626 swanton: catawba notes 



Medicines were of the same miscellaneous character observable 

 elsewhere among Indians, but were mostly from plants. The 

 following list contains all that I learned of during my short stay, 

 but there were of course many more. For the botanical identi- 

 fications I am indebted to Mr. Paul Standley, of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



Ya' sua'' witiwa', "rattle snake medicine," Agave virginica, 

 used, as the name implies, in curing snake bites, but sometimes 

 in cases of dropsy. In cases of snakebite the roots were mashed 

 up and put into water, some of which was then taken internally 

 and some applied externally. For dropsy they selected the 

 smaller roots, pounded them up, and added them to a glass of 

 clear water, along with a tablespoonful or two of whisky. 

 Some was then applied externally to the affected parts, but the 

 rest taken internally, one tablespoonful three times a day. 



Dep6"wa" yisi no°ne'-i, or po^wo'^ yasina', popularly known to 

 whites as ''Sampson's snake root," was used to stop pains in the 

 stomach, an infusion, hot or cold, being drunk or the roots chewed. 

 It was also applied to cure backache. 



Wa"sa haone' (or wa°sa hawinon), popularly called ''star 

 grass," Aleiris farinosa. An infusion was drunk to cure stomach 

 trouble and dysentery. 



Yire"tce witiwa', Cracca virginiana, popular name "devil's 

 shoestring." In olden times it is said that a tea was made from 

 the roots of this plant along with those of the low sumac, but it 

 is not known for what ailment. 



Hastuk, Erigeron ramosus. A drink was made of the roots and 

 taken in cases of heart trouble. 



Dopa sTgrlhere, Salvia lyrata. A salve to put on sores was 

 made of the roots. 



Itewarap wetere, Senecio (smallii?), was considered good for 

 consumption. 



Isdawaraphere wetikri°are, "it is good medicine for backache," 

 Arnica acaulis, was used, as the name implies, for backache; 

 the green leaves were crumpled up and laid on sores. 



Serak waruwe', Oenothera fruticosa. The roots were used to 

 wash sores. 



