The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-07-21
AN INDIAN MEDICINE CAMP.
oaaet' Making Ready to numbus the


Qnaeks Making Ready to Humbug the
Sick and super.titlous
Those pretended Indian doctors who
during tile past few summer seasons,
have 70 multiplied throughout the coun.
Try travel from place to place, setting up
IN imitation Of an Indian camp in each,
drawing crowds by means Of crude
variety show Of singing, dancing and
athletic feats, and then selling medicines
composed Of a stew OF herbs made in a
kettle over fire in the presence Of the
spectators, Sometimes mystic rites or
savage incantations accompany the
manufacture Of thu Cure-all, and tho
sllperstttiouS 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
"medicinG men, and are, in effect,
medical practitioners in tho eye OF the
law. In some instances, the Hdventirer
lisa degenerate physician, entitled by
diploma to practice, but that Is unusual,
and the societies viii DO urged to prose.
cute all the rest. Tho assertion will be
made that great harm and small good
Is done to their patients, because the
stuff sold is almost invariably simple
CNthArtiC, likelier than not In bp uns,,iteI
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
elabOnteness is in preparation Mt one Of
the worst Of the concert halls. The boss
Is q big man with n swarthy complexion
and abundant long hair. lie made a
tour last year with an Indian medicine
camp, and his pecmiary 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; ono very old and
ugly one, for a witch and fortune teller;
two male athletes, who will appear in the
moro acrobatic feats Of tho mummeries;
and two comic vocalists. All the women
and some Of the men will be stained a
copper color and pass for Indians. There
VIII also be half dozen real Indians
from Canada, who will make and sell
baskets and bead work.
Tie 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
Bwindling the people. He applied for
the exclusive three-card monte privilege
along with the camp, doing so by proxy,
and tho "boss" said: there's going to be
Rcard racket, and I'm talking with a
sharp for the biz; but my price Is $50 a
week, which he's willing to give. But
lie amt got no Doodle to put up for Sc.
clrity, and1 amt giving that privilege
away for an uncertainty. A clever man
can scoop in 800 a week, over expenses,
and 1t beats following 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 diHeputable material. Other
projects for medicine camps involve, in
some cases, less scoundrelisln. In one
instance it was ascertained that the med,
icine to be dispensed was merely power.
full Cathartic combined with some Qui,
nine which would Of cour'S stimulate
ths,taker 30 that he would DO likely tc
feel better for awhile, but would have
no permanent influence ovey his ailment,
Now York Cor Boston Herald