SUPERSTITIONS AND DISEASES. 57 



of long continuance, requiring strong remedies, are cured by burning off the hair 

 and blistering the skin of the head. Earaches are treated by pouring water on 

 hot stones placed in a hole in the ground, and holding the ear over the steam. 

 For pains in the joints, fresh skins of eels are wrapped round the place, flesh 

 side inwards. The same cure is very common in Scotland for a sprained wrist. 

 Sow thistles are eaten raw to soothe pain and induce sleep. The gum of the 

 eucalyptus, or common white gum tree, is a cure for toothache. It is stuffed into 

 the hollow of the tooth. Teeth are never extracted unless they are loose enough 

 to be removed by the finger and thumb. For indigestion, the small roots of the 

 narrow-leafed gum tree, or the bark of the acacia, are infused in hot water, and 

 the liquor drunk as a tonic. When a child gorges itself with food, its mother 

 gathers yellow leeches from underneath dry logs, and bruises them up along with 

 the roasted liver of kangaroo, and sow thistles, and compels it to eat the mess, 

 which is called kallup kallup. It acts as a strong emetic. Adults, when ill from 

 overfeeding, are sometimes induced to take this dose, in ignorance of its 

 composition ; and it affects them strongly, but beneficially. Wood ashes are 

 applied to wounds and cuts. Bums are covered with fat. Running sores which 

 are difficult to heal, are rubbed with the fat of the powerful owl, which dries 

 them up quickly. The fat of large grubs is used for anointing the skin of 

 delicate children. Women unable to nourish their newly-born infants have 

 their breasts bathed with lime-water, which is made by burning the shells of 

 fresh-water mussels and dissolving them in water. Every married woman carries 

 several shells in her basket, which are commonly used as spoons. 



If diseases will not yield to these ordinary remedies, the doctor invokes the 

 aid of spirits. Visiting his patient in the evening, and finding that the case is 

 beyond the reach of the ordinary remedies, the doctor goes up to the clouds after 

 dai'k, and brings down the celebrated spirit, ' Wirtin Wirtin Jaawan,' who is said 

 to be the mate of the ' good spirit, pringheeal.' When he is expected to arrive, 

 the women and children are sent away from the camp, and the men sit in a circle 

 of fifty yards in diameter, with a banksia tree in the centre. The doctor and 

 spirit alight on the top of the tree, and jump to the ground ' with a thud like a 

 kangaroo.' The spirit gives his name ; and, after the doctor has felt all over the 

 body of his patient, they both go up to the clouds again. It is supposed that the 

 patient must get well. Occasionally the doctor brings down with him the spirit 

 of the sick man, in the form of a doll wrapped in an opossum rug. This doll 

 produces a moaning noise. The sick person is placed sitting in the middle of a 



