224 BUltEAli OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bvu.. W 



This (is) tlio inoiiii'ino {{or) thoir head, if tJ\oy fnint. VirLrinia 

 suakoroot (is) to miro (tluMiO with: (ov) luoroly tobaooo is also vorv 

 jxood. 



EXPLANATION 



This is a fonnuhi for tho niro of clizziiioss or faintinir fits ai'coni- 

 paniod by lioadacho and soinotinios also by pains in tho back of tho 

 nook and in tho broast; tho oollootion of thoso syni[)tonis is known 

 io tho niodioino n\nn as "blaok 0(d;)-ni." or litorally "black yellow." 

 Tl\o [iatioi\t fools faint and pddy on risinj:: suddotdy from his scat. 

 The niodioino man furtJior states tliat as tho disease pro;:;rossos the 

 lips and circles round tJie eyes turn black, and in extreme cases red 

 blotches appear on the face, especially about tJie mouth. Ay. 

 calls it a variety of oolo-ni, wliile another nuHliciue man. na'k\va»i'!i 

 (Mooney, Myths. PI. Xlll), ascribed it to sunstroke. The nuHiicine 

 is an infusion of r'nastftvstr'Ga. AnstoJochia serpcniaria L.. Viruinia 

 siiakeroot, warmed by droppiui;" into it seven live coals, and blown 

 upon the head, breast, and back of tJie neck of the patient. When 

 the snakeroot can not be procured tJ\o nu\licine man blows the juice 

 of ordinary chewing" tobacco upon the patient in tJ\e same way. 

 While he chews tJie tobacco he takes a sup, before oaih blowinij, from 

 a cup of pure water, into which seven live co.als have boon dropped 

 as just described. An infusion of snakeroot is said to be frequently 

 used as a wash in cases of headache. 



The patient is placed sittiuir. facing- tJie east, while the medicine 

 man stands a short distance away holdiui: in Ids uplifted hand the 

 cup oontaininu: the medicine. He then sings the tii-st verse, after 

 which. without approaching any nearer, ho blows the liquid four thnes 

 upon the head of the patient. This operation is repeated witJi each 

 of the four verees; when conung nearer, he blows his breatJi four times 

 upon the head of t]\e sick person. If there be pains also in tJ\e breast 

 or back of tlie neck, the operation is repeated in the same way, 

 blowing upon tJie part aft'ected. 



The song is addressed to four diiVerent classes of invisible "Little 

 People" [see p. 25], the spirits of tJie forest, of the clilVs, of the water, 

 and of tlie Cold Land, or the North, the last being invoked probably 

 on account of the feverish condition of the patient, or because, as 

 tlie otiier medicine mmi (DakwamU) asserted, tlie sickness is due to 

 tlie heat of the siiu. 



