HRPLicKv] PriYSIOLOGTCAL, AND MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS 181 



one of strabisnuis, niiineroiis instances of conjunctivitis and some of 

 cough; none of congenital sj'philis, spinal or limb deformation, or 

 rachitis. 



Among the Zuni the most prevalent and fatal diseases are those of 

 the intestinal tract (enteritis of different forms but not tyi)hoid), 

 pneumonia, tuberculosis (particularly pulmonary), and various infec- 

 tions. Some cases of diphtheria developed in the winter of li)01 2. 

 Smallpox occurs occasionally and is very serious; 250 Zuni died of 

 it in winter of 1898-99, and it has been the chief cause of the decrease 

 of Zuiii population. The writer has seen many lighter gastro- 

 intestinal disorders, some chronic arthritis (in the old), and numerous 

 sore eyes; also a case of hard but painfid ventral tumor in a woman 

 of middle age. According to the official report of Mrs, J. A. Palin, 

 field matron, there occurred among the Zuni in the fiscal year 1901-2, 

 51 deaths; during the year 1902-3 there were 56 deaths (18 babes, 

 13 girls, 10 boys, 6 women, and 9 men), of which 3 were due to 

 diphtheria, 3 to consumption, and the others chiefly to influenza 

 with complications, and intestinal diseases. One case of varicose 

 veins (moderate degree) was seen in an elderly \\^oman, and she 

 said that some other women were similarly afflicted, though the 

 cases were not severe or numerous. Only one individual was learned 

 of, a full-blood boy 9 years old, who was apparently congenitally deaf 

 and dumb. The writer could find no epileptic, though epilepsy has 

 occurred in the tribe. 



In 1900 there was in the Zuni village a gu*l "exhibitionist," who on 

 several occasions stripped herself nude and thus ran about in public. 

 Information was obtained about one individual, a man of about 25 

 years of age, with a mild form of insanity. Another young man, 

 healthy at the time of the ^vriter's visit, has had several spells of recur- 

 rent mania. No idiots exist or have been known in the tribe, but 

 light degrees of feeble-mindedness occur now and then. Twelve blind 

 individuals were found ; in all the condition had been acquired 

 through smallpox or inflammations. Venereal diseases exist, to 

 what extent could not be ascertained. Serious tertiary signs were 

 seen in none, those of congenital syphilis probably in one.'* 



« According to Mrs. M. C. Stevenson, a case of lupus or epithelioma exists now in the tril^e in a woman. 

 Mrs. Stevenson believes that perineal lacerations are frequent. 



The following letter was recently received by the writer from Dr. E. J. Davis, the Zuiii agency 

 physician; 



" During the two years of my stay among the Zuiii I have gained but little direct knowledge concern- 

 ing diseases among their women. I am rarely consulted in cases of gynecological lesions. They are 

 not, I feel safe in saying, as prevalent among these people as among American women. 



" The men seem to be free from the ravages of venereal diseases to the extent with which many other 

 tribes are cursed though they are occasionally infected. I have not seen an acute case of s\-philis. 

 The prevailing diseases are gastro-intestinal; affections of upper respiratory tract in winter season; 

 and a large number of cases of simple conjunctivitis. The children have, in addition to the above, a 

 mmibcr of cutaneous disorders, prominent among which is impetigo contagiosa." 



See also Yarrow, H. C, Medical Facts relating to the Zuni Indians of New Mexico, Rocky Mountain 

 Medical Review, Colorado Springs, lSSO-81, i, 191. 



