BissF.L[.] PREVALENT DISEASES 267 



rise by the man, who breathes upon a cross and holds it toward the sun 

 four times. If it is a ^\v\, it is taken by the woman, who breathes upon 

 a medal and holds the objeet toward the sun four times. Whichever 

 object is used is next passed in the form of the cross over the face and 

 again over the body of the infant by both the man and the woman. 

 Each then holds the child four times in his or her arms before handing 

 it to the parents. A name is given the child by the godfather and 

 godmother. No child except one thus ill or another in the same 

 family of a naming age at the time is ever clu-istened thus. The 

 godparents must give the chikl some wheat or corn each year until it 

 grows up, and the parents give a basket each year in return. 



Even horses may become sick through the evil influence of mali- 

 cious medicine-men, who, it is said, "shoot" live coals into them — 

 coals that have been taken from an Apache fire. The remedy is of 

 a similar magic character. A reputable medicine-man is called in, 

 who diagnoses the case and decides from what direction the coal was 

 "shot." He does not sing, but after smoking a cigarette and blowing 

 puffs of smoke about the premises and upon the horse he determines 

 the place to suck out the coal from the distressed animal. When he 

 gets the coal into his mouth he makes a pretense of being burned by it 

 and immediately fdls his mouth with water, after which he casts out 

 the coal. 



The transparent trick of sucking a hair from the body is resorted to 

 in veterinary practice in a manner similar to that pursued when treat- 

 ing human ailments. 



Prevalent Diseases" 



Consumption is the most frequent and fatal disease, due to poverty 

 of diet and contagion. The Pimas do not attempt to prevent infec- 

 tion. Their former treatment was a diet of mountain turtle and 

 sun-dried beef. 



Dysentery is common in summer because of the peculiar habit, by 

 no means confined to the Pimas, of eating unripe melons. 



Impetigo contagiosa is the worst skin disease, and is principally 

 confined to the children. 



Children are intentionally exposed to smallpox and measles, that 

 they may have the diseases in lighter form. Smallpox was regarded 

 as an evil spirit of which they did not dare to show fear. They said 

 "I like Smallpox," thinking that he would be thus placated. At one 

 time they attempted inoculation from persons that had light attacks, 

 but the experiment resulted in many deaths. From 1870 until the 

 Government sent a physician to the agency, the missionary. Rev. C. H. 



oFrom 1892 until 1893 Dr A. E. Marden held the position of agency physician at Saeaton and from 

 1900 until the time of the writer's risit to the Pimas in HK)L' continued his practice as missionary phy- 

 sician among the Pimas. The writer is indebted to him for the greuter portion of the infonuation 

 relating to the degree of prevalence of disease. 



