The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-30
TRAPS FOR THE GULLIBLE.
Pretended Indian Doctors Who Make
Summer Campaigns in the Country.
joaquin Milers Daughter Playing in Bow
cry Theater-Paddy Ryan's Great Scheme
for Getting Ahead of John L. Sullivan.
BOGUS MEDICINE MEN.

BOGUS MEDICINE MEN.
The Pretended Indian Doctors Who Swindie
the People Of Rural Districts.
gnecial to the Indianapolis Journal.
New York, May 29-The secretary of the
New York Medical Society has been instructed
to formulate a denunciation OF those pretended
Indian doctors who, during the past few sum-
mer seasons. have so multiplied throughout the
country. They travel from place to place, set
ting up an imitation of an Indian camp in each,
drawing crowds by means of crude variety
show of singing, dancing and athletic feats, ana
then selling medicines composed OF stew OF
herbs made in kettle over fire IN the pres
ence of the spectators. Sometimes mystic rites
or savage incantations accompany the manu-
facture of the cure-all and the superstitious
and ignorant are so impressed that they part
with their dollars freely. The medical So
ciety will direct the attention of all the
county medical associations of the United
States to the fact that, although
these quacks are careful not to formally an
nounce themselves as physicians, they do usually
figure as medicine men," and are in effect medi-
cal practitioners In the eye of the law. In some
instances the adventursr is q degenerate physi-
clan, entitled by diploma to practice, bat that is
unusual, and the societies will be urged to pros
ecute 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 in
variably simple cathartic, likelier 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 prepa-
ration at the Liverpool Varieties, one of the
worst of the Chatham-square concert-halls.
The boss is Henry Doadens, alias the Pawnee, a
big man, with swarthy complexion, and album
dant long hair. He made tour last year with
an Indian medicine-camp, under the name Of Big
Wonder and his pecuniary success led him into
the present extension Of his business. He
has hired ten persons, consisting of five young
women, who will perform in Indian darces
one very old and ugly one. for witch
and fortune-teller; two male athletes. who will
appear in the more acrobatic feats of the mum
msries, and two comic vocalists. All the women
and some of the men will be stained a 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 be-
Ing formed led your correspondent to learn that
more direct methods than medical quackery are
TO be resorted to in swindling the people. He
applied for the exclusive three-card monte privi
lege along with the camp, doing SO by proxy. and
Doadens said:
There's going to be card racket and Pm
talking with a sharp for the biz, but my price is
$50 week, which he is willing to give, but he
amt got no Doodle to put up for security and
amt giving that privilege away for an uncer
tainty. clever man can scoop in hundred a
week over expenses and ii 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 thoroughly dis
reputable material Other projects for medicine
camps involve, in some cases, less scoundrelism.
In one instance it was ascertained that the med
lcine to be dispensed was merely powerful ca
thartic combined with some qainine, which
would of course stimulate the taker 80 that he
would be likely to feel better for awhile, but
would have no permanent influence over his
ailments. A novelty prepared at 126 West
Twenty first street. which is the home Of lot
Of negro fortune tellers and spiri,ualistic medi-
ums. under the direction Of Asa Washington,
shrewd negro who has for years operated as
seer and materalzing medium, will introduce
spirit seances feature to impress the gullble.
BE will perform the usual cabinet tricks, pro-
ducing ghosts of departed Indians, who will be
represented great medicine men of their tribes,
and these will prescribe remedies. This show
will be called the Apache Braves and Spirits,
and. as nearly as could be learned, it will have
route through New York, Ohio, and thence
further west.