HRDUCKA] PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS 31 



of the danger. Occasionally this U^ads to excesses, from which may 

 d(n'cl()]i a real tendency to alcoholism. With this exception there 

 is seldom seen anything in the mental status of these natives that 

 could act adversely on their constitutions. Under the effects of drink, 

 or through death in the family, or ])y Immiliation, individuals will 

 l)(>come temporarily gloomy and despondent, and may even commit 

 crime or suicide; but prolonged grief is apparently of rare occurrence. 



The most striking and far-reaching characteristic of all the Indians 

 visited, even from the medical standpoint, is their improvidence and 

 seemingly a decided inability to take advantage of some of the lessons 

 of experience. This keeps them disarmed against all accidents and 

 diseases. 



The moral status of the tribes, which, of course, affects directly 

 their well-being, differs widely. It is good in the most independent 

 tribes, also in the majority of 'those on reservations; it is very bad 

 among several of the smaller reservation tribes who are in closer con- 

 tact with w^hites, and among some of the semicivilized Mexican 

 Indians. 



The few. details following, which concern individual tribes, will aid 

 in forming a better estimate of the Indians in these particulars. 



lentil recently, when some improvement became apparent, the 

 whole life of the Southern Ute showed a transitional degradation. 

 He has ceased, of necessity, to be a himter and free rover as he was 

 formerly, and is slowly and unwillingly adopting new habits in place 

 of the old. Among the men there are much indolence and a general 

 lack of industry. The women show better traits, but even they are 

 little inclined to work or even to practise ordinary cleanliness, and 

 often neglect their households and children for gambling. The 

 writer has repeatedly seen Ute women at Ignacio spending half a day 

 or more at cards, while their little ones were left at home without any 

 care except such as the older could give to the younger, and some- 

 times without food. Older children must largely shift for themselves. 

 Aged people are neglected by their children and must provide for 

 themselves or suffer; they do not seem to expect anything different, 

 and in turn show but little affection for their progeny. The people 

 are indecent in speech, and probal)ly low in sexual morality." 



The Apache are everywhere proving themselves good workers, and 

 on the whole are more rapidly adopting the habits of whites than are 

 many other tribes. At San Oarlos there have been within the last 

 few years much drunkenness and consequent disorder due to per- 

 mission to make tesvino and to surreptitious introduction of liquor 

 b}" w^hites. The sexual moralit}^ of the Indians around Fort Apache 

 and San Carlos is not of a high grade; it has been injuriously affected 



a Sanitary conditions were found especially bad among the Wiminuche— in a disgusting degree 

 during the meat-ration days. 



