Publisher's Synopsis
After the United States imprisoned the Chiricahua Apaches in damp, humid regions of the East, they were devastated by contagious diseases. Numerous books have been written about Geronimo's infamous band, but none has focused specifically on the Chiricahua Apaches' healing practices, or on the dramatic effects captivity had on the health of these first Americans. The author addresses the medical maladies suffered by the Chiricahuas while they were incarcerated for nearly 30 years.;By harvesting information from diverse and often obscure sources, Stockel describes the arrival of the Chiricahua Apaches in the Southwest, their use of natural medicines, and their reliance on cultural customs and sacred ceremonies to promote healing. She provides the reader with a thorough background on the most contagious ailments of the Spanish, Mexican and Anglo frontier-folk, including popular and often amusing remedies.;Records of "the white man's" diseases that assaulted the Chiricahua Apaches during their confinement have been researched by the author from data at the imprisonment sites in Florida, Alabama, and Oklahoma. Her interviews with contemporary Chiricahua Apaches present their points of view about the experiences of their imprisoned ancestors and add an important dimension to the author's primary research accounts.
