Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-19

through the air by wind and lodged In
the lungs. Indians still frequently CON-
plain that they feel worms creeping under
their skin and come to the government
physician to ask to have them cut out.
Use OF the swsatbath.
zone Of the most curious and. perhaps.
efficacieus remedies the Indian doctors
employ Is that of the sweat bath. which,
properly handled. would in the opinion OF
white physicians, prove very valuable.
IA medicine man, having decided to give
his afflicted brethren an opportunity to
test the efficiency OF the sweat bath as
administered by him. gives public notice
of the time and place Of holding the eere-
mony.
ION the day designated he proceeds to
the spot selected for the occasion. stones
OF various sizes are gathered and placed
In q heap on the ground, Sticks Of wood
are then deposited around the stones and
the wood Is lighted. While the stones are
being thus heated, the red-slnnned wizard
assists in constructing a frame or wickiup
Of saplinss, the pliable poles being bent
into the form of a semi-crcle and both
ends stuck into the ground. Blankets
quilts and every ina ginable article Of wear
ing apparel are thrown over the frame
The wickiup or miniature lodge. when
completed. is usually about seven feet In
diameter at the bottom and four or 1--WE
feet high. Into this limited space as many
as ten or twelve Indians, who have re-
sponded to the invitation OF the medicine
man, viii crowd, In the hope OF receiving
benefit for bodily Ills.
When the lodge is completed the affiicted
Indians remove their clothing and enter
it. As soon as the stones are redhot they
are passed into the lodge by the medicine
man, who utilizes forked stick, OF an
ordinary hay fork. II obtainable. for the
purpose, These are received By the In
dams on the inside and placed in the confer
Of the circle formed by their naked bodies
Pieces Of foreign matter, such as dust OF
charcoal, that may adhere to the stones
are carefully removed. In the opinion OF
the participants, any foreign substance. II
permitted to remain with the stones, would
detract from the curative power of tho
medicine, which they believe will cure all
lila
Hot stones I'm . Heap.
"As fast as received the Tedhot stones
are placed in a pile which IL constructed
In the form of a frustrum OF a cone In
stances are known where the bathers have
then taken mixture OF tobacco and red
willow bark and thrown It upon the pile
OF stones to eliminate the mystical proper
ties OF the smaller stones. which remain
outside. being too small to be carried on
the forked stick or hay fork used to carry
the larger ones; but this particular prac-
tice does not appear to be general. In
the meantime the Indian doctor has pro-
duced quantity Of medicine. previously
prepared, which Is In the form OF a LIQUID
This Is the most important article con-
nected with the sweat bath, as to II is
attributed the principal power 20 AFFORD
rehef TO the participants, and It's prepara-
ton by the doctor Is conducted with the
utmost secrecy and solemnity.
when all is In readiness a bucket Of
water, into which the medicine has been
empted, Is passed into the lodge by the
doctor, and the entrance is carefully
closed. The lodge may appear impervious
TO the breeze, but occasionally one of the
Indians on the inside calls TO the doctor
to throw something over a certain place,
until they are finally satsfed that IL In
perfectly air-tight and that they are ex-
cluded from the evils and temptations OF
this Ubiquitous world, to allow the steam
TO penetrate their bodies, thereby healing
their afiictions. A small quantity OF the
water, containing the medicine, IL poured
on the red-hot stones Clouds Of steam
Immediately arise. and the medicine man
begins to walk In circle around the
lodge. chanting az he does 90. From tina
to time more OF the water IL thrown upon
the stones. and the chant OF tho medicine
man becomes louder and more enthusi-
astic.
This continues until the votaries are
nsarly 0vsreoms By the heat when the