1953] RITZENTHALER, CHIPPEWA HEALTH 181 



"The following data collected from many individuals should be understood as 

 representing the best ideals of the tribe rather than the practice of each individual 

 or family; 



"Cedar boughs were frequently burned in a lodge to purify the air. 



"Sage was burned in a lodge during a contagious illness. It was also used to 

 fumigate the head and hands of those who had cleansed the dead. 



"Bedding was aired daily in summer and spread on the snow in winter. 



"Woven bags, when soiled, were brushed, pounded, and turned the other side out. 



"Damp clothing was dried over the fire. It was said that the smoke had a 

 healthful effect and prevented vermin. 



"Bathing in a lake or river was frequent, and the hair was thoroughly washed. 



"A small sweat lodge was often built in a corner of the living lodge for use dur- 

 ing the winter. 



"Stiff brushes were used in washing the hands and in scouring kettles. These 

 brushes were identified as Equisetum hyemale L. 



"Travelers did not drink water if uncertain of its purit}'. The usual custom was 

 to boil the water and put in twigs or leaves of plants or trees known to be healthful. 

 The decoction was drunk hot or allowed to cool. 



"The space of hard ground between the lire and the mats in a lodge was swept 

 clean, the sweepings being put in the fire. The Canadian Chippewa made brooms of 

 ash, the entire broom being made of one piece with narrow strips of wood turned 

 back and tied to form the brush. 



"Refuse that could not be eaten by the dogs w-as burned. 



"Lye for household use was made from hardwood ashes. The directions were: 

 'Boil the ashes, let them stand, strain them out, and use the water." A specimen of 

 this was obtained and found to soften water in an acceptable manner. 



"For washing dishes they 'took the lye down to the beach, put it in the dishes. 

 and scoured them with sand.' 



"Washing of clothes was done as follows: The soiled clothes were soaked in 

 warm, weak lye, after which they were 'shaken and pounded' and rinsed in the lake. 

 Lye used in washing clothes was of such strength that they could dip their hands in 

 it without discomfort. 



"Washing of blankets was as follows: They were washed in 'not too strong' lye. 

 If a flat rock were available, the blankets were spread on the rock and pounded with 

 a flat board, after which they were rinsed in plenty of clear water and dried. 



"In winter the face and hands were washed with snow. 



"It was said that the Chippewa never immersed their bodies in icy cold water." 

 At the present time health measures are observed, but certainly not to any 

 overwhelming degree. It is interesting to note that there appears to be no 

 correlation between cleanliness and degree of acculturation. Personal and 

 household cleanliness seems to be an individual affair, and some of the 

 cleanest homes I was in belonged to the old, so-called "pagan ' people to 

 whom the germ theory of disease meant nothing. 



