12 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 42 



family, or serve to sleep in. When the family leaves home, such a 

 tent is packed, together with bedding, kitchen utensils, etc., into 

 the wagon, and is pitched whenever a stop is made for the night. 

 Indeed, there will be at times one or more villages of these tents 

 near the agency, or about a house where some particular feast is 

 being given. In summer these tents are oppressively hot during the 

 day, though they become cool if the sides are raised. As the}" are 

 made of very light fabric, they are cold at night, and afl'ord but poor 

 protection during a severe rain or hail storm, as the writer person- 

 ally experienced. (Pis. 5-9.) 



The dwellings of the various families are generally isolated and 

 in many localities far apart. Along the creeks and rivers they dot 

 the low elevations. In fair weather, especially in the daytime, 

 there is no lack of fresh air, even in the log houses. When it becomes 

 cold, however, the families retire to their log structures, close all 

 apertures and crevices, and make fires. In this confined and over- 

 heated atmosphere they spend a large portion of their days and nights, 

 without ventilation other than that caused by the opening of the door 

 as some one enters or leaves. There will be, at times, a dozen or 

 more persons in a room under such conditions. However, the most 

 dangerous features about these dwellings are the earthen floors 

 and the general uncleanliness of the people. The earth of the floors 

 is but little solidified. The healthy, as well as the sick, among 

 whom are consumptives, expectorate freely on these floors, covering 

 their sputum usually with a pinch of earth. In this manner the 

 floors are probably all infected with the tubercle bacillus. Even if 

 the family itself should be healthy, it is sure to be visited eventually 

 by consumptives who distribute the infection. The dry, fine dust 

 of the floor readily floats in the air, where it is inspired by children 

 as well as adults. This is doubtless one of the principal causes of 

 the spread of the disease on this reservation. Besides this, the fur- 

 nishings of the dwelhngs, as blankets, bedding, bags and woolen 

 clothing, are generally found to be more or less filthy. Many such 

 articles come in direct contact with the floor and, especially in houses 

 where there are consumptives, become, in course of time, soiled with 

 infected dirt or sputum. The dust from such articles is undoubt- 

 edly dangerous to health. 



As to clothing, the Oglala now dress like the whites in most 

 respects, though the majority still persist in wearing moccasins. 

 The women wear leggings and always a blanket or shawl when going 

 about. A tendency to wear too much clothing, even on the hottest 

 day, was again noticed and is very prevalent. This is due partly to 

 ignorance and partly to vanity. The garments are usually far from 

 clean. The writer learned of several instances in which the clothing 

 of tuberculous persons was given or sold to others. 



