Ethnobotany of the Meskwaki Indians / by Huron H. Smith.

210

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4

is cut open, and a piece of the gum inserted into the head to stop craziness. The name given under that remedy "makosi'pikokasikfik," tallies
closely with the Meskwaki name: "mekosi'keshikik." There is no
record of white man's use.
COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY)
Since the largest number of plants on the Meskwaki reservation fall
into this family it is quite natural that they should make use of a great
number of medicines in this family. The number of medicines listed
under the Compositae is probably as great as any other four families
combined.
Yarrow (Achillea lanulosa Nutt),23 "anikfikie'shiktki osawana'kwi"
[flying squirrel's tail] (M), "kishkatoa'soanfik" [flying squirrel's tail]
(P P). The leaves and flowers of the yarrow are both used to make
a tea that cures fever and ague.
Specimen 5183 of the Dr. Jones collection is the stem and leaves of
Achillea millefolium and is called "papaganigwa 6sawanowi icigegi."
It is boiled and used "to bathe some place on the body that is ailing."
This has always been a home remedy with the white man, and Germans still use the "schafesgarbetee" to break up a fever. It was
employed by the white man for its bitter and aromatic principles. It
was used as an emmenagogue and for various ailments of the reproductive organs. It is sometimes used to cure diseased conditions of the
entire gastro-intestinal tract.
Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.). Specimen 5084 in Dr.
Jones' collection is called "anagii'kwa" and is the root of this species,
which is chewed to drive away fear at night.
Plantain-leaved Everlasting (Antennaria plantaginifolia (L.)
Richards), "kakikii'pfiki" [evergreen leaves] (M), "kakakiipik" [evergreen leaves] (P P). A tea is made of the leaves and drunk every
day for two weeks after childbirth and then the woman does not get
sick. Eclectic practitioners have recognized the volatile oils contained
in this species, and have employed them as soothing expectorants. Also,
because of their glucosoides or other bitter principles they have used
them for their stomachic principles.
"3Present series, Vol. IV, pt. 1, pl. XVI, fig. 1.