“The investigations on which this report is based were pursued in five of the tribes, shown in the above-mentioned data to be most afflicted with tuberculosis, and in one of the large non-reservation schools. The tribes in question are the Menominee in northeastern Wisconsin; the Oglala Sioux in South Dakota; the Quinaielt on the seacoast and along the river of the same name in northwestern Washington; the Hupa in northwestern California; and the Mohave, on the Colorado river between Needles, Cal., and Yuma, Ariz. These tribes were selected not only because of the prevalence among them of tuberculosis, but also because they live under widely differing conditions of climate, environment, civilization, and contact with the Whites. The school visited is the one at Phoenix, Arizona. The investigation was carried on during the two months of midsummer when people everywhere are most free from the various bronchial and pulmonary affections that might complicate a diagnosis.
“On account of the short time available, and the extensive ground to be covered, the study had to be limited to what was most essential toward obtaining reliable statistics. In the smaller tribes, as the Hupa and the Mohave, nearly all the dwellings were visited, and all the members of the tribe who were not far distant were studied. In the larger tribes, as the Menominee and the Oglala, the examinations were limited to one hundred families. Among the Oglala, these one hundred families included only full-bloods, who in this tribe suffer more from tuberculosis than do the half-breeds.
AGED WOMAN NEARLY BLIND FROM TRACHOMA
“The actual work consisted in visiting the dwellings consecutively and making a personal examination of each member of every family, healthy or not healthy. In many families absent members were brought from many miles away by the Indians themselves for examination. This examination embraced the lungs, heart, glands of the neck, and skeleton, and was supplemented by inquiries. * * *
“The investigation was everywhere promoted by the Indians themselves, who welcomed an inquiry into the disease which is decimating them, the gravity of which they well appreciate, but against which they feel utterly helpless.” * * *
He found the Oglala Sioux, of Pine Ridge reservation, numbering 6,663, very susceptible to tuberculosis; the number of individuals in a thousand affected with pulmonary tuberculosis being 30.8, bones and joints 6.8, and glandular 57.7. The highest number of persons suffering from this disease was found among the Hupa Indians of California, where the number of individuals per thousand arose to 60.4, pulmonary tuberculosis.
“In regard to civilization, the Oglala are in the transition period, which generally means partial degeneration. They live in small or fair-sized log houses of one room, each provided with one or two small windows that are never opened. The houses have earthen floors and sod roofs. In summer almost every family constructs from poles and boughs, or from young pine trees, a more or less open shelter in which, while it is warm, they spend most of their time. Usually, each family has also a light, easily portable tent, which represents the ancient tipi. These tents are erected near the house and are occupied by the aged, by some relative or visitor of the family, or serve to sleep in. When the family leaves home, such a tent is packed, together with bedding, kitchen utensils, etc., into the wagon, and is pitched whenever a stop is made for the night. Indeed, there will be at times one or more villages of these tents near the agency, or about a house where some particular feast is being given. In summer these tents are oppressively hot during the day, though they become cool if the sides are raised. As they are made of very light fabric, they are cold at night, and afford but poor protection during a severe rain or hail storm, as the writer personally experienced. * * *
“As to clothing, the Oglala now dress like the Whites in most respects, though the majority still persist in wearing moccasins. The women wear leggings and always a blanket or shawl when going about. A tendency to wear too much clothing, even on the hottest day, was again noticed and is very prevalent. This is due partly to ignorance and partly to vanity. The garments are usually far from clean. The writer learned of several instances in which the clothing of tuberculous persons was given or sold to others.
“In diet the Sioux are chiefly meat eaters, the principal kind of meat consumed being beef. They cook this fresh, or cut it into strips and dry it on cords stretched outside their dwellings. Other common articles of diet are badly made wheat bread and large quantities of coffee. When they have money they purchase crackers and canned foods. They eat very irregularly, both as to time and quantity. During feasts and when visitors are present, they not infrequently use the same wooden spoon or other utensil, one after another, and eat from the same dish, the bones and other remnants being freely strewn over the floor.