People who live outside of civilisation are thrown upon their own resources in cases of sickness. The daughter of my Mexican guide was confined and the coming of the afterbirth was delayed. I give here, for curiosity’s sake, a list of the various remedies applied in the case:
1. The carapace of the armadillo, ground and taken in a little water. This is a Tarahumare remedy, said to be very effective for the trouble mentioned.
2. The skunkwort (the herb of the skunk).
3. The patient to hold her own hair in her mouth for half an hour.
4. The wood of Palo hediondo, boiled.
5. Urina viri, half a cup. This remedy is also externally used for cuts and bruises.
6. Fresh excrement from a black horse. A small quantity of water is mixed with it, then pressed out through a piece of cloth and taken internally.
7. Perspiration from a black horse. A saddlecloth, after having been used on the horse, is put over the abdomen of the woman.
8. A decoction of the bark of the elm.
9. Pork fat.