STEVENSON] SOCIAL CUSTOMS 297 



natural result of the method of childbirth :is pnieticed In- the Zunis. 

 In three labor cases observed ])y the writer in lS9<)-97 laceration 

 occurred. At such time high fever is apt to be present, though in 

 one of the cases referred to the pulse nc^ver rose above 00. Milk leg 

 is very rare, but abscess in the breast is not unconimoii. When the 

 doctresses fail to ])ring- relief, the surgeon is called in. 



The only case of operation on the breast observed by the writer wa.s perfonm-d by 

 Nai'uchi, who administered a native narcotic (Datura stranioniuni) before usintr tbe 

 lancet. After making the incision he squeezed out tiie pus, and tben, without 

 having previously washed his hands, inserted his index finger and pulled out the 

 remaining pus. A powdered medicine was sprinkled sparingly over the wound, and 

 a soiled cloth was afterward bound over it. The patient returned to consciousness in 

 much the same manner as one gradually arousing from a natural sleep. She after- 

 ward told the writer that she knew nothing of the operation, but had beautiful 

 dreams. The powdered medicine was applied for several days, and in a week the 

 breast was entirely healed. 



The writer has never discovered among any Indian tribe a case of 

 blindness after continement, nor has she ever known a woman to sutler 

 from convulsions before or after continement. The Zuni women some- 

 times suffer from uterine trouble after bearing children, though such 

 troubles are uncommon. In some instances ()))served by the writer 

 the uterus had protruded. In such cases the surgeon is called in to 

 replace it. There are but two or tliree theurgists who undertake such 

 cases, and these are men. Nai'uchi is the principal man in such 

 troubles, but his charges are so high that some of the poorer women 

 are obliged to call upon less distinguished practitioners. 



Sore nipples are unusual. The child is placed to the bivast within 

 ten hours after l)irth, every effort l)eing mad(^ to make it draw the 

 milk. Constipation is carefully guarded against, and is therefore 

 uncommon. A hot tea made of toasted juniper twigs and berries 

 steeped in l^oiling water is constantly drunk fiom the beginning of 

 labor for the purpose of relaxing the system, and afterward to induce 

 copious lochial discharge. Siiould this tea be druidc in earlier stages 

 of pregnancy, it is believed that the child would be very dark. The 

 writer has never known a case where catamenia continued longer than 

 four da^'S, and the Zuni doctors and women dechire that it seldom 

 continues for a longer period. Though hemorrhage is unconunon. it 

 sometimes occurs, and for this trou))le a tea is made by pouring boiling 

 water over the fungus conuuoid}- known as corn snuit (I'stilago maidis). 

 which has the same effect as ergot of the phiirmacopeia. 



The childbirth ceremonies of the Sia tribe, described in the Klevenlh 

 Annual Report of the Bureau of F^thnology, are vei-y much more elab- 

 orate than those of the Zunis, 



A typical labor case observed by the writer occurn-d a; midiiiglit, (.October 20, 1S«»H. 

 A child wife, not more than 15 years old, gave evidence i>l api>rt)afhiiig parturition. 

 She suffered from that time until (1 o'clock in the following evening, when she was 



