Diarrhœa and dysentery make their appearance in the hot weather, and from five to ten per cent. of the cases prove fatal; these attacks occur most frequently during dentition, as with the Europeans.
The brain and nervous system are seldom attacked primarily. In their native state they indulge in no stimulants, and are not guilty of overtaxing their mental powers.
Consumption is common amongst them; and in every death that I have seen in the school children, there have been tubercular deposits in the lungs. The same occurs in the adults who have been six months and upwards confined in gaol; in fact, they cannot survive confinement in a prison beyond two years. Confine them two years and they will waste and die in a few months after liberation.
The most fatal disease that has come under my notice is the venereal, contracted by contact with the Europeans. Males and females suffer alike from it, and die generally of secondary effects.
As a race the aborigines are dying off and disappearing before a more highly civilized people, and must eventually disappear altogether. The venereal disease on the one hand, and the fact that the women are apt to become prostitutes, and in consequence cease to bear children, on the other, are reducing them at a very rapid rate.
M. MOORHOUSE,
Late Protector of Aborigines.
It is universally admitted that they are fast decreasing in number, and the cause of this decrease is attributed by most witnesses to their partial assumption of semi-civilized habits; where formerly they clothed themselves with the skins of animals taken in the chase, contact with Europeans has so changed their habits that they now, in a great measure, depend upon the scanty dole of blankets issued by the Government, which supplies, it appears from evidence, have been most irregular. Great suffering has been occasioned, especially among the aged and infirm natives, by the insufficient and ill-timed supplies, both of blankets and provisions. Disease appears to be induced by this partial and irregular clothing; pulmonary complaints prevailed to a fearful extent during last winter, aggravated by, if not entirely attributable to, this cause.
This decrease in their numbers is attributable to many causes:—
- 1st. From infanticide, to a limited extent.
- 2nd. From certain rites performed upon young men of some tribes, impairing their physical powers.
- 3rd. From the introduction among them by Europeans of a more aggravated form of syphilis than was known to exist previous to our occupation of the country. {63}
- 4th. From the introduction and use of intoxicating liquors, a habit of using which to excess is prevalent among the natives, who, despite of existing laws to the contrary, are frequently aided by Europeans in obtaining supplies.
- 5th. From the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes. This is proved by evidence to be carried to such an extent, not only between themselves, but also with Europeans, as, in a great measure, of itself to account for the infecundity of the race.
- 6th. From the disproportion of sexes.