Page:Popular medicine, customs and superstitions of the Rio Grande, John G. Bourke, 1894.pdf/17

Rh Marriage, Divination in.—How to tell whether a bride is to bear twins, or only one child. Marriages are most fertile and happy when entered into on the first of the new moon. The morning after marriage, let the bride walk out from her bed, first putting on her clothing, and stepping out with the left foot. If the left foot and left leg make two shadows, she is pregnant with two sons; if one shadow, then with one son only. The pregnant woman generally consults a "partera," who is, usually, a "wise woman," and knows a great many secrets not known to doctors.

The "partera" places a basin full of water in front of the bride, who should lay aside all clothing but the "camisa." The "partera" not only tells how many shadows there are, but can frequently predict the sex of the child, or children, to be born.

Thus, if the water in the basin seem to become cloudy, the child is to be a girl; if it remain crystalline, a man: the reason being that a man's existence is out in the open air, clear to the observation of everybody, but a woman leads a life generally of seclusion, and is always wrapped up and under the charge of somebody. The bride must next jump across the pan of water; if its surface become ruffled, her labor is to be protracted; if it remain smooth, she is to have a happy gestation and an easy delivery. (M. A.)

"Medidas," or measures, are pieces of ribbon or tape, which represent the exact size of the head, arm, waist, leg, hand, or foot of some saint's statue. If a man suffer from headache, let him wear around his forehead the "medida" of the head of some statue of the Madonna, or a favorite saint. These "medidas" are frequently inscribed with letters in gold or silver, telling whence they came, etc.

Their use is not confined to Roman Catholic countries. Protestants are fully as much addicted to this superstition, as shown in my monograph, "The Medicine Men of the Apache," in volume ix. Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, D. C.

To cure Melancholia.—Take a small piece of the bone of a giant (fossil bone), powder it, and put it in the patient's drink. (M. A.)

Menstrual Troubles.—Make an infusion of the "matamoreal," use internally and locally as a fomentation. (M. A.)

Mescal.—The alcoholic menstruum for the administration of all medicines not given in infusion or decoction is obtained by the distillation of the roasted and fermented heart of the American aloe.

It is very strong in spirit, and tastes like fiery Scotch whiskey. A good punch can be made of it. Many Mexicans like to have it "curado," or flavored either with pineapple, lemon, orange, or strawberry juice. Others prefer to add lime water and the burning berries of the chilchipin. The latter mixture was positively prohibited by an edict of the Emperor Charles V. as early as 1528, as I