Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-07-22
AN INDIAN MEDICINE CAMP.
Quacks Making Ready TO Humbug
the Sick and Superstittous.
New York Cor. Boston Herald ]

Quacks Making Ready TO Humbug
the Sick and Superstittous.
New York Cor. Boston Herald
Those pretended Indian doctors who,
during the past few summer seasons,
have so multiplied throughout the
country, travel from place to place set
ting 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 stew of herbs
made in kettle over a fire in the pres
ence of the spectators. Sometimes
mystic rites or savage incantatiOns ac-
company the manufacture of the cure
all, and the superstitious and ignorant
are so impressed that they part with
their dollars freely. Although these
quacks are careful not to formally
announce themselves as physicians,
they do usually figure as "medicine
men," and are, in effect, medical prac-
titioners In the eye of the law. In
some instances, the adventurer is a de-
generate physician, entitled by diploma
To practice, but that is unusual, and the
societies will be urged to prosecute 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 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 un-
common elaborateness Is in preparation
at one of the worst concert halls. The
boss is big man with swarthy COM
plexion and abundant long hair. He
made tour last year with an Indian
medicine camp, and his pecuniary sue
cess led him into the present extension
of his business. He has hired ten per-
sons, consisting of five young women,
who will perform in Indian dances;
one very old and ugly one, for witch
and fortune teller; two male athletes,
who will appear in the more acrobatic
feats of the mummeries; and two
comic vocalists. All the women and
some of the men will be stained q cop
per 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
bllIo IL uSl1S lOIliSu leu your COTItb-
pondent to learn that more direct ways
than medical quackery are to be resort
ed to in swindling the people. He ap-
piled for the exclusive three card monte
privilege along with the camp, doing so
by proxy, and the "boss' said; "There's
going to be card racket, and I'm talk
ing 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 security, and Iain't giving
that privilege away for an uncertainty.
A clever man can scoon in $l00 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 your
self"
This gang will be composed of thor
oughly disreputable material. Other
projects for medicine camps involve, in
some cases, less scoundrelism. In one
instance it was ascertained that the
medicine to be dispensed was merely
powerful cathartic combined with some
quinine which would of fcourse stimu-
late the taker so that he would be like
ly to feel better for awhile, hut would
have no permanent influence over his
ailment,