Medical Practice Among The Indians.

This two part article begins in 1909 and concludes in 1910. Author was agency physician at Fort Berthold in North Dakota from 1878-85 and treated the Gros Ventre, Arikara, and Mandans, about 1400 total. Houses were crowded, filled with smoke, eye infections common. TB and syphilis were present. Fracture caused by gunshot wound of the humerus was treated by re-aligning the break manually and wrapping the wound with calico, flannel, old pieces of blanket, etc. Frostbitten feet were allowed to progress until the doctor could twist off the bones easily. Women squatted on the ground with their backs to trees to effect birthing. Abortion was accomplished by women kneading the pregnant woman's stomach with their fists until the fetus was expelled. A dying individual was usually placed outdoors since dying indoors was not acceptable. Sandstorms in summer and snowblindness in winter caused eye problems. Insanity was rare.