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

222

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4

with the berries of Rhus typhina and the root of Euphorbia corollata to
expel pinworms. Both wood and inner bark of the Bur Oak are used.
Black Oak (Quercus velutina Lam.), "m tiko'minfini" [wooden
berry] (M) and (P P). The inner bark of this species is mixed with
other roots for use in treating lung troubles. It has practically the
same uses as other oak barks with the white man. In industry it is
used for tanning.
GENTIANACEAE (GENTIAN FAMILY)
Closed Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii Griseb.). Shown in plate
XLV, fig. 2, "wisakipfiki wisakfini" [tastes like tobacco-weed] (M),
"pemteo'pfikfik isipfika'sawfik" [greasy leaves-blue, like sky] (P P).
McIntosh placed great stress on the use of this root for snake bite and
for curing caked breast. The Meskwaki use it in the same manner.
The white man used the root of the gentian as a simple bitter, exciting
the flow of gastric juice, promoting the appetite, and aiding digestion.
It was used by him in many forms of dyspepsia, and loss of appetite
following mild malaria and acute infectious diseases.
Stiff Gentian (Gentiana quinquefolia L.) "wisakii'bilk" [very
bitter] (P P). McIntosh used the liquid derived from this root for
stopping a hemorrhage. The white man made practically the same use
of this root as he did of the Closed Gentian.
GERANIACEAE (GERANIUM FAMILY)
Wild Geranium (Geranium miaculatum L.),29 "paskipa'ki" (M),
"piiskapfi'k" (P P). This root is accounted a great medicine by McIntosh and also by the Meskwaki generally. It has many varied uses
among them. The infusion is used to cure sore gums and pyorrhoea,
and to stop teeth from aching. It is also a cure for neuralgia. Its
greatest use is in curing piles and hemorrhoids. A poultice of the
pounded root is bound upon the anus to cause protruding piles to recede.
The root of Geranium maculatum appears in three specimens of
the Dr. Jones collection. Specimen 3602 is a mixture called "neswaiygatwi" [of three different kinds], and consists of this root, the bark of
Quercus alba, and the flowers of Petalostemum purpureum. The mixture is used by one ill with the diarrhoea-"ictip6segi." Specimen
3657 is the root of Geranium maculatum alone and is called "ke'tcipi'
'Present series, Vol. IV, pt. 1, pl. XIX, fig. 2.