io6 
toner's address. 
plants and also the lobelia for the cure of syphilis. 
Carver tells us that the Indians made a decoction from 
the bark of the roots of the prickly ash for gonorrhoea, 
which in a short time effected a radical cure.* 
Want of time prevents my alluding to other 
diseases that have seriously afflicted the Indians. 
One word, however, on small-pox, a malady that per- 
haps has been the most destructive with which they 
have been afflicted. Undoubtedly it was brought by 
the early explorers. The Indian treatment of this 
disease is particularly injudicious, their sweat and 
plunge bath being equally obnoxious and leading to 
fatal consequences. It is justly held that their igno- 
rance of a disease and want of success in treatment 
argues its recent introduction. 
Humboldt, in his political essay on the History of 
New Spain, gave careful attention to the question of 
the diseases that probably diminished the population 
and perhaps destroyed the Toltec race in Mexico, and 
more than suggests, almost proves, that they were 
^ The professional literature on this subject is very large and famil- 
iar. The following historical works can be consulted to advantage 
in a study of this question : Clavigero's History of Mexico, Vol. 
Ill, pp. 415 to 435 ; H. H. Bancroft, Uncivilized Races of America, 
Vol. II, p. 594 ; Jonathan Carver, p. 259 ; John Lawson's History of 
North Carolina, pp. 36, 39, etc.; Joseph Jones, Exploration of Aborig- 
inal Remains of Tennessee, pp. 66, etc. ; G. H. Loskiel, Mission of 
United Brethren Among the Indians of North America, pp. 108, 112 ; 
Zina Pitcher in Schoolcraft's History of the Indians, Vol. IV, p. 505; 
John Brickell, M. D., Natural History of North Carolina, pp. 397, 
etc.; V^^illiam Robertson's History of America, Vol. II, pp. 85, 397 ; 
Dr. Benjamin Rush, Natural History of Medicine among the Indians, 
C. C. Jones, Antiquities of Southern Indians, p. 33 ; John D. Hunter, 
Manners and Customs of Indians. 
