414 EXPEDITION TO THE 



proved very destructive, at different times, since their in- 

 tercourse with white men ; it exerted its influence very 

 fatally about fifteen years ago ; among the many instances 

 of its baneful extension, it is related that, at that time, of 

 forty or fifty individuals who resided in five lodges, only 

 one survived this plague. The Dacotas appear to enter- 

 tain no prejudice against the use of the vaccine matter ; 

 they have in many cases applied it when offered to them ; 

 the absence of the surgeon from his post at St. Anthony, 

 at the time that we passed through, prevented our ascer- 

 taining the success which he had met with among them ; 

 all the surgeons of our frontier posts ought to be abun- 

 dantly supplied with the virus, and their stock of it occa- 

 sionally renewed, until its increased consumption by the 

 Indian will enable them to obtain from them fresh virus, 

 as often as they may require it. The Dacotas have no 

 mode of curing the small-pox, and almost every person af- 

 fected with this disease falls a victim to it. 



Venesection is resorted to by the Sioux in cases of con- 

 tusions, head-aches, and pains in the breast. To a wooden 

 handle they fix a small blade of flint, w^hich is covered 

 with sinew except at its point ; they apply it to the vein, 

 which is then cut open by a slight fillip of the finger. They 

 also draw blood by scarifying, and by suction. Poisoned 

 weapons are used by them in their wars ; Mr. Cameron, a 

 trader, was poisoned by an Indian, who administered to 

 him some of the plant used for that purpose. 



The steam bath is prepared by them as by other In- 

 dians ; but is not so usually practised as a remedy ; it being 

 resorted to for the purpose of obtaining good luck, and as 

 a religious ceremony, in the manner which Dr. Richard- 

 son describes, as having seen practised by a Crec, (Kil- 



