Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

72 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99
Dislocation.— Cases of dislocation are treated as efficaciously as one
can expect. Three or four friends get hold of the patient and simply
pull long and frantically until they believe the rebellious joint has
resumed its original position. As to the ultimate outcome, the same
fatalistic view is taken as with regard to fractures.
Dentistry.—The art of the stomatologist is in its very prime among
the Cherokee. If neuralgia is felt, it may be treated as
(1) Dt'Dg'U'ski (see p. 292); in this case the jaw, the cheek, or the
temple may be scratched by arrowhead, briars, or laurel leaves.
(See p. 70.)
(2) Else the medicine man may proclaim that the pain is caused by
insects. (See p. 28.) This is especially the explanation if there is
any visible swelling or inflammation. If such is the case a treatment
is adopted the main object of which is the sucking out of the insect.
(See p. 73.)
If a tooth shows visible signs of decay the actual causes of pain are
not so much believed to be of a mythical nature. The pain is combated
as long as possible, by thrusting in the cavity of the aching
tooth a small quid of ordinarj^ chewing tobacoo; eventually, in a fit
of raging pain, the tooth is knocked out with a stone or a hammer.
A half-blood, whose scientific progress had attained the point
where he pulled teeth bj^ m.eans of a pair of tongs, did a thriving
business, people from miles around walking to his house to be "oper-
ated upon."
Wounds, boils, etc.—Wounds caused by a cutting instrument, such
as an ax, a knife, a strong splinter of wood, are always treated by the
recitation of a song (see p. 271) by the medicine man, or, if the case is
urgent, by the patient himself or by a member of his household, if
they Imow the formula. The infusion of tsf'yu bark (see p. 71) is
usually blown over the wound afterwards.
Nowadays the wound is usually bandaged in a very summary way
with some stray bit of rag. It woidd appear that no surgical dressing,
of botanical matter or of skins, was practiced before the introduction
of cloth.
Severe hemorrhage, especially resulting from wounds inflicted by
arrows or bullets, is stopped by a plaster of buzzard's do\^^l. The use
of birds' down for this purpose is practiced by several American
Indian tribes.
Contusions and internal wounds caused by falling or by being hit
by heavy, blunt instriunents, as by a club, a tree branch, etc., are
treated by the panacea: the infusion of tsf'yii bark, blown over the
aching spot; no formula is recited, however.
Use of the sucking horn.—The discussion of the following practice
under the caption of "Surgery" might be challenged v;ith some
reason, but the practice is undeniably of a surgical nature according
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