The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-02-22
MEDICINE AMONG sAvAoEs.

The Nf@dicine Man Music, Dancing and
Suction as Heaiers-rhe Mind a. Its
Condition Affects the Bodily Health
Let Us inquire as to the cordition OF
medicine among savage and baroarous
nations Of recent times.
Here we fluid that the priests are usually
the physicians or medicine men, but there
are other persons, often women, who
trent diseases with simple and natural
remedies The essential remedies are in
cIntations, steam baths, proprietary Of
ferings, etc, and removal OF the evil
spirit by suction.
Amonf, the American Indians the word
medicine refers in general TO that which
is extraordinary or supernatural, and the
medicine man is one who possesses a
knowledge and control of such matters
Every Indian has his own peculiar medi-
cine charm or talisman and sometimes
there is also a tribe medicine, usually
some animal or reptile, Indicated by
badge or token. The medicine man il
much more than a physician; be is
priest, rain maker and minister plenipo-
tentiary Of the supernatural powers, both
good and evil
Major AIvord SAYS, in relation 70 the
Oregon Indians:
In some Of these tribes any child may
be trained for the position Of medicine
man. hut among the Nez Perces the pO-
sition Is inherited from father 10 SON.
Allthe tribes have great fl ia In their
medicine men and believe that they have
the power OF killing by charms snd en-
chant myuts, and when, as sCne' ine- hap
pens, a man becomes possessed with the
idea that the medicine man is hostile tn
him and is making mediciUe' against
him, he will pine away, refuSs. To eat and
die Of hypochondri1 and melancholy. In
consequences uf this implicit fHilh. when .
death Cccurs IL Is often attributed 10 the
doctor, and the relatives of the deceased
avenge hi- fate by killing the supposed
murderer.
Among savage nations we meet with
peculiar diseases IN which cqu. " pccu!-
lar medication is Of service Examples
are seen in the frances Of tie CoS~ack
women, the peculiar fever fouud in -Abys-
sinia, which reduces patients 10 skele-
tons aud can only he cured by = u ic and
dancing. TIE very general use OF suction
as "A remedy among savage tribes is curl
ous and not easy TO explain. 1t may pos
sibly be connected with the animal in
sTiuct OF licking.
The power of belief, faith, imagination
or expecta,.t attention 20 --,CJ Ile ma
terial organism OF The boy IS well
known.
=
and 80 by grief. The sudden change of
color in the hair from black 10 waite, uE
der tho influence Of fear or sor-ov, > we'll
authenticated. How often does II hap
pen that Il person suffering vic. nt trot's-
ach- finds his pain disappes ss he eute-s
tho door Of the deutists a srrr-egEs Ut
Iarze experience know how Uat.Ivo-aElc "A
Sign IL IS when patient dlc.I-es that hs
viii not recover. What is Lco.gu ~
''hcmsSickuess the ''hei ,syyeL'' Of the
Gerugus-is a weil-recogr I'D form Of
disease in recruits. which n some cases
rnay prove fatal, either directly or Gy
leading % s~icide
But il the emotions can produce di~-
ease, they Can also sOrrs s-imcs cure T..
Charms w.-i-h act on the ul ud OF the per
son CHARMED always have some efEcci; in
lamentations commonly = E.isclievoU5
Ouc.-Bus- on Herald.