The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-06-08
WINS IN FIGHT
TO SAVE RACE
indian Death Rate Takes Drop
Under Care Given to Health
by Uncle Sam.


- not dying race. but on the con
trary has birth rate that exceeds tn,
death rate, Commissioner Of IndiaI
Affairs Charles II. Burek has disclosed
In an Informative statement on health
activities of his bureau. The red man
he said, Is living out the normal ex
pecta1acy Of life
The Indian population OF the United
States Is $40, 1877. OF this total 225,-
600 are restricted Indians that are
under the direct supervision Of the
bureau Of Indian affairs of the In
terror department
The magnitude Of the health activi-
ttes AMONG this number of people"
Mr.. Burke said is difficult of COM
prehension by one who Is not familiar
with the mode of habltation and racial
characteristics Of the American Indian
and who does not have a clear under
standing Of the broad expanse Of
country over which the various reser-
vations are scattered
Establish Medical Facilities.
"The reservations on which the ma
Jority of the Indians reside are located
In every state west of the Mississippi
river with the exception Of Arkansas,
Missouri and Texas. In addition there
are agencies in the following states
east of the Mississippi river: Michi-
San, Mississippi, Florida, North Caro-
Nina, New York and Wisconsin. Gener-
ally speaking the reservations are re-
motely located; that is, they are
usually some distance from the rail-
roads and industrial centers. 1t Is
therefore necessary to establish the
medical facilities on the reservations,
that they may be easily accessible to
the Indian
Commissioner Burke estimated that
approximately $4,000 Indians are at
dicted with tuberculosis In some form
aAd stage, and that approximately
$4,000 have trachoma and other dis
eases of the eye. These two diseases
represent by far the greatest health
problem the bureau is called upon to
meet. The general death rate among |
the Indians has been reduced from
1924 a thousand In 1913 to 22.23 4
thousand In 1920. This reduction in |
mortality Is regarded as remarkable,
because this period covered the influ-
snza epidemic OF 1918. The first hos
pftal provided for the treatment Of
Indian patients was established in
1882, but as late as 1900 there were
only five Indian hospitals in the United
States. Between 1900 and 1922 the
number of IAdian hospitals was in
creased to 78, with total bed ca
pacity Of approximately 2,40O. During ,
the Last year more than 10000 Indians
received treatment at these institu-
lions. They are classified as general,
sanatoria and sanatorium schools.
Give Educational Course.
In addition to the medical and n.y. )
gienic care these institutions are also
prepared to give a modified educa-
donal course to the patient The In
ierior department also operates the
,nly institution in the United States
designed and exclusively operated for
he treatment of nervous and mental
diseases among the f.dians. This in
stitution Is located at Canton, 8. D.,
nd has a bed capacity Of approx
oftely 100.
I'm addition TO trained men in med
cal administration, Mt. Burke said,
we have special physicians who are
pecialists in the treatment OF ira {
foma and other eye, ear nose and
hroat conditions, who travel over pre- {
cribed districts visiting the various {
eservations and schools and supply S
he necessary special service required
t each jurisdiction
"In addition, the department en-
Toys as stationary employees $50 full
me regular physicians, who are sta
oned on the various reservations and {
t the schools, and who devote their {
ltire time to the medical work, and r
so contract physicians, q
no devote part of their time to the Q
ldian medical work" {
Cooked Food Sale '