122 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I33 



herbal decoction in the customary way : she was squatting close to the 

 fireplace, keeping chips of bark that were floating on water in a large 

 iron kettle submerged by means of a stick. When questioned what 

 herbs she w^as boiling and for what sickness, she replied, "There are 

 four kinds of herbs under the bark. The tea that I am making is for 

 my sick daughter, there." She said no more. The interpreter noted 

 that this was the usual answer given her when she asked for informa- 

 tion regarding herbs. 



Information which was obtained is probably a fair sample. Regard- 

 ing the use of medicinal herbs, barks, and roots, the following prac- 

 tices were noted : Decoctions must be used the day they are prepared ; 

 plants are collected when needed, for none is stored ; quantities are 

 measured in pinches and single and double handfuls. Decoctions are 

 made by boiling the substances, which are often pounded before being 

 boiled. Juice of tender plants is usually extracted in the palm of the 

 hand — the little finger end of the fist of one hand is rotated over the 

 plant in the palm of the other hand; the juice of hardier plants is 

 extracted by pounding with a stone and then squeezing. Leaves used 

 as poultices are either pounded until soft or held near the fire until 

 limp. Then the under layer is stripped off and this side of the leaf 

 applied to the skin, to which it will easily adhere. Plants are reduced 

 to ashes on one of the large stones at the fireplace. 



The following health restoratives were being used by Araucanian 

 herbalists or lay persons on the Coastal Range (Alepue area). The 

 Spanish name is here given unless it was not obtained, in which case 

 the Araucanian name is given, preceded by a dash. In most cases 

 specimens were collected for verification. 



Avellano. Water mixed with the juice of its pounded leaves is drunk for coughs. 



(Its fruit is used as food.) 

 Boldo, found in grazing lands. A decoction of its leaves is taken orally to cure 



a cough. (A non- Araucanian herbalist used a decoction of it as a sedative. 



Chileans had told her that continuous drinking of it caused a loss of memory.) 

 Canelo, a native tree of Chile. Its leaf placed directly on a burn or itch will 



have soothing effects. 



Chilliim, collected close to brooks in moist places. Its juice is taken for 



stomach ache. 



Chukiiri, found in pastureland. Its juice, taken orally, stops vomiting. 



Esparto, found in woods under shrubs. Juice is squeezed by hand from its 

 pounded leaves and taken for stomach troubles and to reduce fever. 



Fucsia, found on dry land, especially on hills. Its juice is taken orally as a pur- 

 gative after overeating. (The interpreter said it was general knowledge that 

 Chileans in the area took its substance orally as an abortive.) 



Lingue. Juice of its pounded leaves taken orally stimulates a delicate stomach. 



