66 
Fomes Laricis (Jacq.), more generally known as Polyporus officinalis 
Fries, A Shelf Fungus 
Bella Coola: This (?) fungus ground, steeped in water, and the 
decoction taken internally for gonorrhoea. 
Southern Carrier : If found on the Douglas fir tree, dried, powdered, 
a handful steeped in boiling water and the hot decoction taken internally 
as an emetic and purgative. Said to act within an hour. Not used 
if found on any other tree. 
(According to Dr. John Dearness, this is a medical polypore, 
perhaps the only fungus used by pharmacists. Park, Davis, and 
Company make a fluid extract and a triturate which is prescribed for 
the relief of night sweats in tuberculosis. The fungus is a cathartic 
in large doses. Its medicinal virtues have long been known in the 
old world.) 
Bovista pila B. and C., Puff Ball 
Bella Coola : Spores dusted on wounds, sores of gonorrhoea, and 
suppurating sores other than boils. 
LICHEN 
Bella Coola : A certain long, white lichen, if found on the red 
alder tree, warmed, and applied to a broken boil or suppurating sore. 
Sticta sp., Lichen 
Bella Coola: Entire plant, if from red-osier dogwood (Cornus 
stolonifera Michx.) or crab apple ( Pryus diversifolia Bong.), but not 
from willow ( Salix sp.), boiled, and five cupfuls of the hot decoction 
taken internally daily for pain in the stomach, but not for diarrhoea, 
constipation, or vomiting. Neither a purgative nor an astringent. 
Entire plant boiled and the decoction used as an eye-wash. 
Entire plant pulverized and applied to skin. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
KELP 
Bella Coola: A small kelp found -on the rocks sometimes used for 
a sweat bath. See western dock, page 56. 
WOOD SAP 
Bella Coola: The sap that oozes from any kind of wood when 
burning considered a good remedy for sores. 
MOUNTAIN GOAT 
Oreamnos Montanus, Ord,, Mountain Goat 
Bella Coola: Mountain goat fat boiled with droppings of geese 
that had fed on roots, and the mixture given to babies once or twice 
a day for colds. 
Goat meat with droppings of the bushy-tailed woodrat, com- 
monly called packrat (Neotoma cinerea), taken internally with water 
as a remedy for nursing babies when they had colds. 
