Medical Care at School

The first page opened with an untitled poem about kindness, followed by "Part of Our Hospital Work," a reprint of a composition by Nancy Cornelius (Oneida) who detailed her experiences as a hospital assistant. She wrote about the breakfast routine and the Apache mothers caring for their babies at the hospital. There was also an article…

A white male doctor and two nurses attend a patient on a table in the operating room of the school hospital. 

A white female nurse and a female student nurse attend two female students in beds on the sleeping porch of the school hospital. 

A white female nurse and a female student nurse attend three female student patients in beds in a hospital ward. Another female student, apparently a visitor, sits in a chair beside of the beds. 

Two white male doctors, one white female nurse and a female student nurse attending a patient in a room in the school hospital.

Two white male doctors, a white female nurse, and a female student nurse attend two male students in beds on the sleeping porch of the school hospital. 

Three female student nurses attend a male student patient in a ward in the school hospital.

Surgeon J. H. Frantz informs Richard Henry Pratt that only 30 of the 158 students have been vaccinated. Pratt forwards Frantz's comments to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and requests to purchase 140 vaccines.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents…

Letter where Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt encourages Captain Richard Henry Pratt to replace the physician at Carlisle, feeling that the Army surgeon may not know best how to treat younger people. Hayt tells Pratt to seek a physician in town to help care for the schoolkids. Hayt states that there "ought to be little or no…

Richard H. Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that Dr. J. J. Bender would be willing to be the Indian School's doctor for $600 per year. However, Dr. Bender is the leading physician in the town of Carlisle and has many patients. Pratt suggests that it could be better for the Indian School to hire its own physician.

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Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt requests that Richard Henry Pratt obtain an offer for medical services and machines for $600 per year.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office…

Richard H. Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that Dr. J. J. Bender will be hired in a temporary capacity. Dr. Bender will visit the school as often as necessary and will "take charge of all cases of sickness."

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the…

R. L. Sibbet, a citizen of Carlisle, asks why the Carlisle Indian School is employing a homeopathic physician instead of a doctor that practices "rational medicine."

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that medicine transferred from the War Department is not needed at Carlisle, as his homeopathic physician will supply his own. Pratt suggests that the medicines be sent elsewhere.

George Kellogg of the Medical Division of the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides a sanitary report on the buildings, appliances, and children at the Carlisle Indian School. He recommends replacing some old brick drains with terra cotta pipes. He finds the buildings to be of a satisfactory condition, particularly commending the hospital - though…

Richard Henry Pratt informs school physician Dr. J. S. Bender that he will be fired at the end of the month unless he quits sooner. Pratt provides multiple reasons for his decision, including that almost every student sent to the school hospital dies or is sent home and that Bender did not provide Pratt with the proper medicine when he was sick…

Dr. J. S. Bender responds to Richard Henry Pratt's letter relieving him of his duties as school physician. In his response, Bender explains and defends himself against the claims that Pratt makes about him. Pratt forwards Bender's letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives…

Richard Henry Pratt requests to hire Dr. C. H. Hepburn as the Carlisle Indian School physician at $900 per year. Hepburn will exclusively treat students and employees, live on campus, and deliver weekly health lectures to the students.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he desires a hospital that is purposely designed to be a hospital, isolated from the rest of the school, and on higher ground. He requests to spend $4,550 to construct a new hospital housing 12 beds south of the South Barracks. Pratt encloses several documents.

First, Surgeon…

Richard Henry Pratt requests to spend $90 on butter, eggs, milk, and other food that the school physician believes is necessary for the students in poor health.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received…

Richard Henry Pratt requests five crusts of vaccine virus for new students and for students who received the vaccine a year ago but for whom it did not work.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by…

Richard Henry Pratt submits plans and specifications for building a new hospital on the grounds of the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that he has received multiple estimates for the cost of the building as well as supplies and believes that the use of Indian apprentices will greatly reduce labor costs. He states that the old hospital…

Richard Henry Pratt seeks additional funding to purchase food to meet the requirements outlined by the school surgeon for ill children, including butter, milk, and eggs.

Richard Henry Pratt reports that a scarlet fever outbreak as occurred at the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that there has been an outbreak in the borough of Carlisle for the past three months during which he has instituted a quarantine for the last two months including removing his own children from the local schools.

Pratt…

C. H. Hepburn, Carlisle Indian School Physician, informs Richard Henry Pratt that some mattresses should be destroyed due to scarlet fever contamination.