Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-31
ON TIE RESERVATION
Indian Agent Malin Gives the
Facts Regarding the Small.
pox Situation.
Stories of the Conditions on the
Reservation Have Been
Exaggerated.
Nc Deaths Have Resulted Since
October 20..Disease In
Mild Form.
Special to Times-Republican.

NAU
| Special to Times Republican.
Toledo, Oct. 3l.-The smallpox situa-
i ton among the Indians has been great
~ exaggerated from various sources
and unnecessary alarm created in this
section of the state. In view of this
fact the United States Indian agent
Il w. G. Malin has prepared and ISSUED
| for publication a statement of condi-
tons on the reservation. The statement
4 says:
II In view of the fact that sensational
rumors, greatly exaggerating the condi-
tions at the Indian reservation In Tama
county have been scattered broadcast
over central Iowa, thus causing needless
i and unnecessary alarm because of the
reported existence of smallpox among
the Indians. a candid and fair statement
| of the facts as they exist, and have ex-
! listed, also the steps taken by myself in
/ the premeses are due to the public.
When assumed the responsibilities
| OF the Indian agent at the Sac and FOX
| agency, Toledo, Ia, / instructed the sec
| rotary of the tribe, the interpreter and
| Indian police to report to me all cases
OF serious sickness, births and deaths
occurring on the said reservation, and
| in compliance with these instructions
on or about the 4th day of October ke-
| San-Pah, the wife of Peter Soldier was
duly reported as having died with con-
sumption. She had previously been re-
ported as being quite low with the said
disease early in September, SO her
death was not unexpected. On or about
October 81 five deaths were reported as
having occurred on the 18th, 18TH and
goth. two of which were on the 18th.
One of these five as reported to rave
died of consumption and had prev
iously been reported as sick with the
said disease. One from the effect of
puncture of his foot by a nail which he
accidentally had stepped upon, result
ing in blood poison This case also had
been reported to me previously. One
was babe eight days old. OF the other
two, one was q woman of some thirty
years of age and the other little boy
of three. The cause of death was not
VI.
Der made some inquiries as to who the
health authorities were Owe have no
agency physician) with view to max
ing further investigation as to the
cause of these two deaths, the cause of
which had not been reported. The same
day Major Struble, Of Toie6o. and Dr..
Carpenter. the city physician. called at
my Office to consult regarding this mat
ter, and proposed that Tama and Toledo
act jointly in the case, to which propo-
sition readily gave consent. On the
next day, namely October 90, DR.. Car
penter, of Toledo, and DR.. Benjamin
Thompson, of Tama, piloted by the In
dian Farmer, Mr.. d. S. Hinegardner.
who had previously notified TO meet
the doctors at the reservation building.
made an examination of the grounds
and reported finding several cases OF
smallpox. and all of the above inen-
toned deaths as having been caused by
the same disease. The report OF the
cause of these deaths was based upon
the statement of an old Indian. had
made daily, inquiries of the Indians, as
to the existence of smallpox in the
camp, and invariably elected a mega
tive reply. Mr.. Hinegardner upon his
return from the Indian camp reported
the conclusions of the two physicians
above mentioned. and 1 Immediately
wired the commissioner OF Indian at
fairs for instructions and DR.. Kennedy,
secretary OF the state board of health,
and in response DIR. Linn, of Des
Moines, reported on the 23d. and in COM
pany with Drs. Carpenter and Thomp
son made examination of part of the
indian camp and reported finding seven
cases in all. some of which are in very
mild form. Early in September l had
received instructions from the Indian
department to vaccinate all the Indians
at the camp, and at the time, and be-
fore this reported outbreak, they We're
coming in very day to have the opera
ton performed. The two young men
spoken of as having the disease in mild
form had been vaccinated eight or nine
days before the doctors saw them and
had been reported by their father as be-
ing quite sick from vaccination. Nearly
200 of these people have been vacclnated
and many of them have sore arms IL
consequence.
There has been but one death re-
ported since the goth and that was not
caused ny SIIldIlPoA. i nave i1idoe udiiS
inquiries as to the conditions at the
camp, and the Indians insist that no
new cases have developed and that all
the cases reported are getting we'll.
Many of the older Indians still insist
that there has been no smallpox on the
reservation and that the health of the
camp is normal.
There has been no specific disease OF
any kind at the school since its opening
on tine 1st of September and that the
health Of the pupils is as near perfect
as may be found in the same number
of children in any school anywhere.
Accepting the truthfulness of DIR.
Linn's statement and that of his asso-
ciates, I am taking every precaution
possible to keep the disease within it's
present limits and so prevent the con-
tamination of the whole camp. / see
no reason for alarm yet every precau-
ton to limit and circumscribe the dis
ease will be taken until it entirely dis
appears
COMPLETE RURAL DELIVERY.
Arrangements Practically Completed