Page 134

134          REPORTS CONCERNING INDIANS IN ARIZONA. 
pine vegetation was dense and the dead leaves and spines thick on the ground;
at 
these places the loss was great. When the rains began the water from the
moun- 
tains made a river almost as black as ink. 
As the timber has very little value to these Indians they make no efforts
to stop 
the fires unless ordered to do so; and, as the winds are usually high during
the day, 
successful fire fighting can be done during the night only. To protect the
Indian 
forest land from these great fires I would suggest that a belt across the
northern side 
of this reservation, extending south 10 miles from the north boundary line,
be 
included in the forest reserve so that the forest rangers would have jurisdiction
over 
the entire forest to protect it from fires; that during the months of May,
June, July, 
and August of each year the disbursing agent for this agency be authorized
to employ 
a number of Indians, not exceeding ten in number, at a salary of $30 per
month, to 
assist in the patrol of the forest land of this reserve and the forest reservation
adjoin- 
ing it; that such Indian patrol be under the direct supervision of the lieutenant
of 
the forest rangers. 
Court of Indian offenses.-This court convenes at the agency on the 1st and
15th of 
each month, and at such irregular times as may be necessary. The cases to
be set- 
tled are mainly drinking, fighting, stealing, adultery, and divorce, and
the judgments 
of this court are better than one would usually credit a court of this kind.
The 
agency is not provided with a suitable jail and very often there are more
prisoners 
than there is room for them; however, they are usually easily managed, and
it is not 
necessary to lock them up for petty offenses. 
The making and drinking of tulpai is hard to regulate. A visiting officer
at this 
place once reported to you that these Indians would quit making and drinking
this 
beer when they had ceased to raise corn.     This was a truthful statement,
and the 
same may be said of the white race in its boasted civilization. 
Sanitary conditions.-Concerning the physical conditions of these Indians
I append 
hereto the report of the agency and school physician, Dr. A. M. Wigglesworth:
The general insanitary condition of our Indians still prevails in spite of'advice
and example. 
Most of their disease is preventable, and this office makes it a point to
show them their errors and the 
consequences thereof. 
The observation of two summers has shown me that by far the most sickness
prevails during this 
season. The cause for the diarrhea, cholera morbus, etc, of adults, and the
summer complaint of 
infants and children, must all be due to bad hygiene or flies. Our streams
and springs show no specific 
germs on microscopic examination, nor can the food be questioned, except,
perhaps, where contami- 
nated or indigestible. Suckling babes suffer with the rest. The fact remains
that these diseases are 
ubiquitous, that all suffer to some extent and many die. Treatment taken
in time is a saving process. 
Our past winter was very mild, and was marked by few fatalities from pneumonia.
One mild 
epidemic of influenza is recorded, the diagnosis being certified by the microscope.
Tuberculosis in the form of consumption of the lungs has claimed a victim
about every month. In 
some cases an entire family has been gradually exterminated byit. Lack of
care as to dissemination, 
bad hygiene, late presentation of treatment, coupled with a special predisposition,
are factors in causa- 
tion and fatility. The medicine men have frequently instilled a false hope
in some of the worst cases. 
We were fortunate in being able to contradict them and to prognosticate the
fatal termination with 
the exact date in a way that has gone far toward gaining the confidence of
the Indians. Many cases 
of glandular tuberculosis and a few of lupus, or the skin form, exist and
help to spread this pestilence. 
Venereal disease is so rare as not to require mention. 
The census shows a gain of 14 births over the deaths. The physician was called
in 6 labor cases, 
previous delivery occurring in 4 by reason of distance. Two of the latter
were stillborn. The Indian 
method of management of these cases is to be condemned as causing lacerations
and other untoward 
results. 
One life has been saved and one cripple restored by surgical intervention.
Tact and judgment have been used toward counteracting the influence of their
medicine men, 
and superstitions regarding our drugs dispelled. The medicine man's motive
is a fee, and he usually 
does no more than sing for it. How much has been gained can not be estimated,
but the demand 
for treatment has increased steadily, so that our drug stock has been exhausted
several times. 
Wherever possible, medicines are administered by the physician, as relatives
of the sick are so often 
too indolent or ignorant to trust. 
The question of medication is often difficult, as they will not take the
crude articles furnished us. 
Valuable time is lost in an attempt to render them palatable. As stated time
and again, our drug 
list needs revision or abandonment. 
The school health has been excellent, owihg to the best of care by employees
and rigid exclusion 
of diseased pupils. 
We need more space for drugs and private treatment. Better attention can
be given singly, and 
crowding tends to embarrass the timid. In this way one does not see what
the other receives, and 
will not imagine he needs the same. They are too prone to take medication
as a huge joke. 
A system of tents with stoves and cots would constitute a valuable addition
to our equipment. 
They would enable cases to be moved close to the agency, where daily care
by physician and field 
matron could be had. School children given into the hands of parents could
likewise occupy the 
tents. 
A great amount of medicine has been expended on stock in treatment of wounds,
sore backs, and 
screw-worm infection. 
Recommendations.-(1) That the making of good stone school buildings for the
proper training of 225 of the 565 children of school age be continued as
it was begun 
last year; that these buildings be the following: A school and assembly building,
boys' dormitory, mess building, and a laundry. 
(2) That small storage reservoirs be made in the mountains for water for
Indian 
cattle.