Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
OruQSt0reS
That Travel On
Mems Backs
r oDAY, with physicians ratoned like sugar coffee and

gasoline medicine is turning kindly but critical eye
the old wives remedies of the past. their
defense Or Estehan- Monteperde, a Paraguayan
physician who has just completed intensive study
South American Callaguayas Indians-the
ing drugstores" of the Jungle
These Hatipes-ve distances peddttng
their remedies to all in need throughout that
stretch Of the South American continent which lies below
the dense junges that separate Panama Colombia
have been known to white and Indians alike for
centuries
DR. Monteverde is not the only scientist who is turning
his attention today the jungle in search of
the diseases that affict mankind The scientists of the
Rockefeller Foundation among others have gone
wilds drugs which only years ago were
unknown to any pharmacopoeia.
There nothing that surprise Americans in the
idea of the walking drugstores less than century
ago the walking pedders in country frequently
added standard remedies to their stocks in trade.
The Caraguayas, however make medicine n tribal
business They belong To the great Bolivian family OF
Indians but unique in many respects Their home
land the province Of Munecas in the northern section
the republic And Ike the earliest physicians OF the
ancient Greeks they possess remarkable knowledge OF
botany
This knowledge of the Cslaguayas is tribal secret
and guarded by these Indians penalty death
a because the practice Of
primitive jungle medicine the chief way which the
Callaguayas have made their living long before
first white set foot the Western Hemisphere
ally for millions brown-slnncd women ana
for few whites well, says DR. Monteverde
Indians are only Pharmacists herbalists and heaers
They make the most astounding journeys. Although
natives Of northern Bolivia you're just likely to
into Of their wandering groups in the dense
Brazs Matte Crosse the pampas
Of Argentina the high Cordilera of Venezuela The
South American governments and professional associations
of physicians work America
Will have enough trained physicians and pharmacists
for its population for many years to come
Naturally their treatments made entirely by
perence and rule of thumb Trained from childhood to
recognize the symptoms most jungle maladiesstyre
not likely TO 20 very their diagnoses They
cannot but be familiar with all common ailments and
when they into something beyond them-well
physician expects hundred per cent
The Calaguayas be recognized by their distinctive
tTilq of
frrgcs at the bottom, a wooden shirt, long
poncho and wide straw hat Usually they drive small
mountain mules which their stock in trade Of
jungle herbs and drugs and other goods are packed The
Callaguayas themselves do not ride
They think nothing whatever of leaving their homes
journeys incredible distances which take them years
complete They find themselves at home and welcome
almost anywhere they may go. Either their mules
backs both they carry two large skin pouches
filled with their remedies
These pouches the Calaguayas never allow become
empty because of their work they travel TO find
supplies of their remedies most of which herbal
nature They have been reported travelling the jungle
the hghroads in Chile Peru Ecuador, Colombia
Venezuela and far south the Argentine and the
southerly state of Rio Grande Do Sui in Brazil Usually
they their journeys they have definite
detectives gypsyike wander where the spirit
them climate and other conditions attractive.
The other Indian tribes believe firmly that the Cal
laglayas addition TO being healers and
that is why these wanderers pass safety through
the dangerous districts. Dr. Moneverde who has
of their exhibitions of magic naturally doesn't
place any faith such gongson but he nevertheless bears
testimony to their ability stilfu humbugs.
But what is more surprising, says the Paraguayan
physician that to them belongs the credit for discover
ing virtually all the plants used in the native pharma
copoea Repeatedly medical science has admitted the
value of the Callagdayas remedies and many of the
"simples" used bear their own names
Among the discoveries Of the Caaguayas is the of
the Mur1Ire milk in the treatment Of syphilis and
there are reliable Of made by its long
before Erich discovered his magic bullet"
other native smples the Manaca plant, of real
in treating rheumatic conditions the root Of the mura
puama claimed to be of pronounced value in combat
ing nervous disorders and the little yellow douradnha
plant appearance like the oldashoned American dan
delion said to be good emetc