67 
SKUNK 
Spilogale, Spotted Skunk, or Mephitis, Striped Skunk 
Bella Coola: Oil not used as a remedy. 
Southern Carrier: Oil warmed, and a cupful taken as a purgative 
for worms. 
HARE 
Lepus americanus columbiensis Rhoads, The British Columbia 
Varying Hare 
Northern Carrier: Hare opened, ruminating stomach containing 
something like the white of an egg removed, and the liquid applied 
to a foot blistered by frost-bite. Considered a sure cure. 
RED SQUIRREL 
Sciurus hudsonicus Erxleben 
Bella Coola: Opened along the under side and applied as a remedy 
to badly broken chancres in the groin. 
GIANT SLUG 
Bella Coola: Slug made to crawl into a baby’s mouth to cure loss 
of skin on the inside of its mouth. 
Slug opened, and bound tightly over large cut. 
SEA CUCUMBER 
Bella Coola: Decoction of the water in which the sea cucumber 
was boiled, taken internally as a specific against heartburn. Not a 
purgative. 
SPITTLE INSECT 
Cercopidae, Spittle Insect, Frog Hopper 
Bella Coola: “Fly spit,” i.e., the material surrounding a nymph 
of a spittle insect, applied to sores. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
WOODWORMS 
Gitksan: Pulverized and applied to cuts. 
COPPER 
Bella Coola: Fine particles scraped from clean copper (but not 
from a weathered green surface) placed in sore eyes. 
Gitksan: Copper ground, poured into a 'vessel of cold water, 
first water poured off, and second water taken internally as a harmless 
contraceptive. 
CHARCOAL 
Northern Carrier: Charcoal daubed under the eyes to prevent 
snow-blindness. 
