332 USES OF PLANTS BY THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS  [®7TH. ANN. 44 
ures for the medicine, a larger one for adults and a smaller one for 
children. The syringe was composed of the bladder of the deer. 
The proper amount of medicine was put into this bladder, then a 
short piece of clean hollow rush was tied in the opening by means of 
a strip of wet slippery elm, the rush projecting about an inch. This 
was used only once and then burned. The principal medicines ad- 
ministered in this manner were (a) the inner bark of the common 
white birch. This was scraped and about a hand-hollow steeped in 
water; (6) the wood of a tree identified as Fravinus. A hand- 
hollow of this was steeped in water. A small spatula for powdered 
herbs and a measure for liquid medicine are shown in Plate 46, 
a and h. 
SureicaL TREATMENT AND APPLIANCES 
(1) The letting of blood was a remedial measure frequently used 
among the Chippewa and was resorted to for numerous causes. The 
principal instrument used in this treatment was a small pointed 
blade set in a handle about 3 or 4 inches long. (Pl. 46.) By means 
of this instrument blood was taken from the forearm or from the 
ankle. In using this instrument the part to be cut was firmly stroked 
downward, forcing the blood to the extremity; a bandage was then 
applied above the point at which the incision was to be made. In 
making the incision the instrument was held close to the flesh and 
lightly snapped with the thumb and finger of the right hand, thus 
inflicting a slight incision of the vein. If too much force were 
applied, the result might be fatal; thus an instance was related in 
which the vein was entirely severed and the man died. It is said 
that about “half a basin” of blood was usually taken. A medicine 
to check the bleeding was then applied and the upper bandage 
removed. The root commonly used for this purpose was identified 
as Drymocallis arguta (Pursh.) Rydb. The prepared root was either 
used dry or was moistened with warm water, placed on soft duck 
down, and laid over the incision. It was said by three informants 
that this treatment was used especially for persons who had met with 
an accident, as a fall or an injury to the back, and that the medicine 
“ prevented the blood from settling in one place.” This treatment 
was also used for “ persons who seemed to have too much blood.” 
(2) A surgical treatment in common use consisted in cutting small 
gashes from which a small amount of blood was removed. These 
gashes were formerly made with a piece of sharp flint, but in later 
times a piece of thick glass is carefully broken so as to leave a sharp 
splinter, which is used for this purpose. ‘This is kept in a leather 
shield or covering (pl. 46, c,d), and is used as a lancet according to 
the general use of that instrument. These cuts might be made in 
various parts of the body, The writer saw a woman whose elbow had 
