248 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



Kwel ("leather") Jcu-ni-a-dyl ("that you put on") is the bean of 

 the castor-oil plant, which is used by the Maricopa as a remedy for 

 earache. The crushed beans are mixed with water, and after the 

 mixture is heated, one or two drops are put into the ear. In case 

 of sores a very finely ground sand is applied thereto. Occasionally 

 dried leaves are used for the same purpose. Abscesses or boils are 

 cut open, washed with water, and covered with pounded dried leaves. 



The Maricopa employ bloodletting in persisting pains and in 

 paralysis of any limb. They open veins (distinguishing between veins 

 and arteries) binding together the cut surfaces with rags when they 

 think sufficient blood has been drawn. In the case of a horse 

 receiving an injury in the eye, one of the veins on the temple of the 

 animal is opened. 



The Maricopa often employ rubbing (massage) to alleviate pain. 

 It is said that formerly the medicine-men of the tribe used no treat- 

 ment but rubbing, which was continued sometimes for four days. 

 More recently they have learned to treat by incantations and with. 

 the help of the rattle and eagle feather. There seems to be no special 

 system of rubbing. In uterine pains the women at times bind on 

 the lower part of the abdomen a dry poultice of warm earth, or they 

 knead the abdomen with the hands. In rheumatic pains they bind 

 the fresh twigs of the greasewood, heated, about the seat of the pain. 

 When the parts in proximity to the umbilical cord become sore the 

 Maricopa apply fine dry earth or finely ground gravel. In umbilical 

 hernia (rare), large black ants are gathered and are allowed to bite the 

 swelling, which, it is believed, will be reduced in conse(|uence of this 

 treatment; for the same affection a tea made by boiling mesquite 

 roots, which have been cut into small pieces, is administered to the 

 child. No pressure is applied to the protrusion. 



In fractures the Maricopa depend on their medicine-men, who 

 manipulate and straighten limbs, and then bind them up. The 

 informant was not able to tell whether or not they use splints. 



Among the Mohave the treatment of diseases is largely based on 

 superstition and magic. The medicine-men are very powerful. Their 

 treatment is metaphysical ; they are endowed with special powers and 

 can stop pain or cure sickness by the exercise of these powers alone — 

 they have no need of medicine. Usually the medicine-man cures by 

 prayer or songs. When the patient has fever he blows it away. 

 When a part is painful he squeezes it, without, however, using mas- 

 sage. Every medicine-man has his own special songs and prayers. 

 One of the snake doctors can "kill" the rattlesnake poison in an 

 instant without any medicine or manipulation. He never lost a 

 patient who was bitten. This medicine-man refuses his patient wlJver 

 until the pains are eased. In two days the patient is all right. The 

 Indians have "got to be right" with this medicine-man. Some of 



