1953] 



RITZENTHALER, CHIPPEWA HEALTH 



205 



afternoon session. At the appointed time the doctor, his assistant or runner 

 (skabe'wis), and the patient assemble. Spectators are allowed, but dogs are 

 forbidden from the vicinity, as their barking while the doctor is swallowing 

 the tubes might cause him to choke. The doctor's personal equipment con- 

 sists of a gourd or tin-can rattle, and two or three tubes kept in a buckskin 

 bag or cloth wrapping and only exposed at curings (Fig. 10). The two 



FIG. 10 — Sucking Doctor's Equipment. 



tubes used by one doctor were sections of canon bone of deer about 3 inches 

 in length, and three-quarters inch in outer diameter. The other doctor 

 used three .45 caliber cartridge cases with the ends removed. These were 

 just two inches in length and .45 inch in outer diameter. The assistant 

 is equipped with a tambourine drum. When the people have been seated 

 the doctor remo\es the tubes from the wrappings and places them in a 

 shallow dish, usually a pie tin, into which has been put water, maple-sugar 

 water, salt water, or whiskey according to the doctor's instructions. As each 

 doctor obtains his instructions from a spirit through dreams, there are many 

 such minor variations in equipment and technique. The patient, who may 

 or may not be partially stripped, lays on a blanket placed on the floor. 

 Tobacco is passed around with each person taking a pinch. The tobacco is 



