The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-13
AMONG THE INDIANS
Rev. Sanford OF Bridgeport
Writes Article.
is ABOUT TUBERCULOSIS
Declares the Disease Was Un-
known to Wild indians.
For the Eagle. by Rev. D. A. Sanford
Bridgeport, o. T.


ton. 1t scarcely exists at all among
savages who live in the primitive state
but quickly appears among such people
when the habits of civilization ara
adopted especially the indoor life. The
south American monkey and the North
/ American Indian alike fall victims to the
disease when shut away from the sun
light of active exercise out of doors. -
/ He further says: "Out of door life.
with regular hygienic habits. irrespective
of latitude or social climatic advantages.
! is capable of so aiding the natural pow
ers Of the body as to effect a cure Of
! this formidable malady without the use
| of drugs of any sort
! l would apply all this TO the Indians
/ in Oklahoma and elsewhere. and especi-
ally would call attention TO certain facts
falling under my observation.
! In regard to the general healthfulness
; of the Cheyennes a generation ago, Col
r. H. Pratt said in letter to me last
November:
thirty-fve years ago. They seemed to
me then as fine specimens OF physical
manhood womanhood and childhood as
open-air life, moving from place to place
on account of the buffalo. their exertions
TO capture the game on which they lived.
turning it into clothing houses. etc.
all made them healthy. 1 cannot recall
a single tuberculosis case and 1 used
because of my being in charge of prison
ers and having command of Indian scouts,
to be much in their camps and company"
This testimony is in very marked con-
trast with their present condition. for
about one-half of the deaths occurring
now are caused by some form of tuber-
culosis. OF the funerals among Chey-
enne Indians, at which either l or my
helpers have officiated, in nearly one-half
Of these cases death has been caused
by some form of tuberculosis.
The death rate Of them has been mark
eddy increased. When the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe Indians in Oklahoma were al
lotted, in 1892, patents were issued to
1924 Indians. which number would seem
to indicate the entire population at that
time. The latest census June. 1900, of
2.S0S, shows a decrease, in something over
ten years, of 476. The last census showed
a decrease Of fifty in one year. while thu
previous census showed a decrease Of
$50 in one year. making a total Of 210
as the decrease in population in only two
years. According to official reports, in
ten years Cfrom 1892 to 1900 there has
been a decrease Of 4o2 in the two tribes.
A decrease OF 2ls among Cheyennes. or
something over 10 per cent, and decrease
among Arapahoes of 1s6. or II per cent.
DR.. George r. Wetfall. the agency ply
cir faI Ixyf ha IN,
his report, says:
Some disease appear to be on the
increase. and this is notably true Of tu-
berculoSis in all its protean manifesto
tions-consumption, scrofula, meningitis,
hip joint disease. etc. Some quite large
families have been almost exterminated
by the ravages of the disease. and there
is hardly a family but what is moro or
less tainted with the scourge."
1t is particularly noticeable that the
young people, those who have been more
or less in school, are afflicted with the
disease. AS reported by the superintend-
ent Of the Red Moon school, out of fifty
pupils five died during the year of
tuberculosis" Out of 125 pupils at the
Arapahoe school. in one year five are
said to have died with tuberculosis. In
September, 1896. L personally accompanied
twelve pupils to Carlisle, Pa. Three OF
these have died with consumption, and
another was returned home with the dis
ease. These are only samples. 1 could
give long lists of names OF the young
people who have died with the disease
within one, two or three years after
they have been in school. AS at all
schools pupils are examined by gov
eminent physician on entering. and are
therefore supposed to be healthy pupils.
this large death rate is ali the more
remarkable.
The testimony of the older Indians is
very plain. \ little more than a gener-
alton ago the disease was unknown
among them. Why this great change?
The facts may be summed up as fol-
lows: First. the Cheyennes were once
a strong. healthy race; second. they
and their associates. the Arspahoes in
Oklahoma are now much afflicted with
tuberculosis. causing thereby a marked
decrease in the population: third. the
rising genera tion-those who have been
in school-are the most seriously afflicted
with the disease. The sole existing cause
Of tuberculosis Is said to be the tubercle
bacillus" The disease is communicable.
But that popularity OF constitution
known in scientific circles as the tuber-
culous diathesis." is evidently inherited
By these Indians DIR. James s Perkins I
(see Com. Report. 1892. p. 49, says:
LAS a rule, l do not believe that chill /
dren inherit the disease itself. but they !
do inherit the tuberculous diathesis. /
which predisposes them TO Tuberculosis I
infection. and then they contract IL"
Abundance Of proof may be brought 1
forward to show that the disease is rare i
among those who lead an active outdoor /
life. The Cheyennes once led such an !
active life and. according 10 the testi 4
mony Of Colonel Pratt and others. they 4
were healthy.
What has brought about the changed I
conditions? So far as my observation 4
goes. I would note two causes. In the 4
change from the active outdoor life Of i
former days 70 the life on a reservation: 4
First. the ration system has fostered 4
Idleness: the former active life is gone 4
Second. the indoor. school life IL exper- 4
Ience has proved 20 be unhealthy for 1
Indian children. Coupled with these is a 1
third cause. The habits % the Indian 4
tend very strongly 20 communicate tire i
disease from one person 70 another. Peo-
pie n the school service may think that 4
the condition. Of school life are healthy
The facts show a large death rate from
1ns disease. tuberculosis over-crowding
in 6ormitoriss seems 20 be specially IL
furious. The ration system is now AZ 81
end These Indians are Tow forced into
greater activity. One effect in tine. Vii
probably he 10 make them the healthier
They can be warned against the dangers