L JOU
EDIC
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University of Western Ontario Volume 21
November, 1951
No.4
EARLY MEDICINE IN CANADA• 8
jEAN HARDIE,
'51
EARLY days f anada ' history medicine was n t outstandI NingTHE . It followed very much the pattern of medicine pra tised in the rest of the world at that time, and until the late 1800' had little to contribute to medical progre . H wever, for anyone intere ted in the hi tory of hi country, the story of how medicine influ en ed, and was influen ed by, the course of event which shaped the destiny of Canada can be added as an interesting chapter to Canadian history. Before the white men came to the New World the Indians suffered from few diseases and had developed their own m.ethods for treating them . Medicine men used a type of p y hotherapy designed to dispel the evil spirits from the body of the sick one by dancing, chanting, beating drum and looking as ferocious a po ible. They were the spiritual advi ers of the tribe and were held in po ition of highest esteem . However, they were expected to cure a go dly number of their patients or suffer a penalty of death. Most of the caring for the sick was delegated to the ' omen of the tribe who knew various plants and herbs of therapeuti value--and probably saved the reputation of many a medicine man by their tender care. One Indian method of resu citating a drowned person is worth noting. They filled a long piece of ut with tobacco smoke and connected it to the mouth of the dro~ ned man . They then drove the moke into hi body and hung him fr m a tree by his feet. The smoke au ed the p or man to expel all the water he had inhaled and often he was miraculously returned to life. Mental illnesses were known to the Indians and epilepsy was found among them . Because certain tribes held sacred the mentally ill and awarded them privileges, feigning in anity was common and the following effe ti e remedy applied to any uspected malingerer: a loop of rope wa placed around hi neck, hi f ot drawn up and the other end of the rope atta hed to it. If he straightened his leg he automatically tightened the noose and strangled himself. Their knowledge of surgery was more advanced and there were bonesetters who showed a great deal of skill. To treat a fracture they set the bone, placed around the limb a pad of moss which they covered •Rud •t the
niver ity of Western Onurio "Osler Society" me 143
tin~
Feb. 7. 19) I.
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