Page:Popular medicine, customs and superstitions of the Rio Grande, John G. Bourke, 1894.pdf/21

Rh Expulsion of the Placenta.—Dr. Taylor of San Diego, Texas, a graduate of Edinburgh, and a scholarly gentleman, since deceased, told me that he had found in his practice examples of a deep-rooted belief in the efficacy of a draught of the urine of the husband.

He was much surprised when I explained to him that such a belief was once general in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Germany, and, perhaps, other portions of Europe.

The placenta must not be burned, but buried where animals cannot invade, because it would be a great desecration to have animals uproot and perhaps eat what had been part of a body that was to be baptized. (M. A.)

First Sergeant James T. Murphy, Troop " C," Third Cavalry, informs me that the Mexican "parteras" (midwives) administer a snuff made of powdered mariguan to induce sneezing, by which great muscular effort they contend the effect desired is at once produced.

Rheumatism.—1. To cure rheumatism, stroke the head of a little girl three times—a golden-haired child preferred.

2. Rub the legs with the white inner pulp of the nopal cactus.

3. Apply in form of a plaster or embrocation the white flowers of the "barba de chivata" (goat's beard). This burns exactly like mustard.

Saliva.—When your feet are asleep, spit on your fingers and make the sign of the cross under the knee, or on the instep.

Skunk.—The urine of a skunk blinds dogs and men. (The Aztecs and the Apaches used to believe the same.)

The urine of the skunk, when ejected during a dark night, makes a luminous curve like a comet.

The bite of the skunk will surely cause rabies.

Smoking.—The Mexicans use, besides tobacco, the mariguan, the toloachi, and the drago.

Snuff is made of tobacco, mariguan, and rocio.

To cure Smallpox ("Viruelas").—Make a brew of steeped barley, stewed in water, to which add the "pezon," or stem, of the "calabaza," or pumpkin; drink. It will drive out the pustules. Then take fresh hog's lard, wash it in nine waters, and rub all over the body, to keep the pustules from spreading or marking the patient. (M. A.)

(This is possibly of Aztec derivation. The "pezon" is a sacred emblem among the Zuñis, as Mr. F. H. Cushing has shown.)

The Mexicans do not isolate smallpox sufferers, but try to make children catch the disease, and "have it over with." This will account for the numerous cases of blindness to be seen in the lower Rio Grande valley.)

Tiña (Scab on the Head).—Apply to the head the urine and