428 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ann. 46 



tended with any serious effect, but from their awkward operations the 

 bone frequently projects and requires a long time to heal. They use 

 splints and bark in fractures and lacerated bones, but are not skillful 

 in applying them, nor attentive in removing them, and in a short 

 time the wound smells bad. Their wounded are carried from the 

 field in a blanket, robe, or skin, by four men each holding a corner, 

 who are relieved by others when fatigued, in which way they trans- 

 port them for days and sometimes weeks together. When very badly 

 wounded in an enemy's country and supposed to be mortally wounded 

 they are left in some point of timber to die. A small stock of pro- 

 visions and ammunition is left with them. They sometimes recover 

 almost by miracle. Instances of this kind are not uncommon and 

 serve to show the suffering an Indian will undergo and the different 

 means he will use to preserve life. 



Theort of Diseases and their Remedy. — They understand 

 nothing of the properties of mineral medicines except a few simple 

 ones given them by whites of later years, neither are they acquainted 

 with the theory of diseases, being for the most part unable to describe 

 their complaint so that any person could prescribe. They are as 

 ignorant of any true knowledge of diseases or medicines as they are 

 of astronomy or any other science. 



It is hardly conceivable how the smallpox among Indians could be 

 cured by any physician. All remedies fail. The disease kills a 

 greater part of them before any eruption appears. We have person- 

 ally tried experiments on nearly 200 cases according to Thomas's 

 Domestic Medicine, varying the treatment in every possible form, 

 but have always failed, or in the few instances of success the disease 

 had assumed such a mild form that medicines were unnecessary. It 

 generally takes the confluent turn of the most malignant kind (when 

 the patient does not die before the eruption), which in 95 cases out 

 of 100 is fatal. It appears to be the natural curse of the red men, 

 and here we leave it, perfectly willing others should do more. We 

 have from year to year tried to introduce general vaccination with 

 kinepock among them, and have even paid them to vaccinate their 

 own children, but they will not have it done to any extent, and the few 

 who will do it more to please us than to benefit themselves. More- 

 over, should any accident happen to the child or even should the 

 Indian miss his hunt, or any casualty befall him or his family, the 

 vaccination would be blamed for it and the good-hearted operator 

 would find himself in a position of danger and expense. There is 

 also great risk in giving them medicines, for should the patient die 

 the whites would be blamed for poisoning him, and should he live 

 the Indian drummer or doctor will get both the credit and the pay. 

 Therefore, as their customs at present stand but little can be done 

 for them, however willing people are to attempt it. 



