The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-02-12
HEROIC TREATMENT.
How Two squaws Cured White Man ~
Fever and Ague.

How Two squaws Cured white Man ~
Fever and Ague.
After 9 week or ten days the fever
somewhat abated, says ., writer In
Forest and Stream, and feter, taking my
double-barreled rifle by way Of sryna-
ment and half dozen hard biscuit by
way Of grub, gave notice Of two days
absence, and, buclxling his blanket
about him, went of up the trail.
Late in the evening Of the second
day while was lying on the bearskin
with swimming brain and fevered
brow he came back, but not alone.
Two strong, athletic squaws, each tot
ing large pack, were his companions
He introduced them rs ''Ole Blackbird
squaws and he gal; pooty young squaw
great medicine"
The elder of the two was about as
tough, leathery-looking a specimen Of
aboriginal ugliness as have ever fallen
in with, and making due allowances for
difference in age the daughter was the
perfect model of her. They both cast
their loads unceremoniously aside and
the elder proceeded at once to business.
Watching me closely as she did SO she
rolled large handful of leaves in her
hand until they were partially pulver-
lied, then passing them over to the
younger -squaw, who soon made q pint
of very bitter tea from them which I
was told to drink. managed to gulpit
down, hot and bitter as it was, and the
\ old squaw then seized me without cere-
mony, packed me snugly in bear-skin
and blankets, after which she and her
daughter, wrapping their own blankets
around them, lay down on either side of
me, cfowding me in manner more
close than pleasant.
trust King David's medicine, which
answered the purpose SO well, was not
a squaw-or, If she were, that she was
young and good-looking.
Ny leathery bellies answered, howev-
er, to help get up a copious perspiration,
which was just what they intended, and
when / awoke from the first sound re-
freshing sleep had enjoyed for weeks
it was with a cool, clear head and limbs
free from pain.
With the rise Of the sun the confound-
ed ague began to threaten me, and Mrs.
Blackbird, with the help Of her inter
esting daughter, proceeded to take
measures for expelling it in a manner
quite as novel and original as her treat
ment Of fever. First she undid a bum
die Of dirty blue cloth and took there
from several bundles of neatly bound,
minute twigs. l had heard some hard
stories of "whippin' out the ager," and
smeled pretty extensive mice imme-
T. kl,A vl01 InI -
go through, SO suffered them to divest
me Of my clothing and seize me firmly
by the wrists, and made no objection
even when Mrs. Blackbird began to ap-
ply the switchings gently to the bare
skin. Gradually the blows increased in
rapidity and severity. Old Peter, who
had stood by as spectator at first,
, stepped forward and seized a wrist
firmly in each hand, 30 suddenly that
had no time to object; and the whip
ping immediately became energetic
and general. Each Of the squaws with
q switch in each hand We'd with the 9TH
er in rapidity Of hitting, and as the slug
gish, torpid blood strove to dash with
answering speed through the tingling
veins the pain became uncomfortable. I
had resolved to bear all that was asked
Of me in hope OF radical cure, but the
torture was too severe, and I ordered
them to desist, trying at the same time
to wrench myself loose from Peter. They
only laughed and laid on the harder.
became mad with pain and went in
on my muscle, biting and butting furi-
ously at old Peter and giving the leath-
cry females ungallant kicks about the
ribs and abdomen-a proceeding that
made them laugh all the more and
brought down the switches with in
creased vigor. I entreated and cursed
by turns, tried bribery and hattery,
begged for resting spell, and threat
ened death to the party Of conspirators
Immediately got loose, but all in vain.
They fogged me for time that seemed
an age, and only let me of when was
too exhausted to stand alone. Then I
was again enveloped in skins and blan-
kets, when, strange as IL may seem. I
almost immediately fell into q deep
slumber, from which did not awake
until evening. When did awake It was
with q general sense Of soreness all over
the outer man; but where was the ague?
Gone. Completely cured, as well as the
fever.