130 
HORN EXPEDITION-ANTHROPOLOGY. 
the condition of the wound, and I raslily promised a speedy recovery. I lieard 
subsequently, however, tliat the man, on being told that the spear which had 
caused the injury had been “sung,” that is, had undergone an incantation which 
bewitched it, proceeded to pine away, and he eventually died witliout the super¬ 
vention of any surgical complications which could be detected. 
Another idea of the same character also exists, which, however, does not 
appear to be so marked a feature in Central Australia as in some other parts of 
the country ; this is that certain illnesses are due to the fact that an enemy has 
“ given them a bone,” and as may be well believed, the supposed removal of this 
bone forms a line field for the antics of the tribal doctor. 
Native Therapeutics. 
Amongst the tribes we visited I could gather very little information as to 
the employment of therapeutic agents, except inunction with a mixture of grease 
and red ochre which seems to be used as the sovereign remedy for a variety of 
complaints. I was informed, however, that the pounded kernels of the quondong 
{Satitnhan acuminatum) mixed with grease are similarly used. To wounds, ashes, 
clay or grease appear to be the common applications. As stated elesewhere, when 
a sick person is in extremis human blood is administered internally and is supposed 
to be particularly efficacious. Mr. Gillen’s paper also contains reference to the 
external application of this fluid. 
In the zoological report mention has been made of the large bag-like 
structures, constructed by a social caterpillar, which are found suspended to the 
small branches of the, so called, box-tree {^Eucalyptus microtheca), and which contain 
large accumulations of their excrement. The statements, made to us everywhere, 
were to the effect, that this excrement possessed peculiarly irritating properties, 
and, though I have no personal experience of such effects, there was invariably 
both among the whites and blacks a disinclination to handle it on that account. 
I mention this fact because, when at Bimbowrie in the north-eastern district of 
South Australia, I observed a hairy caterpillar, of a different kind, that makes a 
similar though smaller bag of a reddish-brown colour on the branches of various 
herbaceous shrubs, and I was infoi’med by Mr. Crozier, the owner of the station, 
that the excrement, which they similarly contain though it is non-irritant, from 
the bags on one particular kind of bush and from that only, is used both by whites 
and blacks to make an infusion or poultice for a local application to inflamed 
testicles, while the felt-like substance of the bags themselves is applied to syphilitic 
