OCR Text |
Show 200 THE MIDE'WIWIN OF THE OJIBWA. Prunus Americana, Marsh. Wild Plum. Boge'sanok. The small rootlets, and the bark of the larger ones, are crushed and boiled together with the roots of the following named plants, as a remedy for diarrhea. The remaining plants were not in bloom at the time during which the investiga-gations were made, and therefore were not identified by the preceptors, they being enabled to furnish only the names and an Imperfect description. They are as follows, viz: Minen'sok, two species, one with red berries, the other with yellow ones; Wabo'saminl'sSk-" Rabbit berries"; Shi'gwanau'isok, haying small red berries; and Crataegus coccinea, L. Scarlet- fruited Thorn. O'ginik. Typha latifolia, L. Common Cat- tail. Napogushk-" Flat grass. 1' The roots are crushed by pounding or chewing, and applied as a poultice to sores. Sporobolus fieterolepis Gr. Napo'gushkuns'-" Little Flat Grass." 1. Used sometimes as a substitute for the preceding 2. Roots are boiled and the decoction taken to induce emesis, " to remove bile." Fragaria vesca, L. Wild Strawberry. Ode Imln'ne- Heart Berry. Referred to in the ceremony of the " Ghost Society." The fruit is highly valued as a luxury. ' Acer Pennsylvanicum, L. Striped Maple. M6°' zomIsh'-" Moose Wood." The inner bark scraped from four sticks or branches, each two feet long, is put into a cloth and boiled, the liquid which can subsequently be pressed out of the bag is swallowed, to act as an emetic. Fraxinus sambucifolia, Lam. Black or Water Ash. A'gimak'. 1. The inner bark is soaked in warm water, and the liquid applied to sore eyes. 2. The wood is employed in making the rims for frames of snow- shoes. Veronica Virginica, L. Culver's Root. Wi'sdgedzhi'wik-" Bitter Root." A decoction of the crushed root is taken as a purgative. Salix Candida, Willd. Hoary Willow. Sisi'gewe'nilsh. The thick inner bark of the roots is scraped off, boiled, and the decoction taken for cough. Symphoricarpus vulgaris, Michx. Indian Currant. Gus'sigwaka'mfeh. The inner bark of the root boiled and the decoction, when cold, applied to sore eyes. Oeum strictum, Ait. Aven. Ne bone'ankwe ak-" Pair on one side." The roots are boiled and a weak decoction taken internally for soreness in the chest, and cough. Rumexcrispw, L. Curled Dock. Ozabetshi'wlk. The roots are bruised or crushed and applied to abrasions, sores, etc. Ainorpha canescens, Nutt. Lead Plant. We'abonag'kak-" That which turns white." A decoction, made of the roots, is used for pains in the stomach. Rosa blanda, Ait. Early Wild Rose. O'ginik. A piece of root placed in lukewarm water, after which the liquid is applied to inflamed eyes. Anemone ( sp. f) Anemone. Wisog'ibok'; also called Hartshorn plant by the mixed-bloods of Minnesota. The dry leaves are powdered and used as an errhine, for the cure of headache. ( Qen. et sp. f) Termed Kine'blk wansh'koasand " Snake weed." This plant was unfortunately so injured in transportation that identification was impossible. Ball- players and hunters use it to give them endurance and speed; the root is chewed when necessary to possess these qualities. The root is likened to a snake, which is supposed to be swift in motion and possessed of extraordinary muscular strength. |