ROTH] SICKNESS AND HYGIENE 707 
flow. In this way they can draw just as much blood as they like from 
the part (BB, 127). The majority of the Taruma have on arms and 
legs some longitudinal scars which . . . are specially cut when tired 
on the march. The loss of blood eases and rests them (Cou, 11, 350). 
[In the Gran Chaco the Indians similarly practice bleeding when 
tired (NOR, 54). The Indians of Essequibo have recourse to bleed- 
ing in cases of local inflammation, inflicting large incisions with the 
knife (BE, 231). Bernau found an Akawai bleeding profusely from 
the nose, a lesion which he had produced by means of a sharp grass 
with which he had cut the membranes (BE, 232). [Strange to say, 
this is a procedure identical with what I have seen practiced by the 
North Queensland savage.] Still more drastic are the measures 
adopted by the Makusi. Pinching and raising up the vein imme- 
diately above the wrist with his left hand, he stabbed it through 
twice or thrice with a sting-ray spine. Upon its withdrawal the re- 
curved hooks on the edge of the implement naturally increased the 
size of the wound, and after letting it bleed for some considerable 
time he tied it up with bark (SR, 11, 164). Speaking generally, after 
scarification, the bleeding may be checked by rubbing into the wound 
the astringent and sharp juice of some passiflora. Other wounds 
are washed clean, held over the fire, and then bound up (SR, 1, 333). 
924. Blood is also employed as a therapeutic agent for anointing 
another person, but in these circumstances there would appear to be 
some intimate relationship existing between the giver and the re- 
ceiver, as will be observed in the following cases, the only ones I 
ean find, which I am about to quote. When Guamo women saw any 
of their children—sucklings or older ones—sick they would transfix 
their own tongues with a bone lancet and bespatter the youngsters 
with mouthfuls of blood, which they would then rub over them from 
head to foot (G, 1, 164). [Blood is obtained from the tongue in a 
similar manner at the burial ceremony of the Guahibo and Chiricoa 
(sec. 853).] Elsewhere in some cases, the father, when the child is 
weakly, gets his own flesh cut in close parallel lines. The blood flow- 
ing from the wounds is mixed with water for washing and strength- 
ening the child (Da, 250). The Surinam Carib father smears his 
sick infant with his own blood during the couvade (sec. 907). Among 
the Guamo it was one of the duties of the captain to slash his flesh 
and with the blood so obtained to besmear the breasts of all those un- 
der his command who were sick (G, 1, 164). As to other therapeutic 
properties, I append the following extract: “The only remedy is the 
voluntary submission of Aaron to have blood taken from his body 
and with it to wash the girl he has poisoned ” (Da, 285). 
925. “Tt is not necessary to be a payé (medicine man) to suck out 
pains. Among the Barré it is commonly practiced, and I have seen,” 
says Spruce, “a fellow hang onto his comrade’s shoulder for half an 
