2t8 proceedings of the academy of [1884. 



November 4. 

 The President, Dr. Leidy, in tlie chair. 



Twenty-one persons present. 



A paper entitled " On the Behavior of Petrolatum in the Dij 

 gestive Tract," by N. A. Randolph, M. D., was presented for 

 publication. 



Impression of the Figures on a " Meday Stick.'" — Dr. D. G. 

 Brinton exhibited a full-sized impression of the figures on a 

 " Meday Stick," obtained from the Pottawattomies, by the emi- 

 nent antiquary, Dr. E. H. Davis. 



These sticks are used as mnemonic aids in repeating the chants 

 in the '' Great Medicine Lodge." the principal religious rite of 

 the Algonkins. The present stick is 19 inches long, 2| inches 

 wide, and of hard wood. The figures engraved upon it are over 

 500 in number, chiefly representing plants. These figures are 

 engraved with a knife, but the native name of such sticks points 

 to a more primitive method. It is massinahican, literally " a 

 piece of wood marked with fire." The characters inscribed are 

 called kekitvin, which means marks or signs, and from which root 

 are derived the words " to know," " to learn," and " to teach," in 

 many Algonkin dialects. 



The characters areof two kinds, notches, and drawings of objects. 

 The notclies are believed to indicate the musical time or rhythm 

 of the chant, while the drawings suggest its words. The text of 

 several such songs has been printed. They are usually to obtain 

 success in the chase or restoration to health. The latter appears 

 to be the nature of the present song, judging from the numerous 

 plants depicted. 



This Meday stick illustrates an instructive fact constantly lost 

 sight of by antiquaries. The so-called, picture-writing of the 

 Algonkin Indians never presented pictures. There is no group- 

 ing, shading or pictorial arrangement of the figures. There is 

 no attempt at esthetic eflfect. The single figures are not con- 

 nected so as to evoke any artistic sentiment. The intention was 

 wholly apart from this, and where such appears, it is not true 

 Algonkin art. 



November 11. 



Mr. John H. Redfield in the chair. 



Thirty-two persons present. 



The following papers were presented for publication : — 



