32 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 42 



the body is likely to be followed by excessive tissue waste, making 

 the individual an easy victim of tuberculous infection. 



(9) The cows kept by the Indians, and the cattle slaughtered for 

 food, in no instance have been examined for tuberculosis. In some 

 of the tribes the people eat cattle which have died as the result of 

 disease. As the meat is not always thoroughly cooked, the intro- 

 duction of the tubercle bacillus into the system through this source 

 IS possible. 



(10) In the nonreservation schools, a factor of importance is the 

 depressing effect on the newly-arrived child, of a radically different 

 environment. A child taken from a reservation where it has become 

 accustomed to almost unrestricted freedom of will and motion, is 

 subjected to discipline for at least four-fifths of its waking hours. 

 In addition, there are the exertion of studying in a strange language, 

 the change of associations, and homesickness, the lack of sufficient 

 diversified exercise out of doors, and (to it) unusual food. All these 

 influences can not but have a depressing and physically exhausting 

 effect, which makes the pupil an easier prey to consumption. 



(11) The mental attitude of the Indian must be taken into ac- 

 count because of its unfortunate effect on the course, of the disease 

 in many cases. The patient utterly gives up the fight against the 

 disease as soon as he fully understands that he is infected. This is 

 particularly true of the young, the adults showing occasionally some 

 of the hopefulness often observed in the white consumptives. 



(12) The mixed-breeds resulting from regular marriages between 

 the Indians and the whites appear to be freer from tuberculosis than 

 either the full-bloods, or the mixed-breeds due to clandestine unions. 



(13) The effect of close intermarriage is as yet uncertain. 



VII. THERAPEUTICS 



An analysis of the causes of tuberculosis among the Indians leads 

 naturally to consideration of the means of preventing or, at least, 

 checking the ravages of the disease. In this only a beginning has 

 been made. It must be regarded as a misfortvme for the Indian 

 that he is so isolated from the whites. Had he been in close contact 

 with them, the white man in taking care of himself would have been 

 obliged, before this, to take care of the Indian also, and tuberculosis 

 would not have assumed so large proportions. But even as it is, 

 means must to be devised for curbing the infection on the reserva- 

 tions and in the schools, for, aside from all considerations regarding 

 the Indian, the white man needs to act for his own preservation. 



In addition to preventive measures, suitable treatment must be 

 given those already suffering from tuberculosis. One of the most 

 important results of the investigation was the finding of a consider- 

 able number of cases in which no reasonable doubt could exist as 



