HRuucKA] PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS 155 



yet the usual efTects are seldom observable and never complained of. 

 As to dreams, about all that can be said on the basis of the writer's 

 inquiry is that they are frequent and variable, and but rarely of a 

 terrifying nature. " 



MENTAL AND NERVOITS POWERS '' 



The mental powers of the atlult Indians seen are generally good, 

 but in no way extraordinary. Both men and women have very good 

 memories, but they are not eqvially well developed in all directions, 

 and even where developed they often depend on a definite sequence 

 in what is remembered. Their powers of perception are good, but 

 their reasoning is rather slow; they show good powers of imitation 

 and atlaptability;*" their mental endurance appears remarkable in 

 ceremonies and on other special occasions, but ordinarily they tire 

 after an hour or even less of such moderate, though unusual, brain 

 exertion as they undergo while being questioned. Very dull, as well 

 as especially gifted, individuals occur but rarely. Differences among 

 individuals, between the sexes, and even among tribes are noticeable, 

 but their range is somewhat less than among whites. 



Nor is the nervous control of the Indian extraordinary. Often, at 

 the beginning of the measuring of a subject, a perspiration broke 

 out on him and the pulse became temporarily irregular. All the 

 normal reflexes of the whites exist also and in about the same force 

 in the Indian. 



Both the mental and nervous powers of the Indian could best be 

 expressed in general by the term "healthy," the former being in 

 many directions in a more or less undeveloped condition. 



VARIA 



The manifestations of yawning, snoring,*^ eructation, and flatus are 

 all about as common in the Indian as in the white man. Sneezing,^ 

 however, is very rare and hiccough even more so. 



a Dreams are believed to be, in a way, realities. In the dream the soul leaves the body, travels, and 

 has various experiences. According to an account given the writer by a Mohave, which agrees with 

 the views common in most, if not all, of the Southwestern tribes, " the soul (in the dream) sees the old 

 people, and sees or does many different things." " It is possible that the soul after thus leaving the 

 body, likes it much more where it has gone and stays there. In this case the body soon dies without 

 any doctor being able to help it." Dream revelations, especially those of certain persons, or if repeated, 

 are believed in, being looked upon as the experiences, desires, or dictates of the soul, or the wishes or 

 message of some spirit, and have a considerable effect on the Indian's thought and action. The 

 people fear to have bad dreams, especially those of the dead. 



b See also chapter dcafing with general habits and character, and the general remarks on children. 



« A remarkable example of individual adaptability, as well as aptness, can be seen in one of the Apache 

 at San Carlos. For many years the man has been wholly blind (from ophthalmia) , but he walks about 

 alone, rides a horse, and even a broncho, has built himself an adobe house, and shoes his horse alone. 

 The man is less than 40 years of age, and for his intelligence was chosen as one of the judges of the tribe. 



d Moderate snoring is quite Irequent and occurs even in the young. At San Carlos the writer saw a 

 baby a few months old which was an habitual snorer; the cause of this could not be determined. 



e When an Apache sneezes, " some one calls his name." Noisy eructation is indulged in, often without 

 any restraint. 



