1896: Doctor consults medicine men to counter tuberculosis

James R. Walker, the agency physician assigned to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, finds that tuberculosis is prevalent among the Oglala Lakota. He observes, “… the greatest difficulty in the management of the disease on an Indian Reservation is the lack of control of cases, arising principally from the antagonism of the Indian medicine men.” Walker respects the role of Native healers and seeks their friendship, consulting with them about tuberculosis treatments. He introduces general sanitary measures and the practice of safe disposal of sputum. From 1897 to 1903, the annual incidence of tuberculosis falls by 49 percent, and TB mortality by 44 percent.

Theme

Medicine Ways

Region

Great Plains