Connecticut western news., 1889-08-07
MEDICAL MEN.
HOW THEY CURE THE ILLS OF
 INDIANS.
Peculiar Methods of Dealing With ..# Disease.

Peculiar Methods of Dealing With Disease.
 The habits and customs of some of the Western tribes are so little known to the general reader that, perhaps, description of some of their curious practices may be of some interest. MT. Paul Beckwith has published an interesting paper on the Dakotahs i'll the last report of the Smithsonian h. stitution, and among other things he remarks that the medicine man or high priest is invariably chief, and al- though he maintains his sway by the use of mysteries and incantations, nevertheless at times shows power which is not understood by those out side of the cult or brotherhood, and through 8 knowledge of the medicinal properties of herbs often performs cures that lead one to believe he is not altogether the charlatan he is repre- sented. His cures are often the won der of the army surgeons.
 An incident in point is cited ill the case of all Indian who one day came staggering into camp with his leg hor- ribly swollen from bite of venom ous snake. The camp surgeon could do nothing for the sufferer, but he was completely cured by the medicine man. Another case is quoted in which cat aract of the eye was cured by inserting brass filings into the affected organ. To impress upon the mind of the patient the divine nature of his medi cine, the medicine man adds to the efficacy of his remedy mysterious pam tomimes, contortions of the body and features, always to drum accompani- ment. If the patient is affected with a serious ailment, he places paper or bark figure on the ground, and, while the patient is held over it, he fires gun, by which act the sickness passes into the image in the ground and is killed by the discharge of the gun. They claim that all this power is re- ceived from the Great Spirit, who con- fers upon them spiritual medicine so powerful that they can kill at will, re- suscitate the dead, and cure the sick. This spiritual medicine is represented by anything that strikes the fancy, as bunch of feathers, claw, bird, or the head of an animal.
 When council is held, barricadc is erected ill the form of an ellipse, l and tent is raised at each end of the inclosure, one for the high priests or medicine men and the other for ten men who have been selected to keep order and conduct the ceremony, act as sort of police. The high priest, from his seat in the medicine tent, appoints four assistants, one bearing a drum, one pillow and stick, one a rattle, and the last assisting by grunt- ing. A big drum in the centre of the circle is being constantly beaten by several drummers. The high priests then speak to them of the holy dance which was founded centuries ago, and tell them of the power of the medi- cine of their ancestors, and warning skeptics not to scof at them or their craft, as they have the power of thrust ing claw or stone through the body of any one at will, causing instant
 death. In proof of this assertion, he
 calls one of his assistants to him and
 points toward him with the medicine
 bag, at the same instant puffing at him
 with his lips, whereupon the assistant
 falls to the ground apparently sense
 less. Then the priest salaams to the
 four points of the compass, and in-
 vokes the Great Spirit to aid him and
 the other members present in bringing
 the dead brother to life. The drums
 are then beaten and frantic dance is
 begun, when the lifeless form gradual
 ly returns to consciousness and spits
 into his hand mass of froth and
 blood, in which is found a claw or 6 stone. The high priest now dances around the circle, and waving his med.
 icine bag, blows upon some one else who, in the same manner, falls to the ground senseless.
 The chief continues, and the "deac men," reviving, assist in shooting oth , CTS, until the inclosure is full of howl l ing savages, dancing, yelling, ane l shooting each other. The dancing il kept up in the most frantic manner , After certain length of time the fou , assistants, who have been trottint
 around the ring faster and faster form ill line, and after advancin. and retreating several times, thrus l the instruments into the hand , of others who become thei 5 successors and then take seats, and nov t represent the gods of the north, south } east, and west, the high priest repre- l sentin9 the Great Spirit, or Wan-kan 9 tun-ka. When a new member is ini tiated, he is taken into the council ten g for instructions, which arc secret. H . is then stripped of his clothing, except l ing an apron about his loins and moccs
 sins on his feet. He is then painte e entirely black except small red spe