Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-03-20
APPEAL MADE TO PRACTICAL 7. r
4; EVERY INDIAN AGENCY IN
THE U. G.
WONDER PRIMITIVE PApo0SE LIVES
Carlisle School Gets Interesting Re.
ports and Contrasts From the
Reservations

IL.SSlOUer OI lnuldu AlldlIS oeltS dp-
peal to superintendents of Indian
schools, urging them to do their ut
most to save the lives of Indian babies
Superintendent Oscar II. Lipps of the
Carlisle Indian school has received in
taresting information relating to abo-
riginal babies from practically every
Indian agency.
Commissioner Sells believes that
this campaign for better babies, the
rescue of a race, calls for redoubled
energy and zeal throughout the In
Clan service, for it means personal
work and tireless patience.
Some OF the photographs of Indian
babies cared for in primitive fashion
present rare contrasts to those of the
more fortunate little reds Who have
advantages of civilization, such, for
example, as the children Of Carlisle
graduates. All are fascinating speci-
mems of babyhood, though, and the on
lv wonder is that the primitive pa
poose ever lives to grow up.
DR.. w. X. Callahan states that the
papooses commonly come into the
world well endowed physically, but
old Indian customs of carelessness
and neglect are responsible for many
subsequent ills. The new born child is
Usually wrapped up in an old blanket
for the first two or three weeks OF his
life and is not bathed until the moth
e. is able to bathe it herself.
DIR. Charles l.. Zimmerman of the
ronca agency, Oklahoma. believes
that the first step in the instruction
of the Indian mother as regards the
health of her infant should re that of
proper feeding. An almost universal
disease Of Indian children is tubercu-
!osis, and when one considers that 90
rer cent of all children of 10 years of
age in the white race are said to have
,ubercular implantation, he can appre-
ciate it's danger and Importance in the
tepee Forced feeding and daily bath
for these cases will do much to over
come an inheri;ed weakened body.
Bridget C. keough, field matron, st.
Xavier, Mont, reports that in the Big
Horn Valley, ON the Grow reservation.
Indian mothers are learning to take
better care of their babies. While
some still lister to the medicine wom'
en-, or old grandmother, when the baby
is sick the majority go to a doctor for
advice and try to follow suggestions
as to cleanliness and diet. The Grow
mother will not prepare layette for
her baby, as it is superstition among
them that the baby will die If It's
clothes are made in advance.
DR.. Martin II. Reiber Of Arizona,
writing concerning Hopi Indian babies
remarks that the living quarters and
conditions of this Indian are not such
as would be conductive to the health
| of the infant, and consequently the
| death rate is extremely hign. Like the
| entire family the infant reposes only
on blankets or sheep pelts on bare
hard floor of clay. The one room
| house necessitates its occupancy by
tue entire family day and night: q
| door or window, if they have one, is
seldom kept open even in the mildesl
weather: remnants of foodstuffs often
litter the floor, and facilities for the
| disposal of garbage are deplorably In
adequate: and moreover, the Hcpi fire.
4uently does not take kindly to any
f! suggestion that might remedy the sit
| uation. The water supply is made
auate, as it usually has to be carried q
mile or more on the backs Of the wom
| en- or borros, and is often used fol
culinary and other purposes wheu
alive with various larvae and absolute
ly unfit for human consumption.
Concerning the Apaches of Arizona
Tassie Mary Scott of the San Carlo;
Indian Agency, writes that the moth
ers bundle tine babies into the car
riers, tie them. allowing no room fol
the movement of the babies lower ex
lremites (Which is necessary for mus
cular development and exercise), o
for the proper expansion of the alb
dominal muscles, or necessary respir
alton. They leave them so for hours
generally with heavy blanket. thr'
which no air can penetrate. covering
the whole carrier.