” a disease which, as far as I am aware, is altogether confined to the native population, “more particularly to the Kossohs and Congos tribes.” It is not restricted to any particular period of life, as old and young are equally liable to it. It is purely a disease of the brain and nervous system, generally fatal, except when seen in the very early stages. As it is generally met with, the patient sleeps continually, even when standing up, and becomes perfectly incapable of any exertion; the sufferer will even fall asleep while being fed. I have seen them last in this state for months, and gradually die of inanition from want of a sufficiency of food to support life. I have tried all kinds of treatment, but cannot recommend any more likely to be beneficial than a prolonged slight salivation, if you can meet the case in the inflammatory stage or that previous to the sleeping state just alluded to.
This and leprosy are the only diseases met with here from which the European is exempt.
ROBT. BRADSHAW, L.K. & Q.C.P.I.
Colonial Surgeon.
Freetown, Sierra Leone.
NATAL.
Special Remarks.—Of seven of the eight cases of syphilis (native), Hottentots were the subjects. Here, as elsewhere, they copy European vices very readily. The Kafirs adhere to their own vices, but are more slow in copying European manners and habits, good or evil.
I have met with one decided case of scrofula among the Zulus, and one only.
The ages of infants are reckoned by moons, but adult Kafirs (as the rule) do not know how old they are; the ages given are therefore only surmised, and cannot be depended on.
The tendency of disease among the Kafirs is to collapse and paralysis. No year goes round without deaths from cold and wet, which they bear less well than European settlers. They are apt to sink under any serious form of disease.