Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/268

] The coyote causes sickness in children; some believing that he brings on the dysentery when the mother eats melons before the birth of the child, others thinking that he causes rash and blisters on the baby's tongue. The remedy is to sing the coyote song (p. 316) and swing the tail of the coyote over the child.

The dog, a very near relative of the coyote in Pimería, also causes trouble for the children. When a child a month or two old is fretful and sleepless the medicine-man is pretty certain to diagnose the case as "dog disease." He does not treat it in any manner, but some one who knows the dog song (p. 315) is called in to sing, and as he sings he sways a stick that has some of a dog's vibrissæ tied to it, to and fro over the child.

The gopher causes stomach trouble, particularly in children. The remedy is to sing the gopher song (p. 319) and to press moistened earth from a gopher hill upon the affected part. At Gila Crossing were obtained two small deerskin bags containing tufts of eagle's down and two or three twigs that had been cut by a gopher. These were to be pressed upon the stomach of the child.

The jack rabbit causes open sores. The remedy is to sing the rabbit song (p. 314), and during the singing to swing over the patient the tail of the hare to which the animal's vibrissæ have been tied.

The mouse, kwakawâpâkam, causes constipation in children. This is cured by singing the mouse song (p. 314), and pressing the tail of the mouse on the abdomen. If no prepared tail is available a dead mouse is used.

The ground squirrel of the mesas causes nosebleed.

There are but four birds that cause disease. There appears to have been no conscious classification in the minds of the Pimas in attributing certain afflictions to the birds. These diseases are all of a different nature, and are similar to those assigned to mammals and reptiles.

The eagle causes hemorrhage. The remedy is to sing the eagle song (p. 289) and to pass the down of the eagle over the part.

The eagle is also blamed for the lice that find refuge in the hair of the Pimas. The remedy is to blow cigarette smoke over the head.

The hawk causes hemorrhage in grown persons only. The disease is cured by singing the hawk song and passing the wing feathers of the bird over the patient. If one touches a hawk he must be secluded for four days.

The owl throws people into trances and fits. They are restored by having the owl song (p. 311) sung while six owl feathers mounted on a stick are swung over them. The cry of the small owl, kokovol(t), in the night is a bad sign. When the large owl utters a sound resembling human speech sickness may be expected.

The vulture or turkey buzzard causes sores, especially syphilis, and sore eyes on the baby if the parent eat a dead animal just before the