NATIVE HOSPITALS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 283, 20 March 1877, Page 3

NATIVE HOSPITALS.

(" .Vew Ziia.l:iri'[ Time*.*") Atthough we diiFer entirely from Sir George Grey's policy we can never underrate live services he has rendered tu New /-aland in the past, nor forget that many of the best institutions of the Colony may h - traced to the activity and energy of hist far-seeing mind. We are led into th: se remarks by the perusal of some late Cap*' papers*, in whieh a high tribute is paid to Sir Grey, a* having been the nrkinafor vi an idea for the establi.VM.ißut of a native hospital m King Williamstow-n. which has* been aueeessfully worked out. It »J«n»» that in ISG\ the pmtiicroE Dritish Kaffraria wa* entucy dt stttttte of hospital accommodation for eif.hrr civilians «>r native.*, and there were no civil practitioners within eighty miles of King Wiltiamstown. Independently of the state of things', there wa* a large native population, among whom a large number of native doctor;* were practising and ovtu- whom they eXere's-d a very intensive iuttuenee : for they taught the p M.pfe that sickness wa* the result o» wileheraft, and that they afoae were ahte to cure the sick T.e pjopb implicitly believed in their power, and whenever any person was aiil.cted with sickness, the witch doctor was •4 M .. t for to ftm'tl out the in lividuat who bewitched the patient, this proeeedure gen* rally tudiug in the totture by tire or'strnging ants, an t :h r death of the person accused, in addition to his being stripped *d all his cattle and ; r»p( rty. Front amongst the body os deters" false prophets frcptetulv ar.w.% inciting the people to war. Eyvty kailir war has its doctor, who professed to lie ii\,l< to bewitch th- -mmty and to impart str, ugth to the KathYs to overcome the Kur. peans. Owing to the tr.a'ntmen-t.-ilifv of Sir George Cry t"usr tvits were cured. A hospital was. established at which nafivv youths vf.fr taught the science of uv.-di.cn>". T.ve evil was to £>.,- attacked in its own stroifjiot t. The presvi'ded all via'ors of hnmatt .-.uttering tie pivsmupihtoits avert ts of imp ■ tiding evils wc;v to E.y oppose U>y m. n of their o'.vn. race, and speaking, their own lan-.qr:v-e, Uit tn.-'twucced at the feet . f Kdecce. and aiuud with t!ie skill aid the appliances of modern surge.y. Taken fi/o'm the people, and train -d nuder tpta!.iied Ihvropean practitioners, oalur.vd hy the adoption of ei.-itised hahi s. taught l.y practical experience the huu-tieent aims of Kurop-an medicine, they would return to their people the qu tidied agents of a science which I'.as much to do w;t » the happiness and morality of mankind. The result has been most succssful, as ahout sis tiiousaud people have been attended since the hospital op, ned. a favorable f'. t n: towards the me lical ] r >feswiorv crea't'l. ami some of the prejudices and obstacles removed, although a good deal vt mains to be done.