MEDICAL REPORT OF WESTERN DIVISION. 179 



They are very poor, and frequently suffer from scanty innutritious diet. As most of the members 

 of both of these tribes have been vaccinated by the missionaries, smallpox is of rare occurrence. 

 The Indian tribes on the Columbia river, below Fort Colville, are rapidly becoming depopu 

 lated by the smallpox, intemperance, and syphilis. During the past summer the smallpox has 

 prevailed in every direction, carrying off the natives by hundreds. The Lakemans and Wyam- 

 pums, during this short period, buried more than one-half of their numbers. 



In conclusion, I cannot too strongly urge the importance of some well-directed measures being 

 instituted for the thorough and systematic vaccination of all the native tribes west of the 

 Rocky mountains. Without requiring any additional argumentative appeal, common humanity 

 and good sense plainly indicate the course to be pursued. 



I remain, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, 



GEORGE SUCKLEY, M. D., 

 A. A. Surgeon to the Eastern Division of Exploration. 

 Governor ISAAC I. STEVENS. 



DR. COOPER S MEDICAL REPORT. 



FORT VANCOUVER, December 26, 1853. 



SIR: In this report I shall consider, in detail, all the facts noticed in regard to the health ot 

 the party the hygiene of the country, and the diseases prevailing among the Indians, with 

 their remedies. The general health of the party was very good throughout the journey. 

 No epidemics or endemic diseases prevailed ; boils being the only disease that occurred very 

 generally, probably in consequence of the warm weather and meat diet. Two men were 

 discharged at the Yakima with diseases contracted before starting, and which the nature of their 

 duties as packers, and daily riding, prevented a recovery from during a march. Disorders of the 

 digestive organs were common, but readily yielded to treatment. Although almost every person 

 in the command applied to me at different times for medicine or advice, the above were the 

 only cases especially worthy of notice. Many of the medicines furnished to the party were found 

 unnecessary, while others were very useful; and a few were not supplied which would often 

 have been serviceable. Considerable loss occurred from breakage in consequence of the diffi 

 culty of conveying medicines in panniers on the backs of mules. 



The country traversed from June to November appears to be very healthy in that season. 

 The great dryness of the climate, and the perfect drainage of the country, prevent the prevalence 

 of malarious disease in summer. No instance of endemic diseases of any other kind was met 

 with not attributable to the mode of life and habits of the inhabitants. Of the diseases prevalent 

 among the Indians, the smallpox was the most common and fatal in its effects. Whole tribes 

 have been exterminated by it on the Columbia river, and we met with it among all those inhabit 

 ing the west and north sides of its upper branches. Nearly all the survivors were marked 

 with it, and it was decreasing at the time of our visit. Vaccination had been tried by some 

 white residents on the Okinakane river, but without effect. East of the Columbia, however, it had 

 not yet appeared, and the principal tribes there had been vaccinated by the Catholic priests. 

 No indubitable cases of the syphilis were seen east of the mountains, though it has prevailed 

 very generally on the west side of the mountains. I saw cases of intermittent fever on the west 

 side of the mountains, but none on the east. The Indians there, however, say that it formerly 

 prevailed extensively, but suppose it was brought from lower down the river. I met with no 

 disease of the digestive organs among them, and their unvaried diet of dry fish and berries 

 does not seem to affect them. Chronic inflammation of the external eye, with opacity of the 

 cornea, is very common, apparently caused by the irritation of smoke in their badly-ventilated 

 huts. Blindness following smallpox was met with but rarely. 



I saw an instance of curvature of spine in a boy of about fifteen years, then past remedy. 

 Deformity of the hip-joints was not rare, probably in consequence of morbus coxarius. Frac- 



