1953} RITZENTHALER, CHIPPEWA HEALTH 227 



usually purchased because of the lack of facilities for preservation. There is 

 only one refrigerator on the reservation, and ice boxes are rare. This limits 

 the use of fresh dairy foods, with canned milk taking preference over fresh 

 milk, and butter and cheese not commonly encountered. Some of this lack 

 of fresh food is compensated for by the use of supplementary native foods, 

 but the supply is not always dependable. There is also a considerable use of 

 starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, and dumplings. In general it may be 

 said that the absence of a well-rounded diet is due to the lack of knowledge, 

 financial means, and preservative facilities. Tied up with the problem ot 

 adequate diet is the existence of actual food shortages at times when money 

 runs out. While no one starves to death on the reservation, there are hard- 

 ship cases which undoubtedly leave their mark in terms of health. It is 

 apparent that the inadequate diet is a contributing factor to the incidence of 

 tuberculosis which is to a considerable extent a disease of malnutrition. 

 Whatever the causes and contributing factors, tuberculosis is the chief health 

 problem of the modern Chippewa and they are well aware of it. 



Another clue to the health situation during the historic period is to be 

 found in the observations and reports by early writers pointing out the high 

 rate of infant mortality. For example, Peter Jones (p. 145), working among 

 the Canadian Chippewa during the 1830's and '40's says "It is painful tor 

 me to relate, that of all the children that have been born among these tribes 

 with which I am acquainted, more than one-half die before even reaching 

 the period of youth; it is only those who have the strongest constitutions that 

 survive the shocks and exposures to which they are subjected during infancy 

 and childhood. The poor mothers are very ignorant of the nature of the 

 diseases common to children, and of the proper treatment of them; some- 

 times their clothing is very scanty, at other times they are almost smothered 

 in blankets. The food which they eat is often injurious, and thus disease is 

 generated by the very means used to subdue it." A report on the White 

 Earth (Minnesota) Chippewa for 1890 contains the following statement. 

 "Nearly two-thirds of the Indian infants die under 5 years of age . . ." 

 (U. S. Census, 1894, p. 340-1.) While such observations and reports must 

 be considered as opinions rather than statistically arrived at facts, and thus 

 may be somewhat exaggerated, it is still apparent that the rate of infant 

 mortality was, and is today, unusually high. 



In summary it may be pointed out that the evidence strongly suggests 

 that a preoccupation with health existed among the Chippewa Indians in 



