DEXfHMORK] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 261 



Analysis. — The interval of a fourth is prominent in the first part of 

 tliis melody. It appears, in the opening measures, as the descending 

 interval E flat-B flat; the tone A also occurs, and the descent from 

 B flat to A fiat introduces the tonic chord. The fourth then appears 

 as the descending interval A flat-E flat. The subdominant of the key- 

 occurs twice and in both instances was sung a trifle sharp, as indi- 

 cated in the transcription. The song is major in tonality and con- 

 tains all the tones of the octave except the sixth and seventh. Four 

 renditions were recorded, which are uniform in every respect. 



Eagle Shield might be called a specialist in the treatment of broken 

 bones. In this treatment he used an herb identified as Allionia 

 nyctaginea IVIichx., and called by the Sioux Jiu'huweTianHan pezu'ta,^ 

 which was said to grow in the woods. The dried leaves and root of 

 this plant were mixed with soft grease. When treating a fracture 

 Eagle Sliield covered his hands with this mixture and after holding 

 them over the coals until they were warm, he rubbed the flesh above 

 the broken bone. He said the patient often was so relieved by this 

 treatment that he fell asleep. The treatment was repeated three 

 times a day and continued "until the fracture was healed." He 

 said that when an arm or leg was first broken he ''pulled it until the 

 bone slipped into place," then covered it with a parfleche case, 

 laced together with thongs. This case was removed for the treat- 

 ment described above, but he emphasized the need of keeping the 

 case firmly laced, and of tightening it whenever the thongs seemed to 

 be loosening. He said the purpose of the rubbing was to keep the 

 muscles from becoming stiff. He added that he had treated four 

 cases in which the large bone of the leg was broken, and that in each 

 instance the patient was able to walk in a month. One was a frac- 

 ture near the hip. It had been put in iron braces by a white doctor, 

 but the patient, not being able to stand the treatment, came to him. 



Eagle Sliield made a small "splint" of parfleche, 8 inches in 

 length, saying this was the size he would use for a broken wrist. In it, 

 with Indian accuracy, he put a piece of old, soft flannel, saying that 

 was what he "would put next the person's arm." He sold to the 

 writer a matted portion of soft hair, which he said was the shed hair 

 of the deer; this was thick with grease. Eagle Shield said he had 

 used this in treating fractures for more than forty j^ears, holding it in 

 his hand as he rubbed the flesh. (See pi. 37.) 



The song used by Eagle Shield in treating fractures was sung four 

 times "while getting ready to apply the medicine." 



1 A specimen of the same herb was given by Bear-with-White-Paw, who said it was "good to reduce 

 swelling." (See p. 270.) 



4840°— Bull. 61—18 19 



