Cuarrer XXXVI 
SICKNESS AND HYGIENE 
Special intonation of speech used in cases of sickness (916). 
General neglect of the aged and feeble (917). 
Fear of disease (918). 
Ordinary routine treatment of disease: Restrictions of diet (919) ; emetics and 
purgatives (920); enemata (921); ablutions and vapor baths (922) ; bleed- 
ing (923); blood as a therapeutic agent (924); suction (925); counter- 
irritants (926). 
Treatment by drugs, ete., of the more common ailments: Eye complaints, fevers, 
dysentery (927) ; fits (928) ; snake bite, sting-ray wounds, etc. (929) ; poison 
antidotes (930). 
Personal hygiene: Early rising (931); bathing (932); mosquitoes (933) ; lice 
and chigoes, ete. (984); sanitary measures (9385). 
916. Hilhouse has stated that, with the Arawak, a particular 
plaintive intonation is used in inquiries after the health or welfare 
of those who are ill or unfortunate; and the tone of expression is 
always suited to the circumstance and situation of the party ad- 
dressed (HiC, 248). Schomburgk gives a graphic illustration of such 
variations in his description of the trial of an Arawak-Warrau di- 
vorce case (SR, 1, 229). 
917. There is one great failing which unfortunately appears to pre- 
vail among all the tribes—neglect of old persons and the sick. They 
are stowed away in a small corner of the house, neglected, and left to 
themselves; and where weakness keeps them to their hammocks, per- 
haps often without the necessaries of life (SeG, 246; KM,68). When 
old and past work they are, indeed, allowed to remain in their ham- 
mocks in the house, which once, perhaps, belonged to them, and are 
fed by their younger relations in a rough and grudging manner; 
but no further care or kindness is shown them (IT, 224). Now and 
again, however, an exception is noted; e. g., Gumilla makes mention 
of a decrepit old woman whom the Guajiva had carried about with 
them for many years in a basket (G, m1, 19), and Crévaux that of 
another and her aged half-imbecile daughter, who were being well 
looked after by the other Warrau (Cr, 611). De la Borde relates 
how some Frenchmen wanted him to believe that they | Island Carib] 
killed their fathers when they were too old, as being useless in this 
702 
