332 



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



ures for the medicine, a larger one for adults and a smaller one for 

 children. The syringe was composed of the bladder of the deer. 

 The proper amount of medicine was put into this bladder, then a 

 short piece of clean hollow rush was tied in the opening by means of 

 a strip of wet slippery elm, the rush projecting about an inch. This 

 was used only once and then burned. The principal medicines ad- 

 ministered in this manner were (a) the inner bark of the common 

 white birch. This was scraped and about a hand-hollow steeped in 

 water; (b) the Avood of a tree identified as Frcweinus. A hand- 

 hollow of this was steeped in water. A small spatula for powdered 

 herbs and a measure for liquid medicine are shown in Plate 46, 

 a and h. 



Surgical Treatment and Appliances 



(1) The letting of blood was a remedial measure frequently used 

 among the Chippewa and was resorted to for numerous causes. The 

 principal instrument used in this treatment was a small pointed 

 blade set in a handle about 3 or 4 inches long. (PI. 46.) By means 

 of this instrument blood was taken from the forearm or from the 

 ankle. In using this instrument the part to be cut was firmly stroked 

 downward, forcing the blood to the extremity; a bandage was then 

 applied above the point at which the incision was to be made. In 

 making the incision the instrument was held close to the flesh and 

 lightly snapped with the thumb and finger of the right hand, thus 

 inflicting a slight incision of the vein. If too much force were 

 applied, the result might be fatal; thus an instance was related in 

 which the vein was entirely severed and the man died. It is said 

 that about " half a basin " of blood was usually taken. A medicine 

 to check the bleeding was then applied and the upper bandage 

 removed. The root commonly used for this purpose was identified 

 as DrymocaUis arguta (Pursh.) Rydb. The prepared root was either 

 used dry or was moistened with warm water, placed on soft duck 

 down, and laid over the incision. It was said by three informants 

 that this treatment was used especially for persons who had met with 

 an accident, as a fall or an injury to the back, and that the medicine 

 " prevented the blood from settling in one place." This treatment 

 was also used for " persons who seemed to have too much blood." 



(2) A surgical treatment in common use consisted in cutting small 

 gashes from which a small amount of blood was removed. These 

 gashes were formerly made with a piece of sharp flint, but in later 

 times a piece of thick glass is carefully broken so as to' leave a sharp 

 splinter, which is used for this purpose. This is kept in a leather 

 shield or covering (pi. 46, c, d), and is used as a lancet according to 

 the general use of that instrument. These cuts might be made in 

 various parts of the body. The writer saw a woman whose elbow had 



