Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

224 BUltEAli OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bvu.. W
This (is) tlio inoiiii'ino {{or) thoir head, if tJ\oy fnint. VirLrinia
suakoroot (is) to miro (tluMiO with: (ov) luoroly tobaooo is also vorv
jxood.
EXPLANATION
This is a fonnuhi for tho niro of clizziiioss or faintinir fits ai'coni-
paniod by lioadacho and soinotinios also by pains in tho back of tho
nook and in tho broast; tho oollootion of thoso syni[)tonis is known
io tho niodioino n\nn as "blaok 0(d;)-ni." or litorally "black yellow."
Tl\o [iatioi\t fools faint and pddy on risinj:: suddotdy from his scat.
The niodioino man furtJior states tliat as tho disease pro;:;rossos the
lips and circles round tJie eyes turn black, and in extreme cases red
blotches appear on the face, especially about tJie mouth. Ay.
calls it a variety of oolo-ni, wliile another nuHliciue man. na'k\va»i'!i
(Mooney, Myths. PI. Xlll), ascribed it to sunstroke. The nuHiicine
is an infusion of r'nastftvstr'Ga. AnstoJochia serpcniaria L.. Viruinia
siiakeroot, warmed by droppiui;" into it seven live coals, and blown
upon the head, breast, and back of tJie neck of the patient. When
the snakeroot can not be procured tJ\o nu\licine man blows the juice
of ordinary chewing" tobacco upon the patient in tJ\e same way.
While he chews tJie tobacco he takes a sup, before oaih blowinij, from
a cup of pure water, into which seven live co.als have boon dropped
as just described. An infusion of snakeroot is said to be frequently
used as a wash in cases of headache.
The patient is placed sittiuir. facing- tJie east, while the medicine
man stands a short distance away holdiui: in Ids uplifted hand the
cup oontaininu: the medicine. He then sings the tii-st verse, after
which. without approaching any nearer, ho blows the liquid four thnes
upon the head of the patient. This operation is repeated witJi each
of the four verees; when conung nearer, he blows his breatJi four times
upon the head of t]\e sick person. If there be pains also in tJ\e breast
or back of tlie neck, the operation is repeated in the same way,
blowing upon tJie part aft'ected.
The song is addressed to four diiVerent classes of invisible "Little
People" [see p. 25], the spirits of tJie forest, of the clilVs, of the water,
and of tlie Cold Land, or the North, the last being invoked probably
on account of the feverish condition of the patient, or because, as
tlie otiier medicine mmi (DakwamU) asserted, tlie sickness is due to
tlie heat of the siiu.