resembling the horse, with the "medicine" term denoting
astonishment or awe. Consequently the Blackfeet, adding to the word
"Elk" (_Pounika_) the adjective "medicine" (_tos_) called the horse
_Pou-nika-ma-ta_, i. e. Medicine Elk. This word is still their
designation for a horse.

With this idea of medicine, and recollecting that the word is used to
express two classes of thoughts very different, and separated by
civilization, though confounded by the savage, it will not surprise one
to find that the medicine-men are conjurers as well as doctors, and that
their conjurations partake as much of medical quackery as does their
medical practice of affected incantation. As physicians, the
medicine-men are below contempt, and, but for the savage cruelty of
their ignorance, undeserving of notice. The writer has known a man to
have his uvula and palate torn out by a medicine-man. In that case the
disease was a hacking cough caused by an elongation of the uvula; and
the remedy adopted (after preparatory singing, dancing, burning buffalo
hair, and other conjurations) was to seize the uvula with a pair of
bullet-moulds, and tear from the poor wretch every tissue that would
give way. Death of course ensued in a short time. The unfortunate man
had, however, died in "able hands," and according to the "highest
principles of [Indian] medical art."

Were I to tell how barbarously I have seen men mutilated, simply to
extract an arrow-head from a wound, the story would scarce be credited.
Common sense has no place in the system of Indian medicine-men, nor do
they appear to have gained an idea, beyond the rudest, from experience.

In their quality of seers, however, they are more important, and
frequently more successful persons, attaining, of course, various
degrees of proficiency and reputation. An accomplished dreamer has a
sure competency in that gift. He is reverently consulted, handsomely
paid, and, in general, strictly obeyed. His influence, when once
established, is more potent even than that of a war chief. The dignity
and profit of the position are baits sufficient to command the attention
and ambition of the ablest men; yet it is not unfrequently the case that
persons otherwise undistinguished are noted for clear and strong powers
of "medicine."

Of the three most distinguished medicine-men known to the writer, but
one was a man of powerful intellect. Even this person preferred a
somewhat sedentary, and what might be called a