ABSTRACT
The communities which have not been in contact with eivilization are remarkably free from infectiou11, contagious and other diseases. Except during heavy rainy seasons when malaria becomes unduly prevalent the incidence of disease is very small among them. Sickness is in most instances attributed to the non-observance of customary practices on the pal't of t.he affected person, to magical influences exercised by other persons or, when unduly prevalent, to something going wrong with the perpetual fire. Treatment is administered by relatives and :friends or in cases of acute or prolonged mness by an elder or doctor who is well versed in magical practice. Herbs of various descriptions are employed both internally and externally through incisions in the skin. Inunction with medicated ointments is also extensively resorted to. Surgical procedures are limited to in<'isions into the skin. Burial of the dead is carried out almost universally at present. Among the more primitive groups, however, the corpse is left in the hut which is simply pressed down so as to cover it. After a death has taken place the camp is deserted aud not occupied again. l)ld people who are no longer able io help themselves are left in the werft with a supply of food and water .. The rest of the group then move off and do not 1·eturn to it again.
