Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1919-01-24

MRS. Carl Davis, ana little daughter,
Caria, of Newport, have been visiting
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Ray
Chandler during the week.
The influenza epidemic at Siletz has
about run its course, and we don't
anticipate return Of 1t. The Chinook
wind and rain storm had much to do
in disipating the disease. About 150
cases occurred on the reservation
among the Indians and whites. The
death rate was small, being cnly about
z per cent. The plan from tie start
was to isolate and quarantine the sick,
and to prevent the assembling OF
crowds The sick were put to bed and
kept there for at least ten days, and
the house was kept at even tempature,
say about G5 degrees. This was kept
up day and night during the cold spell.
Paaents were not allowed to go out
In the cold air for any purpose what.
everA chill and a temperature of 101
to 1O3 was q sufficient cause to put the
person to bed. The people knowing
the danger Of the disease complied
Willingly with these requirements. The
treatment Is simple and effective. In
1uenza Of itself seldom causes death,
1t being the complications that kill.
1t is a god rule to keep the patient
in bed during his entire illness Ply
sicians disagree as to the causes OF
the disease. Some say that 1t is caused
by only one germ. while others con-
tend that 1t % three kinds OF bacteria
that produce the disease. Be this as
1t may, 1t is up to the bacteriolgist to
determine this matter. This same dis
case was here on the reservation 2s
years ago, and the mortality then was
much greater than now. The disease
was particularly fatal to weak persons
and old people. A good many old peo
pie died that winter of the disease
II was'a very cold winter and the snow
in the Siletz valley lay about one
foot deep and on the high mountains
II was from ten to fifteen fees deep
The snow went OF with Chinool
wind and warm rain, putting the 81
letz river up 33 feet above low watel
mark. The river was Toifily cat9r
act Great trees came down, and The
hpsh drift swept the big government
bridge awey, that was built across The
river just below the Andrew Smiti
Place. The Indians in order to keeJ
warm went, during the big snow, into
their sweat houses. The house was
closed up, except q little hole at the
stop TO let the smoke out. The rock,
were het up with fire to a red ho
heat, the Goals removed, and on these
rocks water was poured, and then the
boughs Of spruce. fir and hemlock were
placed. The Indians would lay ant
sweat and chant and sing his medi
cine songs to the Great Spirit, thai
he might get well. This sweat woult
often break up the cold. We callet
this disease the Ia gripp or influenza
This sweating with the rich balsan
houghs was benificial,, but going int
the cold river water after, no doub
caused the death Of many persons .Th,
indian women had separate swea
hoases for themselves, made goo,
deal nicer and decorated with beauti
sul tapestries, etc, and different style
of adornment The women are Away
nen!ef and nicer than the men. TIL,
women used sweet scented, aromatic
herbs in their sweat housees, and II
soft but plaintive voice chant thei
songs to the Great Spirit to make an,
keep them well. perserve their healt
and keep thew and their friends fror
dying. The women would not plung
in cold water IKE men, but dresse
and went home. They show more sens
than the men. II was unbecoming an
illbred for the women to occupy III
same sweat house with the men. A
that time we never heard or though
of mask, and the disease did not seei
70 spread as much then as now. N
masks are worn at Siletz except by III
undertaken, and by Mrs. Alec Catfisl
who says she wants to be in fashio
wit, outside people. The mask may
considerable of fakir like some pc
pie who carry potato in their pock
to keep of rheumatism. 1t satisf,
the mind and is a kind Of Christii
Science, and is therefore kind
protection.
7D