Show wins W n s in n fight race ace indian death rate takes drop under care given to health by uncle sam washington tho the american indian Is not a dying race but on the contrary has a birth rate that exceeds the death rate commissioner of indian affairs charles H burek has disclosed aej anan an informative statement on health activities of his bureau the red man he said to Is living burthe ourthe out the normal expectancy pec tancy of life the indian population of the united states is 19 of this total are restricted indians indiana that are am under lundee the direct supervision of the bureau of indian affairs of the in IA perlor department the magnitude of the health activities among this nur number fiber of 0 people mr burke said Is difficult of corn com by one who to is not familiar with the mode of habitation and racial characteristics of the american indian and who does not have a clear under standing of the broad expanse of 0 country over which the various reservations are scattered Esta medical facilities the reservations on which the ina 1118 odthe of the indians reside tire located in every state west of the mississippi alter with the exception of arkansas missouri and texas in addition there are ard agencies in the following states east cast of the mississippi river michigan mississippi florida north carolina lina now new york and wisconsin generally speaking the reservations are remotely located that Is they ore are usually some distance from the rall roads and industrial centers it la Is th therefore necessary to establish the medical facilities on the reservations that they may bo be easily accessible to the indian commissioner durke burke estimated that approximately indians are at af filleted with tuberculosis in some form and stage and that approximately have trachoma and other diseases basis bathe eye these two diseases represent by far the greatest health problem the bureau Is called upon to meet the general death rate among the indians has been reduced from a thousand in 1013 1613 to 2223 a thou thousand in 1020 1920 this reduction in mortality Is regarded as remarkable because this period covered the influenza epidemic of 1018 1918 the first hospital provided for the treatment of indian patients was established in 1882 but its aa late as 1000 there were only five indian hospitals in the united states between 1900 1000 and 1022 1922 the number of indian hospitals was increased to tb 78 with a total bed capacity of approximately 2400 during the last year more than indians received treatment at these institutions they are classified as gonema sanatoria and sanatorium schools give educational course cour in addition to the medical and hy by gienia care these institutions are also prepared to give a modified educational course to the patient tho interior department also operates the only institution la in the united states designed and exclusively opera operated for the treatment of nervous and mental dis diseases eases among the indians this in Is located at canton S D and has 4 bed capacity of approximately tn in addition to trained wen men in medical administration mr burke said we have special physicians who are specialists in the treatment of trachoma and other eye ear nose and throat conditions who travel over prescribed districts visiting the various reservations and schools and supply the nece necessary special service required a at t each jurisdiction in addition the department employs as stationary employees fall time regular physicians who are sta on the various reservations and at the schools and who devote their entire time to the medical work and approximately 60 50 contract physicians who devote a part oi of their time to the indian medical work |