330 USES OF PLANTS BY THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS [ETH. ANN. 44 
taken. The interval between the doses varied, as might be expected 
among a people who in old times were without timepieces. If the 
patient were in great suffering he was told to take the medicine 
“at short intervals,” understood to be about half an hour. In 
what was probably a majority of cases the patient took the medicine 
“at frequent intervals,” or whenever he felt inclined. Sometimes 
he was instructed to “drink it freely,” or drink some after an attack 
of coughing. These directions were given by the person who pre- 
pared the medicine, and who gave various other instructions, such 
as rest after taking the medicine, or abstinence from food. In 
a majority of cases it was expected that improvement, though per- 
haps slight, would be evident after three or four doses had been 
taken. 
Remedies were administered externally in the following manner: 
(1) Fresh roots or leaves were macerated and applied. 
(2) Dried roots or leaves were pulverized, prepared in the form 
of a decoction, and applied. 
(3) Dried roots or leaves were pulverized, moistened, and applied 
like a poultice. 
(4) Dried roots or leaves were pulverized and strewn on hot 
stones, the treatment being by the fumes. 
(5) A decoction was sprinkled on hot stones, the treatment being 
by steam. 
(6) Herbs were boiled with grease for a salve. 
(7) Dried and powdered roots were mixed with grease and used 
as an emollient. 
Remedies were administered internally in the following manner: 
(1) Dried powdered roots or leaves were either boiled or steeped 
in water. 
(2) Dried powdered roots were used as snuff, or prepared with 
lukewarm water. 
(3) Fresh roots or herbs were chewed. 
(4) Slight incisions were made with a bit of sharp glass or 
flint, and dried, powdered roots placed over the incisions. 
(5) Remedies were “ pricked into the skin” with a set of needles 
used for that purpose. 
(6) Pulverized roots were mixed with “red willow ” or tobacco 
and smoked in a pipe. 
(7) A decoction of herbs was administered as an enema. 
Susstances Orner THAN VEGETABLE Usep As RemeEpIEs 
(1) Deer tallow and bear grease were used as emollients, either 
alone or mixed with vegetable substances. 
(2) Bear’s gall, dried, was used in connection with cedar charcoal, 
being “ pricked into the skin” with needles. (See p. 333.) 
