STEVENSON] MEDICAL PKACTICES AND MEDICINAL PLANTS 43 



by a severe cold. When thus employed tlie plant belongs only 

 to the Ant fi-aternity. 



Aster hesperius A. Gray. Aster. Carduace^. Thistle family. 

 Kwi'minne lo'lclatM. 'gray root' (kvn'minne, root; lo'lciana, 

 gray). 



Tliis name is applied when the entire plant is used. The term 

 ha'inopiwe, 'leaf balls', referring to tiie inflorescence and the rays of 

 the aster {ha<lia'll, leaf; mo'piawe, balls), is ap])lied to tlie plant 

 when the blossoms onh' are used. 



The entire ])lant is ground between stones in the fraternity chamber 

 of the Shu'maakwe,' at noon during the elaborate ceremony of the 

 preparation of the fraternity medicine in August, by the A'wantsi'ta 

 Cgi'eat mother' of the fraternity), to the accompaniment of the 

 potter}^ drum, rattle, and song. Tliis medicine is in the exclusive 

 possession of the a'liwamosi (director of medicine), and is used onl}' 

 on the faces of the personators of the Shu'maikoli, patron gods of this 

 fraternity. 



The dry powdered medicine is applied to such parts of the face as 

 have been chuft-d by tlie mask, and soon brings relief. Wiien the 

 plant is employed for tlds purpose it belongs oidy to the Shu'maakwe. 



Tliis plant is used also by the Priestliood of the Bow for the treat- 

 ment of buUet ()!• arrow wounds. A tea is made by boiling the entire 

 plant. If practicable, the missile is removed by squeezing. The 

 wound is washed out with a bit of twisted cloth dipjied into the 

 warm tea. Wlien possible the cloth is passed through the cavity 

 of the wound; a slender twig wrapped with raw cotton Ls then dipped 

 into the tea and the wound is again washed untU thoroughly cleansed. 

 Pinon gum, softened by clle^ving, is made into a ])encil, rolled in the 

 powdered root, and inserted into the wound. After withdrawing 

 the gum pencil a quantity of the root powder is sprinkled into the 

 wound; tlien a pinch of finely ground pinon moistened with spittle 

 is put on the wound, and bandaged in place. Tliis treatment is 

 repeated in the morning and at sunset. Previous to the dressing of 

 the wound each time, if the missile has not been removed the medicine- 

 man endeavors to extract it by pressure. The younger-brother Bow 

 Priest informed the writer that usually not more than two days were 

 required for the extraction of the bullet or arrow by means of this 

 process; but should it not be removed in this way, 'resort was had to 

 the knife. 



For bleeding at the nose the blossoms of this plant are crushed and 

 sprinkled on live coals, and the smoke is inhaled. The remedy is 

 said to be a specific for this ailment. When used for this purpose it 

 belongs to all the people. 



1 See tSi Ann. Rep. Bur. A mer. Fthu., p. jl3. ' 



