DBNIG] THE ASSINIBOIN 429 



Parturition. — Men never interpose their services in eases of 

 parturition. 



When there is danger a midwife is called, and the deobstruents 

 administered are castoreum and pulverized rattles of the rattle- 

 snake, either of which have the effect of the ergot. Shampooing 

 is also resorted to with the view of detaching the fetus or expelling 

 the envelope. Nevertheless strangulation and consequently death of 

 both mother and child often happens, not so much in the natural 

 course as when destroyed expressly in utero, as is done by the Crow 

 women and sometimes by the Assiniboin, though not to such an ex- 

 tent by the latter. This is accomplished by violent pressure on the 

 abdomen, by leaning on a stick planted in the ground, and, swinging 

 the whole weight of their body, they run backward and forward, or 

 by violent blows administered by some other person called for the 

 purpose, in all which operations, if the time be not well calculated 

 for expelling the fetus, death is the consequence. 



Their vapor baths have been alluded to and might prove efficacious 

 in some cases of chronic rheumatism, catarrh, etc., if proper care 

 was taken, but are very pernicious owing to their negligence after- 

 wards, or cold immersion during perspiration. In conclusion we 

 would remark that with regard to any judicious treatment of any 

 disease whatever (that is, any such treatment as would meet medical 

 approbation) they are entirely in the dark. The most of their de- 

 pendence is on the drumming, singing, and incantations which per- 

 haps sometimes have some little effect on the mind of youthful 

 patients, though in these cases the probability is they are more 

 frightened than sick. 



In a large camp the dram can be heard at all hours of the day 

 and night, as there is always some one who is sick, or thinks he is. 

 What appears singular is that the doctor, knowing his art to be 

 deception, should he fall sick calls for another divining man and 

 pays for the drumming the same as his patients have paid him. 

 This would seem to prove they actually have faith in their own in- 

 cantations, etc. They can not distinguish between an artery and a 

 vein. They call both by the same name, though they say the arteries 

 are large veins. Arteries are compressed, not taken up when cut, 

 and if a large one is cut, the consequence is either mortification from 

 the ligature or, if loosely tied, death by bleeding, which invariably 

 happens when the large artery of the thigh is separated. 



Indians will receive extensive wounds, apparently mortal, and yet 

 recover. Some years ago an Assiniboin was surrounded by three 

 Blackfeet a few miles from this place. He had fired at a prairie hen, 

 and the moment his gun was discharged the three enemies fired on 

 him. The three balls took effect. One broke his thigh, another the 

 shin bone of the other leg, and the third entered his abdomen and 



