330 



USES OF PLANTS BY THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS [eth. ann. 44 



taken. The interval between the doses varied, as might be expected 

 among a people who in old times were without timepieces. If the 

 patient were in great suffering he was told to take the medicine 

 " at short intervals," understood to be about half an hour. In 

 what was probably a majority of cases the patient took the medicine 

 " at frequent intervals, 1 ' or whenever he felt inclined. Sometimes 

 he was instructed to " drink it freely," or drink some after an attack 

 of coughing. These dii'ections were given by the person who pre- 

 pared the medicine, and who gave various other instructions, such 

 as rest after taking the medicine, or abstinence from food. In 

 a majority of cases it was expected that improvement, though per- 

 haps slight, would be evident after three or four doses had been 

 taken. 



Remedies were administered externally in the following manner: 



(1) Fresh roots or leaves were macerated and applied. 



(2) Dried roots or leaves were pulverized, prepared in the form 

 of a decoction, and applied. 



(3) Dried roots or leaves were pulverized, moistened, and applied 

 like a poultice. 



(4) Dried roots or leaves were pulverized and strewn on hot 

 stones, the treatment being by the fumes. 



(5) A decoction was sprinkled on hot stones, the treatment being 

 by steam. 



(6) Herbs were boiled with grease for a salve. 



(7) Dried and powdered roots were mixed with grease and used 

 as an emollient. 



Remedies were administered internally in the following manner : 



(1) Dried powdered roots or leaves were either boiled or steeped 

 in water. 



(2) Dried powdered roots were used as snuff, or prepared with 

 lukewarm water. 



(3) Fresh roots or herbs were chewed. 



(4) Slight incisions were made with a bit of sharp glass or 

 flint, and dried, powdered roots placed over the incisions. 



(5) Remedies were "pricked into the skin" with a set of needles 

 used for that purpose. 



(6) Pulverized roots were mixed with "red willow" or tobacco 

 and smoked in a pipe. 



(7) A decoction of herbs was administered as an enema. 



Substances Other Than Vegetable Used as Remedies 



(1) Deer tallow and bear grease were used as emollients, either 

 alone or mixed with vegetable substances. 



(2) Bear's gall., dried, was used in connection with cedar charcoal, 

 being "pricked into the skin" with needles. (See p. 333.) 



