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Page 4
Portland Observer
Thursday, January 6. 1977
The Black cowboy:
Unsung hero of old west
The cowboy holds a unique place ¡fa
American history. He was a rugged
individual, hard working and prideful.
His lot was not an easy one, for life on the
trail was hard and unpredictable. He was
constantly under the threat of a stamped
ing herd, hazardous weather, marauding
Indians and menacing ranchers. His cour­
age and independence has been romanti
cized in literature and dramatised on film.
Unfortunately, the pioneering and
settling of the West has often been
depicted as an exclusively white activity.
The Black cowboy did ride the trails from
Texas to Montana and from Oregon to
Kansas, but somehow found no place in
the legends of the Old West.
One of the most noted of Black cowboys
was Nat Love, born 1854 in a Tennessee
slave cabin and rode into Dodge City at
the age of 15. He was adopted by an
Indian tribe and a woman who insisted he
was her lost son. This, however, didn't
deter him from being an avid Indian
fighter. He survived numerous harrow­
ing encounters and boasted of more than
14 wounds. For 30 years, he drove cattle
on the trail and became a rodeo celebrity
as a champion roper. Nat was a friend of
Bat Masterson and an acquaintance of
Billy the Kid.
Another colorful Black in the early
days was cowpuncher Bill Pickett who
invented bulldogging, the technique of
wrestling a bull to the ground by the
horns. Pickett was a hot attraction at
rodeos in the United States and abroad
and. at one time, employed Tom Mix and
Will Rogers as his assistants.
In the cattle boom years after the Civil
War, some 5.000 Black cowboys drove
cattle along the Chisholm Trail from
Texas to Kansas. Most of them were
wranglers or ropers and often a Black
held the position of cook on those
Aged composer ploys benefit
grueling drives, which could last up to
five months.
There were no comforts during those
arduous trail drives except when the
buckeroos gathered around the chuck
wagon for rest and a good h/t meal.
Feeding these hungTy men was no easy
task and it is not surprising that the
cooks were paid well and treated with a
great deal of respect.
The cook was something of an autocrat
second only to the boss in importance,
according to Fresitler Ways by Edward
E. Dale, University of Texas Press, 1959.
The cook was the first one up in the
morning and usually the busiest during
the day. In addition to the three hot
meals he prepared, he doctored cuts,
sewed buttons, cut hair and settled bets.
The chuck wagon was home base
during these long drives, and it carried
everything the men would need - from
bedrolls to spare bullets. Perched at the
rear of the wagon was the chuck box
which had a hinged lid that came down
and became a worktable. Like a Victorian
desk, the box was honeycombed with
drawers where the cook stored his
utensils and food during the stay -
sourdough keg, pans, tin plates, cups,
sugar, syrup, lard, rice, beans, dried
fruits, salt, pepper and spices.
The coffee pot was always brewing and
a pot of beans was a regular course at
noon and supper. Meat was not as
plentiful as many people think. So it isn't
surpising that the meat was chopped and
then extended by combinging it was
beans and tangy tomato sauce. Served
between slices of bread, the Sloppy Joe
was born, a uniquely American dish.
Today Sloppy Joes are a tasty and
convenient meal for lunch or supper and
can easily be prepared with ground beef
Elizabeth Cotten and Tracy Schwarz will
appear at St. Francis Church, S.E. 12th
and Pine, on Saturday. January loth at
8:30 p.m. The concert is a benefit to raise
funds for St. Francis School.)
Elisabeth Cotten wrote the American
classic “Freight Train' during her child
hood in Chapel Hill. North Carolina. At
84. Mrs. Cotten still performs with great
skill on the guitar and sings her songs
with unsurpassed charm.
Tracy Schwarz, one of the New Lost
Cowbey Ceek
the next
Out on the range today, life hasn't
changed that much from 100 years ago.
On the large spreads, such as the Bell
Ranch in New Mexico, which covers some
475,000 acres, the chuck wagon is still
used to feed the men when they are gone
during the spring round-up. Sloppy Joes
continue to be a favorite out on the range,
and the Western Manwich Recipe listed
below has the appeal to hearty appetities
regardless of location.
Additional tasty and economical meals
are featured in a free 36-page booklet
entitled, “50 Famous Manwich Recipes"
which is available by sending 25 cents to
cover postage and handling costs to: 50
Famous Manwich Recipes, Hunt-Wesson
Foods. Inc., P .0. Box 11625, Santa Ana.
CA 92711.
I 1/» lbs. lean ground beef
1
'A teaspoon pepper
I |15-7>-ea.| can H unt's*
Manwich*
Sandwich Sauce
1 |157»-ez.| can chili beans
7« teaspoon chili powder
6 sesame seed egg buns, split and toasted
*A cup minced red onion
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Combine beef, salt, pepper and 7« cup
Manwich. Form into 6 patties. Broil to
desired doneness. In medium saucepan,
combine remaining Manwich, chili beans,
undrained, and chili powder; simmer 5 to
10 minutes. To serve, place hamburger
patties on bottom halves of buns. Spoon
Manwich mixture over. Top each with
onion, shredded cheese and bun tops.
Makes 6 Sloppy Joes.
(PNS) - When you get your next cold
this fall or winter, watch what you take
for it. According to many leading physi
cians and pharmacists, America's annual
$1 billion spending spree to battle the
common cold is often a case of throwing
good money after bad medicine.
Many over-the-counter remedies for
America's most common illness are at the
least ineffective and at worst dangerous.
Often taken indiscriminately because
of their ready availability, commercial
cold remedies can have serious side
effects in large doses and even in regular
doses among sensitive users.
“Self medication is being practiced
today with a degree of sophistication that
belongs to the Dark Ages,” says the
American Pharmaceutical Assn. “Abun­
dant evidence . . . dearly indicates that
they tsome self-medications) deserve to
be labeled “explosive - handle with care."
Consider the most popular cold remedy
of all: aspirin.
Americans spend $500 million a year on
aspirin and aspirin-containing drugs, con­
suming about 30 million tablets per day.
But aspirin is a drug that can have
unpleasant, even serious, side-effects.
For many aspirin users, just one to
three tablets can cause burning pain in
the mouth, throat and abdomen; breath
ing difficulty; lethargy; vomiting; ringing
in the ears; dizziness and decreased blood
circulation.
Aspirin may aiso attack the stomach
wall and lead to bleeding ulcers.
In larger doses, aspirin is the most
common single poison used by suicides
and is responsible for 15 per cent of
accidental deaths in young children. Sixty
to 90 tablets can kill an adult; a much
smaller number can kill a child.
While the medicinal value of aspirin
(acetylsalicylic acid) has been known for a
long time - Pliny mentioned it in his
medical encyclopedia over 2,000 years
ago - aspirin has been mass-produced
only in the twentieth century. And just in
recent years has science been able to
discover the biochemical mechanism by
which it works.
Ironically, the same mechanism that
allows aspirin to give temporary symp
tomatic relief for pain and fever may
actually prolong recovery from a cold.
Aspirin's effectiveness results from its
interference with the prostaglandin sys­
tem. a recently discovered class of chemL
cal substances that appear to play a key
role in the body's defensive system.
Prostaglandins are involved in pain,
inflammation and the chemical reactions
that produce fever, all defense mechan
isms. Thus, while treating the symptoms
of a cold, aspirin can also inhibit the
body's ability to fight it.
More important, aspirin taken on a
chronic basis may interfere with the
longterm maintenance of regulatory sys­
tems that depend upon the proper bal­
ance of prostaglandins.
The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has tentatively concluded, for
example, that aspirin may prolong child­
birth and inhibit blood dotting for mother
and child if taken in the last three months
of pregnancy.
Beyond Aspirin
Many other cold remedies contain
chemical substances closely related to
aspirin, such as acetanilide, phenacetin
and acetaminophen. The latter, sold
under the trade names Datril and Tylen
ol, does not harm the stomach lining and
is as effective at fighting fever and pain
as aspirin.
But all these aspirin-like drugs -
sometimes with as few as two-to-five
tablets - can cause drops in blood
pressure, respiratory failure or damage
to the liver and kidneys in some people,
according to the American Pharmaceuti­
cal Association. Such respiratory or kid­
ney failure can be fatal.
Other cold remedies consist of com
binations of several drugs in aaaition to
aspirin, such as antihistamines and sym
pathomimetics
While antihistamines are added to cold
remedies to relieve stuffy noses, the FDA
has reported that commercial antihista
mines are ineffective for this purpose.
Antihistamines are, however, a major
cause of accidental poisoning in young
children and an instrument of suicide in
adults. They are especially dangerous
when taken in conjunction with alcohol.
According to Dr. Melvin H. Weinswig,
PORTLAND
CLEANING WORKS
professor of pharmacy at the University
of Wisconsin, side effects of antihista
mines at even regular doses can include -
in sensitive cases sedation, gastrointes
tinai upset, loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, heartburn, constipation and
diarrhea.
Occasional, more serious side effects
even at regular doses include impotence,
convulsions and toxic psychosis. And,
adds the FDA, some antihistamines con­
taining meclizine, cydizine and chlorocy-
clizine can cause birth defects.
In nasal decongestion sprays, antihis
tamines are often combined with sym
pathomimetics - drugs that suppress
some cold symptoms.
According to Drs. Arthur Zupko and
Edward Stempel of the Brooklyn College
of Pharmacy, sympathomimetics “can
have a remarkable habit-forming effect."
The more these drugs are used, the less
effect they have - which usually leads to
larger and larger doses.
This pattern of habituation can lead to
"congestion rebound" - complete nasal
obstruction - which the common cold
would never have produced on its own.
And. add Drs. Zupko and Stempel.
nasal decongestants are often ineffective
because the mucous blanket in the nose
prevents satisfactory absorption of the
drug.
All these cold remedies contain drugs
that can interact with other drugs to
produce harmful side effects. Cold reme
dies should not be taken with alcohol or
by persons on medication for high blood
pressure, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid
disease or other chronic diseases, without
a doctor’s permission.
Most combination cold and deconges
tant remedies are probably ineffective
anyway, says the FDA. That was the
conclusion of an extensive study of these
products begun in 1972 by a panel of
expert physicians and pharmacologists
under the aegis of the National Academy
of Sciences.
Prevention - aided by a moderate, well
balanced diet, balanced rest and exercise,
limited coffee and alcohol intake and no
cigarette smoking - is still the best
alternative to commerical cold remedies.
To those who do succumb to colds. Dr. Sol
Katz of Georgetown University has this
advice: “Drink lots of hot chicken soup.”
SH O P
IENOW S
NORTH A NX. PORTLAND
FOR
O N I DAY SBIVICK
BRANDS
N eC ketge
Plek -a p A D s H v e ry
K N IT BLOCKING OUR SPECIALTY
3 0 0 6 N. W M v m Avo.
I. A lexander, Proprietor
you k n o w
V A R IE T IE S y c u lik e
2S2-S361
S IZ E S v o u w a n t
The Friand Imet |
Stores In Tawn|
'S ia m 1 90 »
•
M I V K I V C II
.T K W O R U T S
MOST ADVANCED
W gO ITLO SS I
PROGRAMJUST
MADE ANOTHER
ADVANCE.
We've just introduced a new Weight
Watchers* Program. And a new Food Plan.
Simpler. Easier to follow. Delicious.
And backed by our Medical Director.
Our Nutntion staff Our Behavioral Psy
chologist And over five million hours of
classroom experience, worldwide
Nobody else can offer you all that
Come to a Weight Watchers meeting
Find out about all the advances we've
made.
They can help you make some
advances yourself >
WEIGHT
WATCHERS
The Authority.
Cold cures often futile - can be fatal
by M artin Brown
City Ramblers, will open the concert.
Tracy will present a selection of Appa
lachian and Cajun songs, accompanying
himself on the fiddle, guitar, or banjo.
General Admission is $4.00 for adults;
$1.00 for children age 14 and under.
Tickets are on sale a' Longhair Music
(S.W. 2nd and Stark), The Upper at
Music Millenium (3168 E. Burnside),
Complete Music Center. 21561 S. E.
Stark. Gresham, and St. Francis School.
1131 S. E. Oak.
u N tllD
I
C R O C tffS
Some highly advertised combination cold
remedies and th eir chemical i
Alter eat: 10 mg. antihistamines, 50 mg.
sympathomimetics, no aspirin/phenace
tin/acetaminophen. and no alcohol.
Contac Naaal Mint:.2% antihistamines,
•5% sympathomimetics, no aapirin/phen-
acetin/acetaminophen. and no alcohol.
Coricidin “D":2 mg. antihistamines, 10
mg. sympathomimetics, 390 mg. aspirin/
phenacetin/acetaminophen and no alco­
hol.
Driatan:10 mg. antihistamines. 5 mg.
sympathomimetics, amount of aspirin/
phenacetin/acetaminophen unknown, and
no alcohol.
Nee-Synephrine T a b lets.5 mg. iintihis
tamines, 5 mg. sympathomimetics. 150
mg. aspirin/phenacetin/acetaminophen
and no alcohol.
Neo-Synephrine Spray: no antihista
mines, .5% sympathomimetics, no aspir
in/phenacetin/acetaminophen. and no al­
cohol.
Pertussin Pina: .34 mg. antihistamines.
1.7 mg. sympathomimetics, 100 mg. aspir-
in/phenacetin/acetaminophen. and 25%
alcohol.
Sinutab: 22 mg. antihistamines. 26 mg.
sympathomimetics. 300 mg. aspirin/
phenacetin/acetaminophen and no alco­
hol.
Super- Anabist
12.5 mg. antihista
mines, 12.5 mg. sympathomimetics, 330
mg. aspirin/phenacetin/acetaminophen,
and no alcohol.
Vicks Nyquil: amount of antihistamines
unknown, amount of sympathomimetics
unknown, 600 mg. aspirin/phenacetin/
acetaminophen and 25% alcohol.
Vicks Siaex: no antihistamines, amount
of sympathomimetics unknown, no aspir-
in/phenacetin/acetaminophen and no al
cohol.
From Handbook of Non-Prescription
Drugs, American Pharmaceutical Asso­
ciation.
Financial aid
available
Portland State University is accepting
applications for financial aid for next
summer and fall.
Richard Rankin, director of financial
aids at PSU, says students should make
sure all application materials have reach­
ed PSU by March 1 to be in the first
priority group for financial aid awards.
I
The application process involves PSU
institutional forms and financial state
ment which must be sent by the student
to the College Scholarship Service (CSS)
in Berkeley. California. To make sure this
I statem ent is returned by the CSS to PSU
by the March 1st deadline, Ranking
advises students to submit it in early
January.
Aid through PSU is available under
three main programs - the College
Work Study Program, the National Dir
ect Student Loan program and the
Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grant program.
Applications for funds under the Basic
Educational Opportunity Grant program
are made directly to the federal govern
ment, though application materials will
be available at the PSU Financial Aids
Office, other institutional financial aids
offices, and many public libraries on
February 1st.
$> YOU’RE 1MB O M i
Emanuel Hospital
2801 N. Gantenbein
Thurday 7:00 p.m.
Maranath Church
1222 N.E. Skidmore
Sat. 9:30 a.m.
Carpenters Hall
2225 N. Lombad St.
Mon 7:00 pm
Thurs. 9:30 a m.
Northeast Center
5049 NE Sandy Blvd.
Non. Tues, Fri 9:30 a.m.
Mon thru Thurs. 7:00 p.r
JOIN any class any time
» ¡w il
■»ildu'l
qall a /ii
.noiKivtd
F or Information call Collect Portland 297 1021
Weekdays 8:30 5:30
DR. JEFFREY RRADY Soys:
Do Not Pot O ff Needed Dental Caro”
Enjoy Dontal Health Now and
Improve Your Appoaranco
Come In At
Your Convenience
Open Saturday Morning
•
No Appointment Needed
•
Complete Cooperation
On All Dental
Insurance Plans
•
Complete Dental Services
Union or Company Dental Insurance
Coverage Accepted On Your
Needed Dentistry
Park Free Any Park n "hop Ix»t
HOURS: Weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
JEFFREY BRADY, DENTIST
SEMLER BUILDING
S.W. 3rd & Morrison St. Portland. Oregon
Take Elevator to 2nd Floor 3rd ffl. Entrance
Phone: 228-7545
1