126 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99 



more rational view of it, and apply a more efficacious if somewhat 

 rough treatment. 



A skilled midwife can ascertain the position the child is taking up, 

 and if this is not natural, and parturition is delayed on its account, 

 the four women take hold of the patient, each of them grasping an 

 arm or a leg, and swing and shake her body in such a way as they 

 consider helpful toward an easier delivery. 



Afterbirth 



Even while the newly born baby is being properly groomed and 

 cared for by one of the women, the others, detailed to look after the 

 parturiens, get busy helping her with expelling the afterbirth. 



Afterbirth: uDt-'yaDo"', "that which has remained." 



Also: uDzo-'t'ano'H, "it has had it in it." (This term is also used 

 for "cocoon.") 



This is done by reciting a formula, and at the same time rubbing the 

 patient's abdomen with the right hand, warmed near some charcoals, 

 taken from the fire. (See p. 62.) 



A considerable amount of simples are also held to be highly effi- 

 cacious in this case; the Ay. manuscript, unfortunately, does not 

 contain a single formula or prescription for this emergency, but Ms. 

 II has one formula and Ms. Ill one formula and three prescriptions. 

 From these, and from oral information collected, it appears that the 

 following plants are used: Ga'noGWa^k'ski y't*ano°' {Scutellaria 

 lateriflora L., mad-dog, skull cap); GaDo'y'ti u'stf'aa, {Polymnia 

 uvedalia L., leafcup). 



A decoction of the roots is drunk, after which the patient should 

 induce vomiting. Tlvis decoction is also used as an emmenagogue. 



Another prescription lists "all kinds of Ga'naGWa^lt'ski." These 

 plants are popular in this case more on account of their name, which 

 means "it is like clotted blood," than for any otlier reason. 



Or again a decoction of the roots of Ga'"liwo''ti {Smilax glauca 

 Walt., saw brier); no'na' (Tsuga caroliniana Engelm., hemlock); 

 k'u'wtyu''sti {Platanus occidentalis L., buttonwood). 



The roots should be taken shooting out toward the east. They 

 are boiled, and the decoction is drimk by the patient. 



The placenta is disposed of in the following way: The father, or 

 should he be absent, another near relative, takes it, wrapped in some 

 old cloth, and crosses (usually) two mountain ridges; there he makes 

 a hole, an "overhand" (i. e., 25-30 cm.) deep, in which he buries 

 the placenta; while doing this he whispers: 



k'a' t'a'"li tsuD€'ttyQ-'°D8 i-yQ-'^Do" t*a'"lfn€-'° 't^DziGo'Va"' 



Now tlieul Two years from now again I will see it 



aGWe'tsi "Well! I will want another cliild two years from now." 



my child 



