The purpose of this book, says the author, is to show the effect of Indian medicinal practices on white civilization. Actually it achieves far more. It discusses Indian theories of disease and methods of combating disease and even goes into the question of which diseases were indigenous and which were brought to the Indian by the white man. It also lists Indian drugs that have won acceptance in the Pharmacopeia of the United States and the National Formulary.
The influence of American Indian healing arts on the medicine and healing and pharmacology of the white man was considerable. For example, such drugs as insulin and penicillin were anticipated in rudimentary form by the aborigines. Coca leaves were used as narcotics by Peruvian Indians hundreds of years before Carl Koller first used cocaine as a local anesthetic in 1884. All together, about 170 medicines, mostly botanical, were contributed to the official compendia by Indians north of the Rio Grande, about 50 more coming from natives of the Latin-American and Caribbean regions.
Impressions and attitudes of early explorers, settlers, physicians, botanists, and others regarding Indian curative practices are reported by geographical regions, with British, French, and Spanish colonies and the young United States separately treated.
Indian theories of disease—sorcery, taboo violation, spirit intrusion, soul loss, unfulfilled dreams and desires, and so on -and shamanistic practices used to combat them are described. Methods of treating all kinds of injuries-from fractures to snakebite-and even surgery are included. The influence of Indian healing lore upon folk or domestic medicine, as well as on the "Indian doctors" and patent medicines, are discussed. For the convenience of the reader, an index of botanical names is provided, together with a wide variety of illustrations. The disproportionate attention that has been given to the superstitious and unscientific features of aboriginal medicine has tended to obscure its real contributions to American civilization.
REVIEWS
"American Indian Medicine is much more than its title indicates. For in presenting the medical practices of the New World, Vogel gives a fine picture of the historical relationship between the native Americans and the newcomers from the Old World."–American West
" No other book has ever assumed the scope of this study of the botanical ingredients of Amerind medicine in ’what has been called rational therapy.’ Most other works have tended to emphasize the shamanistic, magical, or ritualistic practices that Indians used in the curing arts, but in this volume the ’practical’ and (mostly) pharmacological bases of treatment and cure are studied. . . .A very satisfying book."–Library Journal
"An important and useful book. It contributes to both the history of medicine and the American Indian, and reflects the historian’s response to social trends, by utilizing the tools of his profession to acknowledge the role all people played in the achievements of contemporary civilization."–Arizona and the West
"It is a well and interestingly written essay on the medical aspects of Indian history, folklore, pharmacology, and botany. Emphasis is correctly placed on those things which have been carried over from the Indian’s medical practice to that of the white man. . . .Should interest all physicians, anthropologists, botanists, ecologists, and historians. The literate layman will enjoy it. Those who like things that improve the Indian’s status will love it."–Journal of American Medical Association
Paperback, 622 pages. Published in 1990
