BDSSELL] CAUSE AND TREATMENT OF DISEASE 263 



The coyote causes sickness in children; some believing that he 

 brings on the dysenten' when the mother eats melons before the birth 

 of the child, others thinking that he causes rash and blisters on the 

 baby's tongue. The remedy is to sing the coyote song (p. 316) and 

 swing the tail of the coyote over the child. 



The dog, a very near relative of the coj'ote in Pimeria, also causj's 

 trouble for the children. Wlien a child a month or two old is fretful 

 and sleepless the medicine-man is pretty certain to diagnose the case 

 as "dog disease." He does not treat it in any manner, but some one 

 who knows the dog song (p. 315) is called in to sing, and as he sings 

 he sways a stick that has some of a dog's vibrissse tied to it, to and 

 fro over the child. 



The gopher causes stomach trouble, particularly in cliildren. The 

 remedy is to sing the gopher song (p. 319) and to press moistened 

 earth from a gopher hill upon the affected part. At Gila Crossing 

 were obtained two snuill deerskin bags containing tufts of eagle's dowTi 

 and two or three twigs that had been cut by a gopher. These were 

 to be pressed upon the stomach of the child. 



The jack rabbit causes open sores. The remedy is to sing the rabbit 

 song (p. 314), and during the singing to swing over the patient the 

 tail of the hare to which the animal's vibrissa^ have been tied. 



The mouse, kuwakawapakam, causes constipation in cliildren. This 

 is cured by singing the mouse song (p. 314), and pressing the tail of 

 the mouse on the abdomen. If no prepared tail is available a dead 

 mouse is used. 



The ground squirrel of the mesas causes nosebleed. 



There are but four birds that cause disease. There appears to have 

 been no conscious classification in the minds of the Pimas in attribut- 

 ing certain afflictions to the birds. These diseases are all of a different 

 nature, and are similar to those assigned to mammals and reptiles. 



The eagle causes hemorrhage. The remedy is to sing the eagle song 

 (p. 289) and to pass the down of the eagle over the part. 



The eagle is also blamed for the lice that find refuge in the hair of the 

 Pimas. The remedy is to blow cigarette smoke over the head. 



The hawk causes hemorrhage in grown persons only. The disease 

 is cured by singing the hawk song and passing the wing feathers of 

 the bird over the patient. If one touches a hawk he nmst be secluded 

 for four days. 



The owl throws people into trances and fits. They are restored by 

 having the owl song (p. 311) .sung while six owl feathers mounted on 

 a stick are swung over them. The crj- of the small owl, kokovol(t), 

 in the night is a bad sign. WTien the large owl utters a sound re- 

 sembling human speech sickness may be expected. 



The vulture or turke}^ buzzard causes sores, especiallj^ syphilis, and 

 sore eyes on the baby if the parent eat a dead animal just before the 



