MEDICAL REPORT OF WESTERN DIVISION. 
179 
They are very poor, and frequently suffer from scanty innutritious diet. As most, of the members 
of both of these tribes have been vaccinated by the missionaries, smallpox is of rare occurrence. 
The Indian tribes on the Columbia river, below Fort Colville, are rapidly becoming depopu¬ 
lated by the smallpox, intemperance, and syphilis. During the past summer the smallpox has 
prevailed in every direction, carrying off the natives by hundreds. The Lakemans and Wyam- 
pums, during this short period, buried more than one-half of their numbers. 
In conclusion, I cannot too strongly urge the importance of some well-directed measures being 
instituted for the thorough and systematic vaccination of all the native tribes west of the 
Rocky mountains. Without requiring any additional argumentative appeal, common humanity 
and good sense plainly indicate the course to be pursued. 
I remain, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, 
GEORGE SUCKLEY, M. D., 
A. A. Surgeon to the Eastern Division of Exploration. 
Governor Isaac I. Stevens. 
DR. COOPER’S MEDICAL REPORT. 
Fort Vancouver, December 26, 1853. 
Sir: In this report I shall consider, in detail, all the facts noticed in regard to the health or 
the party—the hygiene of the country, and the diseases prevailing among the Indians, with 
their remedies. The general health of the party was very good throughout the journey. 
No epidemics or endemic diseases prevailed; boils being the only disease that occurred very 
generally, probably in consequence of the warm weather and meat diet. Two men were 
discharged at the Yakima with diseases contracted before starting, and which the nature of their 
duties as packers, and daily riding, prevented a recovery from during a march. Disorders of the 
digestive organs were common, but readily yielded to treatment. Although almost every person 
in the command applied to me at different times for medicine or advice, the above were the 
only cases especially worthy of notice. Many of the medicines furnished to the party were found 
unnecessary, while others were very useful; and a few were not supplied which would often 
have been serviceable. Considerable loss occurred from breakage in consequence of the diffi¬ 
culty of conveying medicines in panniers on the backs of mules. 
The country traversed from June to November appears to be very healthy in that season. 
The great dryness of the climate, and the perfect drainage of the country, prevent the prevalence 
of malarious disease in summer. No instance of endemic diseases of any other kind was met 
with not attributable to the mode of life and habits of the inhabitants. Of the diseases prevalent 
among the Indians, the smallpox was the most common and fatal in its effects. Whole tribes 
have been exterminated by it on the Columbia river, and we met with it. among all those inhabit¬ 
ing the west and north sides of its upper branches. Nearly all the survivors were marked 
with it, and it was decreasing at the time of our visit. Vaccination had been tried by some 
white residents on the Okinakane river, but without effect. East of the Columbia, however, it had 
not yet appeared, and the principal tribes there had been vaccinated by the Catholic priests. 
No indubitable cases of the syphilis were seen east of the mountains, though it has prevailed 
very generally on the west side of the mountains. I saw cases of intermittent fever on the west 
side of the mountains, but none on the east. The Indians there, however, say that it formerly 
prevailed extensively, but suppose it was brought from lower down the river. I met with no 
disease ol the digestive organs among them, and their unvaried diet of dry fish and berries 
does not seem to affect them. Chronic inflammation of the external eye, with opacity of the 
cornea, is very common, apparently caused by the irritation of smoke in their badly-ventilated 
huts. Blindness following smallpox was met with but rarely. 
I saw an instance of curvature of spine in a boy of about fifteen years, then past remedy. 
Deformity of the hip-joints was not rare, probably in consequence of morbus coxarius. Frac- 
