276 ^^^ Philippine Journal of Science 1917 



SURGERY AND TREATMENT OF WOUNDS 



No surgery is performed by the Maguindanaos. Even in 

 treating an abscess, they ripen it by means of hot water or 

 fomentation of some kind or other ; and when it is ripe, the point 

 is opened and tobacco or fine shavings of stalk of coconut is 

 applied to drain the pus. 



The following prescription for inflammation or swelling are 

 translated from a paubatan: 



1. A small amount of rice is toasted brown and pulverized. 

 Mix some saffron, add a little salt and pomelo juice, and apply 

 on the swelling. 



2. Crush tender leaves of lagundi, mix with a little pomelo 

 juice, and apply on the swelling. 



3. Burn the stalk of a mongo tree, pulverize, mix a little wine, 

 warm it up a little, and apply. 



In some cases of pain and inflammation wet cupping is re- 

 sorted to. Several incisions are made on the skin, and then 

 blood is sucked through a horn. 



In the treatment of wounds, they use the following means: 



1. Kerosene and bandaging with rag. 



2. Tudi (catway). Tudi is a tree with white flowers that 

 are used as salad by Filipinos and Spaniards. Fine shavings 

 are made of the bark and wood, and the juice is applied to the 

 wound. 



3. Salt, lime, and oil, equal parts, cooked together and applied. 



4. Tingan, or tigbao grass. The tender trunk is crushed, and 

 the juice is applied. 



The Maguindanaos have no idea of infection and seem to 

 think that pus is a natural secretion of the wound. 



MANAGEMENT OF LABOR 



The midwife, called ualian, helps in the management of labor. 

 A man or another woman pushes the uterus down through the 

 abdominal walls. A pandita prays and blows on the abdomen. 

 The ualian, the helpers, and pandita wash their hands and feet 

 before approaching the patient. 



When the labor pains begin, the patient is placed in bed, and 

 the ualian washes the vulva of the woman with water to which 

 bark of bunduy (a tree with white flowers) and karumungan 

 (a kind of grass) have been placed. No further manipulation 

 is necessary, except a gentle massage of the abdomen and a rag 

 held on the anus, but not on the vulva. During the second 



