276 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[Bull. 196 



Table 9. — Distribution of SB schoolchildren, by health classroom behavior 



(^criterion III) 



> One child mentally retarded. 



differences. There are two major groups, those who use Indian 

 "doctors," and those who do not. Among those who use native prac- 

 titioners, some are more consistent in their use than are others. For 

 the most part, the most consistent patients of Indian healers are the 

 old Indians, but not exclusively so. The more prevalent pattern is 

 the alternative use of both aboriginal medicine and modern medicine. 

 The second major classification is subdivided into those who use 

 Public Health facihties available on the reservations, and those who 

 use private physicians in surrounding towns. Data provided in 

 table 10 show the distribution of 74 Indian families by the main 

 type of medical care utilized. Indians who cling to aboriginal medi- 

 cine, either exclusively or in combination with modern medicine, are 

 Conservatives. Those who are oriented toward modern therapy are 

 Rural Whites, Generalized Indians, and the Middle Class. The 

 patrons of private medical services are largely members of the Middle 



Table 10. — Distribution of selected Cherokee families by type of medical 



care (criterion IV) 



• There is no conclusive evidence that these informants utilize Indian doctors, but conversations hint at 

 the possibility. 



