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oIbrechts] the swimmer MANUSCRIPT 211
(b) Same as (a), but change ''Little Frost" and "Little Fog" to
"Very Great Frost" and. "Very Great Fog," respectively.
This is to treat them with when they have blisters. This is the
medicme which is to be merely blown on them: Chinquapin growing
in the pme forests, the leaves of which are dry and crumbling while
they are still on the plants. (During) four (days) are restricted:
Hot (food), salt, cymlings also, pumpldns, beans, long potatoes,
round potatoes, eggs also, all (kinds of) cucumbers, watermelons,
muskmelons, all (these are forbidden) until they get well.
EXPLANATION
This formula is for the treatment of the burning and festering
"fever blisters," which according to the medicine men are worst in
the hottest part of summer and upon children. The disease theory
is beautifully set forth in the formula as well as in the directions.
The disease is caused by the spirit of Heat, and is expelled by the
spirits of Frost and Fog, both cooling in their nature. kV-'nanu'sti,
the name here given to the frost, is used only in the formulas, [and
seems to be connected with the -yl-nanvGO "that which opens up"],
the common word for frost being u*yo*'tla.
As for the treatment, through carelessness the medicine man has
omitted the leading word of the name of the simple used, but there is
not the slightest doubt but that it is the same as the medicinal plant
prescribed in No. 23, page 200; the ceremony is also probably the
same as described under the prescription just quoted.
The taboo, besides the regularly proscribed items of salt and hot
food for four days, includes until final recovery: Beans and potatoes,
because their skins shrivel up as from an inward heat; eggs, melons,
etc., because these are watery in their nature.
The medicine men recognize a relationship in tomatoes, pumpkins,
squashes, cymlings, gourds, cucumbers, and melons on account of the
watery fluid they contain.
Several of the [vegetables] named have been adopted by the
Indians from the whites, and are included [in the taboo] because of
their resemblance to others previously known.
The avoidance of any such vegetables in all cases of blisters is a
matter of common knowledge among the people ; an infraction of any
part of the taboo would interfere with recoveiy and would lead to a
recurrence of the ailment.