“In many of the dwellings it was seen that the denizens lack in both quantity and quality of food on account of their poverty. * * * Numerous cases were seen where the whole meal consisted of a few crackers and black coffee. In several instances cattle which had died of disease had been consumed, both flesh and viscera. According to the resident physician, Doctor Walker, the Oglala eat not only cattle but even horses and dogs that die of disease. The people are not emaciated; in fact, many look well nourished. Yet there is no doubt that many do not receive, except on rare occasions, all the nourishment they require. This doubtless induces indolence and disease. It would also strongly promote the spread of alcoholism, but fortunately there are very few chances for obtaining liquor on or near the reservation.
“Few of the Oglala men have any steady occupation. They do very little farming. During the summer they cut some hay in the valleys, which brings fair prices. Cattle and horses are being distributed by the Government to the different families, and stock-raising is being encouraged with some success. * * *
“The people of this tribe are quite shrewd, tractable, and glad to be instructed, though the instruction given does not always have practical results. Their most striking peculiarities are the above-mentioned tendency to a seminomadic life and the disinclination to steady manual work. They are very ignorant of all matters regarding hygiene. One of the most reprehensible customs among them is the so-called ‘passing of the pipe.’ Whenever a number of men have gathered in a house, there is passed from mouth to mouth a lighted pipe, the mouthpiece of which is never cleaned. As there is often in such a group an individual in the earlier stages of consumption, the habit must be regarded as providing a direct mode of infection with the disease.”[[50]]
This description of the Oglala Sioux by Doctor Hrdlicka, who is one of our most expert and competent scientists, might well be applied to other bands and tribes of Indians in the transition period. As has been suggested elsewhere, it emphasizes the immediate need of larger appropriations, the employment of numerous physicians and sanitary officials, if we would save the full-blood Indians.
A TUBERCULOSIS PATIENT. BEDDING COVERED WITH FLIES
Dr. Joseph A. Murphy is medical supervisor of the Indian Service, and a more competent man cannot be found. I have received a number of reports covering his activities the past two years. That the Indians are suffering, is no fault of Dr. Murphy’s, or his assistants. He has recently established hospitals and increased the medical corps. If the present ratio of increase in physicians and buildings continues, much alleviation will result.
Dark as is our picture, recently it has become brighter. The past two years conditions have greatly improved. There are more adequate appropriations. But this realization of our responsibilities at a late day, does not absolve us from past responsibility. We had been repeatedly told—nay, warned of the consequences, yet we continued our “same old story, in the same old way,” until the white people living in Indian communities complained. Now, when Indians complain we pay little heed, but when the representatives of the white people cry, “menace to public health”, we heed and we speedily send help to allay the fears of the good and substantial citizens. The appeal from Macedonia is not uttered in vain.
We now have hospitals building, and they may take care of a third of the sick. We also enforce stricter sanitary laws. So we may look forward to saving some of those who suffer from the “coughing sickness”, and as to the other scourge, it is so contagious that heroic measures have been adopted, and the light will not go out forever from Indian children’s eyes.
I present two field reports, sent by competent observers who traveled extensively in Wisconsin and Oklahoma, and both of whom have long resided among Indians there.