38 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Feb., 



splints. These were tightly bound in place by means of buckskin 

 cords passed from one splint to the next about which it was wound and 

 then passed to the next and so on i*ound and round the limb in a spiral. 

 A padding between and beneath the splints was supplied by the reed 

 (Phragmites) or other grass. It is said that a paste mixed with this 

 or some other grass, appropriately cut up, was sometimes used, the whole 

 drying or setting between and beneath the splints and forming about the 

 limb a sort of cast that was rigid and effective. In one case of fracture 

 of the leg observed under treatment by the writer, immobilization of 

 the foot was secured by means of a flat piece of wood tied firmly against 

 the sole by means of buckskin strings passing from the splintwork 

 sheath. 



In case of a wound from arrow or gunshot, a paste made by pounding 

 or chewing up the root of the arrowroot {Balsamorhiza sagittata), 

 ku'-si-a-ken-dsip, previously mentioned, among the food plants, was 

 applied. If the hemorrhage was severe, a ligature was applied on 

 the central or proximal side where possible. A tea made by twisting 

 the juice from the roots of Mitella or related forms (to' -sa-na-tsu) 

 was then given internally, the effect being to hasten elimination 

 and purging. Regarded as considerably more efficacious than the 

 arrowroot was the root of Ferula multifida, to'-dzup, which is strong 

 and rank in taste and smell. It was, and still is, used in essentially 

 the same way as the arrowroot, upon wounds, cuts or bruises where 

 the skin was broken. In case of compound fracture this was the 

 application made to the wound in preference to all others. The root 

 for use, as observed by the author, was first minced with a knife and 

 thoroughly ground to a pulp in a mortar or by crushing upon a clean 

 smooth stone by means of another used as a pestle. The paste was 

 then smeared over the wound and bound in place. It was used in 

 dressing the wound throughout the progress of healing. It seems 

 especially to have been relied upon where there was infection or 

 formation of pus. Among other plants furnishing preparations used 

 on wounds, cuts or sores were Cnicus eatoni, ai'-wa-bo-giip, and Gilia. 



Among remedies supposed to have virtue in taking down swelling 

 due to bruising or other causes may be mentioned first the roots of 

 Valeriana edulis, which were pounded into a pulp and rubbed on 

 externally. Another was made by steeping the roots of Wyethia 

 amplexicaidis, pi'-a-ken-dzip. The flax (Linum perenne) furnished a 

 preparation used in the same way, as did also the roots of Mentzelia 

 Icevicaulis among various others. One informant stated that cases 

 of persistent oedema in the limbs were sometimes treated as follows. 



