286 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



are purgatives, perspiratives, or urine-stimulants, 

 which they use not sparingly at the first approach of 

 disease, and in this way often check the progress of the 

 malady. But success does not always attend the treat- 

 ment. Certainly, cases enough occur where the pre- 

 scription is agreeable to the malady, and great benefit 

 is suddenly experienced. Such instances are then 

 noised abroad until the story of one and the same case 

 becomes so varied and magnified that it is regarded as 

 a daily and hourly occurrence, proof of the medical 

 skill of the Indians, and so the craving after their 

 mysteries is continually renewed and maintained. On 

 the other hand it is not remarked how many Indians 

 fall unhappy sacrifices to their over-praised methods 

 of cure. It is not observed that inflammatory fevers, 

 small-pox, and other violent diseases ravage unspeak- 

 ably among them, because their received methods can 

 effect nothing in such cases, more than chance being 

 necessarv in the treatment. It is not observed how 



/ 



most of their chronic patients leave the world as a re- 

 sult of carelessness and unskilful handling. The In- 

 dian, when he falls ill, has recourse first to his roots 

 and sacredly regarded herbs ; he purges and sweats 

 inordinately ; fasts for days together ; leaps into cold 

 water, and submits to conjurings. Should he conquer 

 his disease by arousing another well and good, the 

 medicines have done it. But should these first general 

 means prove in vain, he knows not what to do further, 

 uses promiscuously what strikes his fancy, and chance 

 not being favorable to him, gives himself up to despair 

 and his destiny. And what should lead us to think 

 that a people as rude as the Indians, so heedless and 

 without foresight, could be more fortunate in the dis- 



