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Show REPOBT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN SCHOOLS. 341 is no place in which the patient can be isolated. In regard to venti-lation of buildings, he believed in having a fireplace and a fire burn-ing in every room, and that especial attention should be given to teaching cleanliness as a most powerful civilizing influence. Dr. Breen, of Fort Lewis, Cola., believes that medicines furnished by the Government to the Indians should be selected by a physician; that the physical condition of mankind as regards cleanliness and sanitation, and the numerous other small things that enter into the hygienic condition of the people, are the incidents if not the actual concomitants of civilization. He spoke of the lack of appliances for treating the sick, and suggested that the lisL of medicines furnished by the Indian Office should come from a medical division presided over by an intelligent physician. In his opinion, the medical service is neglected, and the agent or superintendent should not be allowed to interpose his opinion against the opinion of the medical advisor whom the Department sends to the school, and without the correction of these evils the medical ddepartment would better be wiped out altogether. Dr. L. F. Michael, of Cheyenne Agency, S. Dak., on the subject of "Tuberculosis," said: As a practitioner I am often asked. "Why do so many Indians die of consnmp-tion?" To which there is but one answer: Unsanitarv surroundinzs. When the 111dian roamed The country and slept in opon air, tu&rcular dine& were rnre: hut ns hia domain gradmlly kcnrnc more reatricred, uncb:onliueas wns yrovalunt. The timeot the qclrool nhrsiclao roold not ixl better amulorc~lt llnn in iuarrncrine students in the red ca&-of ofherculosis, showing how &it is to become infectea under certain conditions, and the fear of these diseases wonld lead to better sani-tary conditions. 1 Dr. Westfiel~l,o f t h S~h osho~~aen d Arapaho Agenvy, Darlington, Okla... s-~ eaki-n orn "IIow best to -v romote the llcaltl~o f tile Indian." said: I do not think too much stress can be laid on the importance of selecting aproper site for the location of the school,as upon it largely depends the future health of both pupils and employees. Under the heading of "Hygiene" I wouldinclude grounds, buildings, water supplies, bathing facilities, sewer&ge, and everything that influences for good or evil the health of the individnal. Very few bnildinga are properly constructed from a. sanitary point of view, and I wonld urge the Department when any buildings are to be constructed to look oarefully after the scientific principle as regards light, heat, ventilation, and sewerage. In regard to bathing facilities. I woold adopt the apray system.for unless the "noble red man" is made to observe the laws of hygiene the race will be only a matter of history. SANITATION. This subject, from every standpoint, is of the greatest importance. Success in life in all its avocations depends largely upon the physical condition of those who seek it. Without pure air and water we could not reach that plane of physical development so absolutely nec-essary for the accomplishment of our social or mental ambition. It is in the impure air and in the impure water that the insidious germs of disease are propagated. This subject, therefore, with reference t.o the conduct of our schools, should receive especial attention. A badly heated, poorly lighted, and improperly ventilated schoolroom will en-gender physical evils among the scholars that will seriously impair their health and prostrate their energies. The importance of this subject in all its applications should be impressed upon teachers and pupils, and should more generally be a feature in our curricnlum. |