The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-11
FEWER INDIAN DOCTORS.
Healers and Prophets Among the
Redskins Passing Away.
A Higher Stage of Civilization
d DaNning Upon the Tribesmen-
FnIIncies rs to the Influence of
Mystic Spirits No Longer Exist.

Those who have studied the varie'
phases of Indian life claim to hav'
noted the passing of that mysterlou
character known as the Indian ''medi
cine man" They assert that few
more years will mark the extinction o
this disnitary among the tribesmen
and the arrival of a higher stage OF
civilization, which has been gradually
settling over the redman for the past
quarter of a century.
1t is said that those unacquainted
with the peculiar traits of Indian char
acter can form no conception of the
depth of reverence and awe aroused in
the mind of untutored savages toward
what they deem TIE supernatural pow
er of these wizards who, thirty years
ago, were in the zenith of their intiu-
ence. Now, however. they are fast dy
ing out. and their number is compare
lively few.
BY medicine man is sometimes
meant a prophet" said an old indian
agent, who has recently returned from
the Sioux reservation. Both Indian
doctors and prophets are usually rei
ferred to as medicine men, although the
term is sometimes wrongfully applied.
There is a distinction between the two.
Nakonwechaste is a Sioux word, mean
ing prophet, who is in communication
with the Great Spirit, and can foretell
events. Pazutawechaste means med
icine man or doctor. There are Indian
doctors who do not profess to be able
to foretell events, but simply cure bodi-
ly ills, and others who give their whole
attention to prophesying. But as rule
the majority of them are medicine men
in both senses of the term.
The power of the medicine men has
been gradually declining for the past
twenty years. Every Indian was ac-
customed to believe implicitly in the
contentious of the medicine men that
they possessed the power TO cure all
bodily ailments, and that if unbelievers
scoffed at these extravagant claims, the
medicine men had also the power to
wreak a supernatural vengeance upon
them.
The medicine man qualities for his
profession under the greatest secrecy.
A young Indian who is ambitious to be- |
come a doctor, and finally a prophet, |
learns from his father or other member !
of the tribe the name and medicinal !
properties of some herb. He can also, /
by presenting a sufficient number of |
ponies to medicine man, prevail upon |
the doctor to impart the secrets of the |
herbs TO him.
Frequently Indians allege that the /
secret is revealed to them in a dream,
or. by bird or animal. After procuring
1T, the novice is prepared to begin the
practice of medicine.
In the opinion of the Indians success
is only possible with the aid of the
Great Spirit, and in order to invoke the
aid of the supernatural being they are
accustomed to resort to various sacri-
fees. Among these is the practice of
ascending a butte or other elevation,
and. lying with the face to the ground
for several days without food, or until /
they are completely exhausted. During
this period they profess to have been
taught some song, or the Great Spirit
converses with them through a weed, (
,
say that wolves come to ,
them and howl. and that they under /
stand what the animals say. II
While treating a patient they place I
obacco in little pouches, which they tie
With sinew. These are painted brilliant
,olors, and fastened to willow sticks :
about the size of the shaft of an ar ,
'ow, but somewhat longer. Occasion I
lily, as substitute for the bags of to- /
'acco, strips Of flannel are fastened to {
he tops Of the sticks and permitted to /
iutter in the breeze. The sticks are
lso gaily painted, and inserted in the :
round or Crevice of rock on top of a
ill. This is done to gain favor with $
he Great Spirit, and secure his assist +
nee in the work of curing the patient, i
he tobacco and flannel constituting an '
fering 5
Even now anyone travelling over the
ioux reservation may occasionally see y
ops Of hills dotted with these sticks. {
'hich have been placed there by the !.
indian doctors, who still continue TO ID
ertain extent their prohibited prac-
ices. h
ID. w. Spaulding, a well-known hun I
ar and guide throughout the territory
ting between the Missouri River and
ne Rocky Mountains, informs me that i
e has seen as many as one hundred of
1ese sticks inserted in the ground in
ne place. At point in the famous | T
'akota Bad Lands he recently saw a fl
lumber Of the brilliantly painted sticks. e
18th the bags and flannel attached at u
lie upper ends, placed around 4 large W
'ck. The face of the rock had also | s.
zen painted in stripes of red, blue, and I,
ellow. and lying upon it were two large OF
ugs of tobacco. The tobacco did not So
main long after its discovery. But II al
notable fact that Indians them u
Ives. although some of them may not 81
lily believe in the alleged superna turaI -
,wer of the medicine men, viii never a,
move or even touch these offerings to Ga
e Great Spirit, looking upon such an tn
[ in the light of a sacrilege. is
Generally speaking. the mode of Is
actice of the Indian doctors. after WI
aoing the offerings TO the Great Spirit u, 70
2 nearby hill, is 10 give the patients e.,
edicine and then chant songs over
EN- to the accompaniment of a tom FIR
m. OF crude drum, made by drawing be
led skin tightly over a wooden frame, 00
IN kettle, large tin can, or other hoI- tu
" article or utensil that will answer ":
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