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Show 186 A small social minority of Western origin and culture, which lives for the most part in urban centers, was the traditional consumer of these foods and continues as such at the present time. A considerable proportion of the Indian population consumes these foods only as a rare exception. Reason being because the Indians are not traditionally accustomed to this, since their pre-Columbian ancestors did not know these foods. When the conquerors imported these items from Spain, the economic situation of the Indians was so wretched for several centuries that they were obliged to preserve their basically vegetarian diet. Gradually the Indians will become accustomed to partaking of these foods which provide them with proteins and other nutritive elements, but this would probably be achieved more rapidly and effectively if consumption of the soy bean were introduced into the popular diet. The soy bean contains an equal or greater percentage of these elements and, added to what is consumed today, would constitute an almost perfect diet. Flury, Lazaro. "El Caa-pi Y El Hataj, Dos Poderosos Ilusiogenos Indigenas," America Indigena, XVIII (October, 1958), pp. 293-298. In South America particularly in the Gran Chaco region, two species of plants of incalculable therapeutic value when properly applied, exist. These are known as Caa-pi or ayac huasca (Banisteria caa-pi Spruce) and Hataj, which is also called cebil, cohoba, vilca and curupa. Both plants have almost identical properties, serving as stimulants in small doses and as anaesthetics in larger quantities, also stimulating visions in the latter case. Their use dates from ancient times among all Indians of South America who made use of their magic properties on the occasion of their ritual and religious ceremonies Caa-pi was inbibed in liquid form, a derivation from its leaves and bark; hataj was inhaled as a dust from seeds toasted previously. Special nasal tubes were used for inhaling. The state of euphoria and sopor which followed was accompanied by visions of every kind attributed to magic influences. This state permitted them to feel a presentiment of events, cure illness and speak to the Greater Spirits of the tribe. Consequently, whenever the tribe met difficult problems, they were resolved by consulting the Cemi or Greater Spirits through a special ceremony or meeting of witches where it was indispensable to put oneself in a trance through the medium of this drug. The potency of both drugs suggest the possibilities of their application in modern medicine as stimulants and anaesthetics. This would not be the first time that the empirical medicine of the aborigines has given materials of inestimable value to modern medicine, to be made available to civilization. |