Tanana leader., 1910-05-05
AN APPEAL
 FOR AID
Communicated

into the saloons.
 The readers of the Panama Leader may remember seeing 6 paragraph in the paper last autumn in which men, tion was made of the physical condition of the Indians at Panama and of the work for their betterment which it was hoped might be done by those connected with the mission and by the government physician to the Indians. A meeting of the natives was called at the mission and the plan was discussed. The Indians agreed to get the logs and put up cabin to be used exclusively for the sick; the mission agreed to be responsible for supplying the lumber, doors and windows necessary to con- plete the interior; friends promised everything necessary for the furnish ing of the hospital room. The Indians faithfully did their part. The cabin was built in connection with the one occupied by Miss Langdon, who in de- fault of Q nurse would do what she could to care for those brought to the room. It was hoped that by removing those ill enough to be confined to their beds, from their cabins to the hospital room, not only might suffering be re- lieved, but the danger of the patients developing tuberculosis in their enfee- bled condition might be lessened. It has been said repeatedly that the na- tive suffering from an ailment of which he is cured will often during the period of sickness develop an acute form of tuberculosis to which he shortly suc- cumbs.
 It is impossible for those who do not go daily among them to appreciate the physical condition of the natives here at Panama. The members of the mis- sion staff have studied to minister to the people, faithfully doing all in their power to check and relieve disease and sickness; government physician, Dr. Rosin, has been stationed at this point; in his absence Dr. Gressinger, of Fort Gibbon, has been most kind in doing all he could to relieve the need; but the best efforts under present circum- stances have fallen far short of worthy results. During the months just past there has been constant sickness and there have been many, very many deaths.
 It is also impossible fo: those who never give the subject a thought to appreciate how serious menace to the healthfulness of Panama is the present state of being of these near neighbors, and to realize the citizens own respon- sibility in this regard. The Indians go to town, into the stores, the saloons and some of the cabins; some of the soldiers and white men of a certain class frequent more or less intimately the cabins of the Indians and returning to town mingle with their fellows.
 Tubercular infection can surely in these ways be carried and spread.
 The power of the natives to resist disease is being constantly undermined by the use of intoxicants. In spite oi earnest effort to prevent it, the sale and giving of liquor to the Indians is carried on in Tanana to an extent which is disgrace to the town. Is not every voting citizen who is not doing something definitely to prevent the evil responsible, in greater or less degree, for its existence?
 This brief statement concerning the Indians is intended as an appeal to the people of Tanana to help the natives living among them: an appeal to the older civilization to help the younger, which is struggling to its feet; to the stronger to help the weaker; au appeal, too, to the higher motive, that one day we may hear the answer: ''1n as much as ye have done it unto one o1 the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me-"
 Funds are needed for beginning other practical efforts to better the physical condition of the Indians and for carry ing on the hospital work among them. A special offering for this purpose will be made at St. James Church on Sun. day evening, May 8. Those most inter- ested in this work will be most grateful for any help which may be given.
 Mission of Our Savior,
 Panama, Alaska.
 Capt. Jack Green has a small