Origin of Disease and Medicine
"In the old days, the beast, birds, fishes, insects and plants could all talk, and they and the people lived together in peace and friendship. But as time went on the people increased so rapidly that...the poor animals found themselves beginning to be cramped for room...Man...began to slaughter the larger animals...for their flesh and skins, while the smaller creatures, were crushed...So the animals resolved to consult upon measures for their common safety.
The Bears were the first to meet in council and the old White Bear Chief presided. After each in turn had complained of the way in which Man killed their friends...it was decided to begin war at once against him...But when everything was ready and the first bear stepped up to draw the bow and shoot the arrow it was found out that...his long claws...spoiled the shot...someone suggested that they might trim his claws...the old White Bear, objected, saying it was necessary that they should have long claws...
No one could think of any better plan so the old Chief dismissed the council and the Bears dispersed without having concerted any way to prevent the increase of the human race.
The Deer next held council under the Chief, the Little Deer, after some talk decided to send rheumatism to every hunter who should kill one of them unless he took care to ask their pardon for the offence..
Next came the Fishes and Reptiles, who had their own complaints against Man. They held their council together and determined to make victims dream...
Finally the Birds, Insects, and smaller animals came together...the Great Horned Owl was Chief of the Council. It was decided that each in turn should give an opinion, and then they would vote on the question as to whether or not Man was guilty. Seven votes should be enough to condemn him. They began to devise and name so many diseases one after another, that had not their invention failed them, no one of the human race would have been able to survive.
When the Plants, who were friendly to Man heard what had been done by the animals, they determined to defeat the latter's evil designs. Each Tree, Scrub, and Herb, down even to the Grasses and Mosses, agreed to furnish a cure for some one of the diseases named, and each said: 'I shall appear to help Man when he calls upon me in his need.' Thus came medicine..."
<>THE END<>
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