OCR Text |
Show COXMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 35 as a predisposing factor in the causation, not alone of tuberculosis but of other diseases as well, is to be considered. The poor quality of food, its improper preparation, and the lack of a sufficient quantity also exercise a predisposing influence. There is no question but that an ill-fed man is many times more liable to infec- - tion than one who receives a proper diet. Close intermarriage of Indians of the same tribe, where it exists, is very probably responsible for some of the degeneracy found. This would apply especially in some of the smaller tribes, though this sub-ject was not discussed by many of the physicians. The question as to whether or not admixture of white and Indian blood produces an individual healthier than the full-blood Indian brought out rather conflicting opinions. The weight of opinion, how-ever, seems to indicate that tbe mixed breeds are less robust than either the Indian or the white man. Removal of children from camp life to the school produces serious results in some instances, especially in the so-called latent forms of tuberculosis. Whether this is due to inherent tendencies in the child or to unsanitary conditions is not made clear by the evidence at hand, but probably both these agencies have an inflnenck. A predisposition to tuberculosis unquestionably exists in the majority of young Indi-ansjand the change from the freedom of camp life to the crowded schoolroom and dormitory, especially if the latter falls short of reason-able sanitary requirements, acts as a spark to tinder. Overcrowding and unsanitary measures in dormitories is a factor which needs no amplification, hut the question presents different aspecta for each school, and must,be studied for the schools individ-ually. The question of improper medioal attention is of some importance, since it is true that in many instances Indians suffering ffom tubercu-losis do not receive proper attention. The blame for such lack of treatment arises from causes relating principally to the Indian himself than to the doctor. In the majority of instances the Indian has little faith in the white man's treatment for tuberculosis. He has learned to recognize the disease, and has seen so many case8 pass uninflu-enced by treatment through its familiar stages of decline that he con-siders medicines and other remedial measures of no avail. Besides, his idea of medicine does not embrace the patience necessary to undergo the long and, to him, senseless procedures imposed. If a few doses of medicines fail to give results his faith is gone and he s h m further treatment. Moreover, his ignorance and supers6ition often make it impossible to institute many of the procedures deemed advisable in cases of this nature. With reference to the amount of blame chargeable to physicians, it is undoubtedly true that tubercular patients are sometimes neglected, |