STEVENSON] MEDICAL PRACTICES AND MEDICINAL PLANTS 55 



moiiy in the fraternity chamber. Men and women dance to the 

 accompaniment of rattle, (kum, and song. The coma is deposited 

 in large bowls, which are placed by the altar, and is afterward gath- 

 ered by directors into deerskin sacks. At the- time the coma is pre- 

 pared, pieces of the root of the plant are given by the du'ector of the 

 fraternity to each adult member, and it may be obtained from a 

 director at the request of a thexirgist of the fraternity. 



The root is boiled and the tea drinik warm as an emetic. 



The medicine belongs to all the fraternities. 



Juniperus monosperma (Engelm.) Sargent. Cedar. Juniper- 

 ace^. Juniper family. 

 Ho'mane, 'cedar.' The plural form, ho'mawe, is more commonly 

 . used when referring to the tree medicinally, because a num- 

 ber of twigs are employed in preparing the medicine. 

 Delicate t\\4gs are roasted in a fireplace and then steeped in hot 

 water, and the tea is drunk by women previous to childbii-th, to pro- 

 mote muscular relaxation. The tea must not be taken long before par- 

 turition, otherwise the child would be dark in color. Wlicn possible, 

 twigs bearing o'^i/)oK, mistletoe {Phoradendron juniperinum'E.ngiAm..) , 

 are collected, as they are supposed to be more efficacious. The tea is 

 taken also after childbii'th to hsisten the cessation of catamenia. 



Lavauxia triloba (Nutt.) Spach. Evening Primrose. Oxa- 



GRACE^E. Evening Prinu'ose family. 

 Kwi'minne shi'lawa, 'red root' Qcwi'minne, root; shi'lowa, red). 

 The entire plant, ground, forms one of the constituents of the cakes 

 or pats made by the Shu'maakwe fraternity.' 



Leptilon canadense (L.) Britton. Horseweed. Caeduace^. 



Thistle family. 

 Ha'mo u'teawe, 'leaf ball flowers' {Ji<t<7ia'li, leaf; 7no<mo'li, 

 ball-shaped: u'teawe, flowers). So named from the appear- 

 ance of the inflorescence when the rays have been removed. 

 The rays of the blossoms, crushed between the fingers, are inserted 

 into the nostrils to cure rhinitis. Sneezing results, and rehef is soon 

 found. This mecUciue belongs to all the people. 



Leucelene ericoides (Torr.) Greene. Carduace^. Thistle family. 

 Vrrvoklanakia, 'suds making' {u'mokla, suds; na'Tcia, making). 

 The entire plant is gi-ound and mixed with a smaU quantity of cold 

 water, and the infusion rubbed over the whole body to reduce swell- 

 ing, and to overcome pain from cold or rheumatism. For such use 

 the plant belongs to all the fraternities. 



It is also made into a tea which is drunk warm to hasten parturi- 

 tion. When used for this purpose the plant is the property of 

 obstetrical doctors, who are women. 



1 Consult 2Sd Ann. Bep. But. Amer. Ethn., p. 543. See also p. 50 of the present memoir. 



