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

216

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4

was formerly used in this country as a sporific and sedative, but is little
used now. It was given in the form of substance or syrup to babies
during the course of certain infantile diseases.
Gray-headed Coneflower (Lepachys pinnata (Vent.) T. & G.),
"mose'wfusk" (P P). The root of this plant alone is a cure for toothache, according to John McIntosh. There is no record of its use in the
white man's pharmacopoeia.
Dotted Button-Snakeroot (Liatris punctata Hook.), "nipinfiskwa '
[summer weed] (M and P P). Shown in plate XLIV, fig. 4. The
turnip-like root of the button snakeroot is accredited with all sorts of
virtue by the Meskwaki and the Potawatomi. The root is a very valuable remedy to use in infusion when the urine is bloody. It is a cure
for bladder trouble of women. The liquid applied locally is a cure for
the itch. Used alone, it is cure for gonorrhea. In hot weather, in the
olden times, it was fed to ponies to make them spirited so that they
would be eager to hunt the buffalo. It was also a great remedy with
the eclectic practitioners among the white men, who used it as a diuretic,
and also employed it in many female diseases.
Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa Willd.), "mosi'ski" (M) "nipi'nfisk"
(P P). Shown in plate XLIII, fig. 4. McIntosh and the Meskwaki
agreed that this was a great remedy for bladder and kidney troubles,
almost as valuable as the preceding Liatris. It also held a high place
among the remedies of the eclectic practitioners.
Entire-leaved Rosin-weed (Silphium integrifolium Mx.), "wiskfi'pipfik" [sweet leaves] (P P). The leaves were used to make a tea for
the treatment of bladder troubles.
Specimen 5188 of the Dr. Jones collection was doubtfully identified
as the root of Silphium integrifolium and called "ketci kawis." It was
used for one with kidney trouble or who was crippled. For a cripple,
it is placed in a hole with water and steamed with a heated "nigger
head" or rock. The steaming is directed to the seat of the pain. The
root is full of an acrid resin, which recommended it to the white man
as a tonic, stimulant, laxative and anodyne.
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum L.), "peke'wakwa [gum]
(M), "piiko'watfik" [gum] (P P). The Meskwaki pick out the gum
that exudes from the stalks and chew it as we would chewing-gum,