Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/272

] rise by the man, who breathes upon a cross and holds it toward the sun four times. If it is a girl, it is taken by the woman, who breathes upon a medal and holds the object toward the sun four times. Whichever object is used is next passed in the form of the cross over the face and again over the body of the infant by both the man and the woman. Each then holds the child four times in his or her arms before handing it to the parents. A name is given the child by the godfather and godmother. No child except one thus ill or another in the same family of a naming age at the time is ever christened thus. The godparents must give the child some wheat or corn each year until it grows up, and the parents give a basket each year in return.

Even horses may become sick through the evil influence of malicious medicine-men, who, it is said, "shoot" live coals into them—coals that have been taken from an Apache fire. The remedy is of a similar magic character. A reputable medicine-man is called in, who diagnoses the case and decides from what direction the coal was "shot." He does not sing, but after smoking a cigarette and blowing puffs of smoke about the premises and upon the horse he determines the place to suck out the coal from the distressed animal. When he gets the coal into his mouth he makes a pretense of being burned by it and immediately fills his mouth with water, after which he casts out the coal.

The transparent trick of sucking a hair from the body is resorted to in veterinary practice in a manner similar to that pursued when treating human ailments.



Consumption is the most frequent and fatal disease, due to poverty of diet and contagion. The Pimas do not attempt to prevent infection. Their former treatment was a diet of mountain turtle and sun-dried beef.

Dysentery is common in summer because of the peculiar habit, by no means confined to the Pimas, of eating unripe melons.

Impetigo contagiosa is the worst skin disease, and is principally confined to the children.

Children are intentionally exposed to smallpox and measles, that they may have the diseases in lighter form. Smallpox was regarded as an evil spirit of which they did not dare to show fear. They said "I like Smallpox," thinking that he would be thus placated. At one time they attempted inoculation from persons that had light attacks, but the experiment resulted in many deaths. From 1870 until the Government sent a physician to the agency, the missionary, Rev. C.H.