The Wrangell sentinel., 1930-04-03
Indians to Have
 Medical Service
 Again This Year
Yukon Medical Boat to Cruise River During Summer with
 Medical-Dental Staff

t1on, has had medical boat Oper- ating on the Yukon river during the last several seasons, it is safe to say that very few realize to what extent the floating" service has been helpful to the Indians and whites who make their homes in widely scattered communities, along the more than 1900 miles of river traversed by the medical voy- agers of the government, says the Anchorage Times. It will be very gratifying to those who appreciate the importance of this work to know that the service is to be pro- vided again this year, the medical boat, Martha Angeline, being sched- uled to leave Nenana early in June, prepared for another season of ac- tive work among the Indians, the great m a jority of whom have learned the value of the service given them by the government and who now eagerly await the coming of the doctor and his staff each summer.
 The Martha Angeline, with medical staff consisting of Dr. M. P. Kaufman, physician in charge, Marjory Major, nurse, and pr. Edna Tavlin, dentist, travelled dis tance of 2914 miles last season, go- ing from Nenana to the mouth Of the Yukon, back to Panama, up the Yukon te Beaver and return to the starting point at Nenana. In addi- tion, the doctor and his nurse made a side trip from Akulurak to Narul- raayik and other villages at the lower end of the Yukon, and also travelled from Beaver to Eagle, on the upper Yukon, making that trip on the steamer Yukon. In all, the doctor and his nurse travelled 3660 miles during the summer, and wis., ited more than 40 communities.
 Some idea of the work accom- plished is given in the report of the trip prepared by E. J. Beck, super intendent of the central district of Alaska for the Bureau of Educa- tion, who joined the medical boat on the lower Yukon July 24 and re- mained with it during the remain der of the season, which ended at Nenana October 1.
 The floating medical service was inaugurated in 1927 by Jonathan H. Wagner, chief of the Alaska di- vision of the U. S. Bureau of Edu- cation, and during that season a great deal of work was done in spite of the fact that many of the Indians. along the river did not re- ceive treatment because the mission of the Martha Angeline was not understood by them. Including ex- aminations, teeth attractions, drugs dispensed, operations performed and dressings, the treatments totaled more than 2O0O for the season. The following year, with the Indians better informed and on the lookout for the boat, the total was more than doubled, and last summer the total was 10,462, made up largely as follows:
 Tonsillectomies 106, surgical op- erations 23, dental treatments 3177, extractions Y51, dress gs and treatment 482, patients treated at their homes 232, examinations 1863, tuberculosis 286, rheumatism and neuralgia 191, influenza, pneu- monia and colds 146, throat and tonsils ETA, nose and ear 11S, eye 261. new born II, stomach and bowels 80, skin 7S, infections 22' heart trouble 35, drugs dispensed 2072, etc.
 The cost of operating the medical boat last summer, with double the work accomplished, was approxl- mately $500 less than during lS2S' the total for the season being under s8.5OO. The cost of operating the mess, also was less last year than IL was in 1928 by more than $2OO.
 When the Martha Angeiine ,oaves Nenana in June 1t will go direct to the south mouth Of the Yukon river, it having been founo that weather conditions are Detter during the early summer than iat- CT. very important matter in Siew of the fact that the medical Doa' cannot be operated safely in roueh water. In fact, last seasons opera ,,ons demonstrated the need or . new boat for the work ana -,a !. nd' Ga