H.—3l

74

Physique. —The Maori physique is, on the whole, better than the white. (a) Nutrition: First class —Maori, 469-43; white, 379-85. Subnormal —Maori, 15-46; white, 25-49. (b) Total deformities of trunk and chest: Maori, 39-35 ; white, 58-63. (e) Poor posture : Maori, 37-24 ; white, 61-82. This negative way is chosen to show that satisfactory posture, the ready measure of physical efficiency, was commoner in the Maori. Pediculosis is all too prevalent among the Maori. The crowded housing-conditions are the factors in dissemination, especially the practice of sleeping often five or six in one bed. Maori, 200-28 ; white, 16-57. It is a family affair, the best method of attack seeming education through the school. On a few occasions the severe affection has been met where the occipital and parietal scalp is covered with matted hair, crusts, and exudation, infected with lice, with swollen posterior cervical lymphatic glands. Skin-conditions, where infectious, affect the Maori more because of his home environment, with its overcrowding and too frequent neglect. (a) Scabies : Maori, 129-30 ; white, 18-48. There is usually well-established infection in the home. Scratching leads to septic sores and impetigo. (b) Septic sores and impetigo : Maori, 60-42 ; white, 29-95. (c) Other skin-conditions : Acne, eczema, seborrhcea, ichthyosis, ringworm. These, with the exception of acne, were more often present in the white child. The figures for these troubles collectively, were : Maori, 21-76 ; white, 31-20. Vaccination against smallpox is practically non-existent in the Maori group, and negligible in the white one. Maori, 0-70 ; white, 24-85. Dental Hygiene. —(a) Defects in jaw or palate : Maori, 2-10 ; white, 8-91. (b) Perfect sets of teeth : Maori —Primary, 73-78 ; secondary, 172-87 : total, 246-65. White— primary, 31-23 ; secondary, 19-75 : total, 50-98." The Maori has a decided advantage here. It is worth noting that the more closely the Maori copies the diet and addiction to sweets, &c., of his pakeha friend, the more quickly does his dental superiority vanish. Enlarged Tonsils.—Maori, 275-45 ; white, 364-55. Enlarged Cervical Glands. —Maori, 309-20 ; white, 512-42. Goitre. —Maori —Incipient, 73-78 ; small, 4-21 ; medium, 0-70 ; large, 0-70 : total, 79-39. White — incipient, 314-85 ; small, 30-59 ; medium, 5-09 ; large, 0-63 : total, 351-16. While working up these figures an interesting fact emerged. Two-thirds of the Maori goitre was found in Whakatane County, where the pas are mostly inland. In the rest of the East Cape district the Maoris favour the actual coast-line, shell-fish and fish are readily obtained, and little goitre is evident. This lack of sea-food iodine may be the main factor in causation, for on assessing the amount of goitre in the white children of the group who live in Whakatane County only a slightly higher incidence than in the whole group was found. Whakatane County children of the group (rate per 1,000) : Maori—lncipient goitre, 155-29 ; total all forms, 167-05. White —Incipient goitre, 347-00 ; total all forms, 373-12. Ear-disease. —No significant difference was found in middle-ear disease or deafness. In the Maori discharging ears were usually woefully neglected. Otorrhoea : Maori, 6-32 ; white, 6-37. Eye-troubles. —(a) Conjunctivitis : Maori, 18-97 ; white, 3-82. A mild form of trachoma accounts for the increased Maori figure. (b) Squints : Maori, 2-81 ; white, 4-46. (c) Defective vision : Maori, 74-22, of which nil is corrected with glasses ; white, 90-94, of which 11-24 is corrected with glasses. Hernia.—Maori —lnguinal, 2-10 ; umbilical, 16-16 : total, 18-26. White —Inguinal, 1-27 ; umbilical, 5-73 : total, 7-00. The increased Maori figure is undoubtedly due to their method of delivery and treatment of the umbilical cord at birth. Phimosis was more frequent in the white group. Maori, 2-10 ; white, 11-47. Vulvo-vaginitis was not found in the white children, but 2-81 was proven bac-teriologically in the Maori group to be due to gonorrhoea. Flat Foot is a racial characteristic in the Maori. Practically no boots or shoes were worn in the Maori group. (a) Sagging arches (one or both feet) : Maori, 403-37 ; white, 231-35. (b) Completely flat (one or both feet) : Maori, 132-81 ; white, 39-51.