Volume 2

An account of the natives of the Tonga islands, in the south Pacific ocean. With an original grammar and vocabulary of their language / Compiled and arranged from the extensive communications of Mr. William Mariner, several years resident in those islands. By John Martin.

  • Mariner, William, 1791-1853.
Date:
[etc., etc.] 1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the natives of the Tonga islands, in the south Pacific ocean. With an original grammar and vocabulary of their language / Compiled and arranged from the extensive communications of Mr. William Mariner, several years resident in those islands. By John Martin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in a very bad state: and this was all that he learned respecting what might reasonably be supposed to be true syphilis. Palta frequently gets well spontaneously: but the remedies commonly used are scarification of the ulcered surface, powder of turmeric sprinkled over it, and sometimes a bitter vegetable juice drop- ped on it. They have among them another kind of ulcerous disease which they call tona, very distinct from the two last de- scribed, children being for the most part subject to it; and it is one of those diseases which only occur once during a person’s life. The patient is first seized with general languor and debi- lity, attended with loss of appetite. In a few days an eruption appears in different parts of the body, but particularly in the corners of the mouth, axillae, groins, parts ot generation, and anus. The pustules at first are exceedingly small, but at length increase to about half an inch in diameter : fungous excrescen- ces grow out of them, exhibiting a granulated surface, and dis- charging a viscous fluid, which concretes round the edges. These pustules come also upon the soles of the feet, and increase to a considerable size, giving very great pain. Mr Mariner is not ac- quainted with the state of the pulse. The disease generally lasts se- veral months, and sometimes a couple of years. F rom the symptoms thus far described, there is not much doubt about its resemblance to what is called the tjaws. The remedies they use for it are a certain bitter juice dropped into the ulcers, and rubbing off the fungous excrescences with cocoa-nut husk dipped in sea-water. They are subject also to a pustulous eruption, chiefly confined to the feet, but which sometimes aflects the hands. It usually appears between the toes, and has in its external character a strong resemblance to psora, and itches very much. It appears in the form of small pustules with whitish heads, which, when rubbed off, generally discharge a watery fluid. It is supposed to arise from walking in clayey places, without the opportunity of washing the feet afterwards. It is not thought to be conta- gious ; and usually lasts about four or five days. The name they give it is gnowooa. They use no remedy. They are also subject to a disease called/boa; but if we de- scribe the symptoms of elephantiasis, we shall have related with tolerable accuracy the history of the disorder.. Labillardiere notices the disease, and calls it elephantiasis. They use no re- mcHy for it. The disease called momoco, a sort of marasmus, usually lasts from four to seven months, and in the latter stages it somewhat Tesembles phthisis. It comes on with occasional chilliness, loss of appetite, lowness of spirits, wasting of the flesh ; shortly suc- ceed swellings in the groin and axillae ; general debility, pale- ness of the lips. As the disease advances the patient stoops