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ill through his own folly, by over-eating, for example, or by travelling 
day and night without proper rest. In the latter case a kusabindugeyu 
would diagnose the cause of the malady and counsel the sick man to rest 
until his soul, travelling more slowly behind, was able to overtake his 
body. Then again the animals may punish with sickness persons who 
speak ill of them, or show them disrespect by throwing their bones to the 
dogs. Some of the Indians ascribe tuberculosis to a visitation from the 
evil serpent. They say that a youth (or maiden) who fasts for a vision 
and blessing from the supernatural world may unwittingly be “ blessed ” 
by this serpent, and that although he himself may escape any ill effect, 
his children and grandchildren will contract tuberculosis and die one after 
another. 
The Parry Islanders still employ many of their herbal and other 
remedies for various ailments, often preferring them to the remedies of 
the medical officer appointed by the Government to take care of their 
needs. A few of their prescriptions are listed below: 
Headache and rheumatism : puncture the temple or limb with a flint flake or with 
the jaw of the bill-fish, suck out the blood with a cow-horn, and apply some 
herbal poultice. A few Indians puncture the skin with a bundle of hawthorn 
spines brought up from the south. The operation, called djoswin, costs the 
patient about $5. 
Hemorrhage of nose: puncture a vein in the back of the neck with a flake of flint 
or glass. 
Toothache : steam the patient in the sweat-house, then, if the tooth is abscessed, 
extract it. 
Cuts and wounds: crush the leaves of the Eupatorium perfoliatum and apply as a 
plaster. 
Snake-bite: open up a live chicken and place the quivering internal organs on the 
wound. 
Bee and wasp stings: apply crushed leaves of Lactuca spicata, 
Sores from poison ivy: boil the leaves of the dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium, 
for half an hour and rub over the sores. They should disappear in two cr three 
days. 
Sore back: crush the roots and stems of the “salamander” ( gikidanangbak , a plant 
not identified), mix with water and a little coal oil or turpentine, and use as a 
liniment; or pound them with cedar brush and water into a thick paste and use 
as a plaster. “ Medicine-men often mixed this plant with their remedies. I 
myself learned its use as a plaster from a dream. Persons I did not know, but 
who were probably long-dead relatives, appeared to me and told me to apply 
it to my back, which was aching greatly. The remedy was very efficacious” 
(Pegahmagabow) . 
Dysentery: boil the stem of the red-osier dogwood, Cornus stolonifera, and drink the 
decoction. 
Colds: drink, or rub the throat with, a decoction made by boiling the stem, leaves, 
and flowers of Lactuca spicata. 
To facilitate child-birth: boil with fern-root hair gathered from beneath the yellow 
berries of the kapakumish (salmon-berry?) and drink. 
Cataract of eye: apply skunk exuvia. 
Tonic, especially to prevent fainting: mix with any herbal tonic scrapings of dried 
flesh taken from the middle of a rattlesnake. 
Tonic for hair: otter fat. 
