The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-08-19
AN INDIAN MEDICINE CAMP.
Quaclrs Making Ready to Humbug the
Sick and SuperstitiOus.

QuaclDs Making Ready to Humbug the
Sick and SuperstitiOus.
Those pretended Indian doctors who,
during the past few summer seasons,
have SO multiplied throughout the coun-
try travel from place to place, setting up
an imitation of an Indian camp in each,
drawing crowds by means of a crude
variety show of singing, dancing and
athletic feats, and then selling medicines
composed of a stew of herbs made in
kettle over fire in the presence of the
spectators. Sometimes mystic rites or
savage lamentations accompany the
manufacture of the cure-all, and the
superstitious and ignorant are so i'm
pressed that they part with their dollars
freely, Although these quacks are care
full not to formally announce themselves
as physicians, they do usually figure as
medicine men," and are, in effect,
medical practitioners in the eye of the
law. In some instances, the adventurer
is degenerate physician, entitled by
diploma to practice, but that is unusual,
and the societies will be urged to prose
cute all the rest. The assertion will be
made that great harm and small good
is done to their patients, because the
stuff sold is almost invariably a simple
cathartic, ikelier than not to be unsuited
to the disease.
Full dozen tent concerns of this sort
are being fitted out now in this city for
the season. One venture of uncommon
elaborateness is in preparation at one of
the worst of the concert halls. The boss
is big man with a swarthy complexion
and abundant long hair. He made
tour last year with an Indian medicine
camp, and his pecuniary success led him
into the present extension of his bust
ness. He has hired ten persons, consist
ing of five young women, who will per-
form in Indian dances; one very old and
ugly one, for a witch and fortune teller;
two male athletes, who will appear in the
more acrobatic feats of the mummeries;
and two comic yocalists. All the women
and some Of the men will be stained
copper color and pass for Indians. There
will also be half dozen real Indians
from Canada, who will make and sell
baskets and bead work.
The viciousness of the place where
this party is being formed led your cor
respondent to learn that more direct
medical quackery are to be resorted to in
swindling the people. He applied for
the exclusive three-card monte privilege
along with the camp, doing so by proxy,
and the "boss" said: There's going to be
a card racket, and I'm talking with
sharp for the biz; but my price is $50
week, which he's willing to give. But
he amt got no Doodle to put up for Sc
curity, and amt giving that privilege
away for an uncertainty. A clever man
can scoop in 800 a week, over expenses,
and it beats following a circus. The
chumps just wander round our camp
with their pocket books open, and all
you've got to do is to help yourself"
This gang will be composed of thor
ourghly disreputable material. Other
projects for medicine camps involve, in
solue cases, less scoundrelism. In one
instance it was ascertained that the med
tsine to be dispensed was merely power
full cathartic combined with some qui-
nine which would of course stimulate
the tal1er so that he would be likely to
feel better for awhile, but would have
no permanent influence over his ailment.
New York Cor, Boston Herald,