14 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 175 



it is believed that "not straight" diseases can also be caused by ghosts 

 and other supernatural forces, which superimpose a supernatural or 

 magical illness upon a more "natural" sort of illness. In fact, 

 Pulyi : k's account absolutely fails to differentiate even between the 

 abduction of the patient's soul by a witch and its abduction by the 

 ghost of a relative in nyevedhi : taha : na and in other ghost-illnesses. 



The "dreadful" illnesses and mental disorders caused by charms are 

 also closely related to sicknesses caused by ghosts, aliens, and witches. 

 Indeed, these charms are essentially "alien" substances, which do not 

 "belong" to the Mohave, but to certain other tribes. Hence, pro- 

 longed contact with them is quite as harmful to the Mohave as inti- 

 mate association with aliens. Last, but not least, the manner in 

 which the power of these charms eventually turns against their 

 owners is very similar to the way in which a shaman's powers may 

 ultimately turn against him. (Pt. 2, p. 56.) 



In brief, illnesses caused by ghosts, witches, aliens, and charms have, 

 by and large, the same basic etiology. 



The individual's own supernatural powers can also get out of hand 

 and cause disturbances of thought, mood, and behavior. Thus, the 

 nonactualized powers of the potential shaman, who refuses to become 

 a practicing one, can drive him insane, while the powers of a healing 

 shaman sometimes turn against him and cause him to become a 

 suicidal witch. 



Natural human powers may also become disorganized to the point 

 where they cause insanity. 



Disturbances of the sexual instinct are believed to cause a whole 

 series of disorders, which are sharply differentiated from mere per- 

 versions. Disturbances related to uncontrolled aggressive impulses — 

 and to conflicts over the actualization of aggression ° — likewise ac- 

 count for the genesis of a whole group of neuroses. Conspicuous or 

 excessive activity can, in the end, also cause certain psychiatric dis- 

 orders. 



Even disorders which are seemingly due to external precipitating 

 situations and represent primarily a reaction to trauma are, in a very 

 genuine sense, largely caused by the disorganization of internal forces, 

 drives or impulses. The prototype of such disorders is the so-called 

 heartbreak syndrome (hi : wa itck) which affects chiefly an old hus- 

 band deserted by his young wife. Superficially speaking, the Mo- 

 have seem to view this illness simply as a reactive depression. If we 



' It i8 seldom recognized that warlike tribes often have deep-seated conflicts related to 

 guilt over aggression. Hence, the Mohave Indians' notorious blood phobia, which is a 

 symptom of many typos of mental disorders known to them, is by no means unique even 

 In the Southwest. Thus, according to Hrdlh'ka (1008) a "White Mountain Apache . . . 

 had a boy who, from nervousness, could not eat the red-fleshed pitahaya ; 'it looked to 

 him too much like blood.* " 



