The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-04-01

. 2
Women Doctors Among Indians.
Among the Creek Indians certain
old women are renowned for their skill
in the treatment OF guhshot wounds.
Chitto Hrajo, or Crazy Snake, sought
one Of them after he was shot in the
leg in the fight with ofieers at his
home near Pierce. The knowledge Of
surgery and medicine possessed by
these old women is the most print
tive kind. II came down through gen
erations and much Of tribal myth and
superstition enters into their practice.
They never attempt amputations, and
rsly mostly upon poultlces of herbs.
One OF these old Creek women doctors,
Simahoya, said to be nearly 100 years
old, was found recently at fullblood
Creek Indian Baptist church north
east OF here, where the congregation
had assembled Saturday to be in time
for the service Sunday. She sat .pla-
cidly smoking clay pipe. Her long
straight hair hung disheveled, her
brown face was withered and thin and
her body emaclated. Her mind SEEM
ed to be keen, however, and her eyes
sparkled with the curiosity at sight
OF the armed white men. She accepted
with evident pleasure gift Of plug
tobacco, which she tied securely in
the corner OF her apron, and offered
no objection when a man with a ko.
dak took her picture.
The methods Of these women doctors
is said to be similar 10 those of the
Indian men doctors, of whom more is
known,
= The Creek Indian doctor forbids any
person, GReu the father or mother, to
come near his patient, for whom he,
becomes 10th physician and nurse.
staying beside him night and day. A
young man or woman, unmarried. may
come within speaking distance, to in
qnire about the patients health. Re-
gardless OF where the wound is in
flicted, the patient Is required to fast
four days, the doctor Joining In the
fast, In the next four days the pa
tlent is allowed TO take light nourlsh'
ment, such as "sotky,'' kind of boil
ed corn. Then follows soup, contain
ing wild meat, such as quail and squir-
rel. The wound Is dressed twice each
day and once each night. 1t is probed
with wing feathers Of the horned owl.
These feathers are soft aud Velvety
and give less pain than a rubber or
steel probe. The feathers are used
also in washing the wound and in ap'
plying the medicine. After about
eight days young, unmarried people
are allowed to call on the patient.
The removal Of bullet from. .
mans body without the use Of knife
is not beyond the skill of these Indian
doctors. The doctor examines the
wound to determine the size OF the
opening, and takes. from his collecs
ton Of hollow cane reeds one that fits
the wound. The end OF the reed that
Is inserted into the wound has been
followed evenly and smoothly. Eittle
BY little the reed is inserted until 1t
touches the bullet, the doctor holding
his ear close to the end Of the reed
10 hear the impact. The followed end
Of the reed is gradually placed over
the bullet. With the other .ead Of the
reed in his mouth, the Indian doctor
by suction tries gently to dlslodge the
bullet, and continues in this manner
until tho bullet has been withdrawn
from the wound, After. the bullet ha''
been extracted the old doctor Fst@rnt
10 his owl feathers and uses no Other.
Observation-Disclosures City Star.