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oIbrechts] the swimmer MANUSCRIPT 69
ment. This is a comblike device and is quite a remarkable specimen
of primitive inventive spirit. (PI. 7, d, i.)
It is made of seven splinters of bone of a turkey leg, set into a
frame of a turkey quill; the quill is folded over in four parts of pretty
equal dimensions, so as to form a rectangular frame 5 centimeters by
4 centimeters; where the two extremities meet they are tied together,
and the seven bone splinters (about 5 cm. long and 3 mm. broad at
the top; sharpened to a keen point at the bottom) are then stuck
through the upper part of the quill frame, with intervals of not more
than 1 or 2 milhmeters; they are then also stuck through the bottom
part of the frame, 1 or 2 millimeters of their cutting extremity piercing
the frame at the bottom. With these seven sharp points the scratches
are inflicted; and the ingenious way in which they are mounted pre-
vents them from piercing so deep into the flesh as to inflict serious
wounds.
Although only the ball players are now being scratched by this
instrument there are good reasons to believe that formerly it was
also used in the treatment of certain aihnents, where now such
objects as flint arrowheads, briars, and laurel leaves (see infra) are
used.
Moreover, there seems to be a tendency nowadays for scarification
to develop from a mythico-surgical operation as Mooney still foimd
it 40 years ago in a rite of a purely symbolic nature. In many
instances I observed that not only no ''gashes" were inflicted, but
that not even a particle of blood was drawn during the operation.
Dt^DQ*4e'ski (rhemnatism; cf. p. 292) and. ailments wliich from a
Cherokee point of view are related to this disease, are universally
treated by this "scratching" method. The scarifying is here done
by means of a flint arrowhead (oawt'skula'), preferably of the black
variety. Old medicine men assert that this is the only variety
(pi. 7, a) that should be used, but as this kind of arrowhead is getting
scarce there is a tendency to use any other kind (pi. 7, h). A still
more curious shifting to a new position is shown in the custom which
is rapidly gaining ground and according to which scratching is simyjly
neglected, but an unworked piece of flint (also called Dawt'skula', pi. 7,
c) is merely held against the sore joint, the formula for scratching
being recited at the same time.
Schematically this evolution could be represented as follows:
Black flint arrowhead to scratch with
I
i
^
.
.
Any arrowhead to scratch Any piece of hlack flint held
with. against aching spot
I did not find that any articles imported by the whites, such as
knives, nails, glass, etc., were in use as scratching instruments.