HRPLicKA] PHYSIOLOGICAL AKD MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS 57 



the hut in order that ''the blood may not clot." The first day she 

 partakes of a little soup or gruel, but as soon as she beghis to resume 

 her customary occupations — that is, from the second day on — she 

 may eat what she likes. 



The San Carlos woman is delivered in the kneeling position, with 

 the limbs well apart. A helping woman, kneeling or squatting 

 behind, puts her arms about the upper part of the abdomen of the 

 j)atient and presses upon the uterus. If the progress is not satisfac- 

 tory, the patient has to rise and walk toward the east, then to the 

 north, then to the west, and finally to the south. This procedure is 

 believed to hasten delivery. Sometimes but not often there is trouble 

 with the placenta. If it does not appear, the old woman attendant 

 presses on the abdomen and kneads the fundus of the uterus. Only 

 in very exceptional cases will she touch the genitals. If no other 

 help remains, a woman especially skillful in such emergencies is called. 

 She takes the cord between two fingers and, following its course, 

 introduces her hand and with one finger tries to loosen the afterbirth 

 (this was illustrated to the writer very skillfully by one of the old 

 women), or she may introduce her hand with a little knife with which 

 she tries to obtain a better hold on the placenta and help in tearing 

 it away. Even with these expedients she may fail entirely. Another 

 way is to pull on the cord and work little by little. When the cord 

 breaks, however, there is trouble, and several women in the tribe are 

 remembered as having suffered much or as having died from illness 

 consequent on a retention of the placenta. External aid (kneading 

 and pressure) is always relied upon most, internal manipulation 

 being almost abhorrent to the people.*^ After confinement the San 

 Carlos woman is wot allowed to go about as does the White Mountain 

 woman. She either lies quiet or, according to an old custom, there is 

 built in the hut a little separate fire, from which, after a while, the 

 remaining wood and ashes are taken away and the heated earth is 

 covered with grass. The woman lies on her abdomen upon the grass 

 and is well covered up, remaining thus for some time. This is done 

 particularly when there is profuse hemorrhage. There is no definite 

 number of days of seclusion. The mother is kept indoors until she 

 feels well. A child is sometimes born in a temporary habitation or 

 on the road, and sometimes it is impossible, from other causes, for 

 the woman to remain indoors for any considerable length of time. 

 For the fii'st day or two the mother eats nothing ''strong" — no beef 

 and no salt. After four days her face and hands are washed. In 

 eight days she is completely bathed and then can eat anything that 

 is to be had. If the woman is not well after delivery, more care is 

 taken with her diet. She is given only a little bread or coffee or 



o The placenta is wrapped up in an old cloth and huried or otherwise disposed of, so that no animal 

 can get at it. Should it be eaten, it is believed that the child may not live. 



