University of Virginia Library

KALMUCKS.

The Kalmucks, the most numerous of all the Mongolian people, may well serve as a type of the natural Mongolian, as they are nomads, without a fixed home, roaming over mountain and plain, unaffected by civilization; whether belonging to Europe or Asia, they inhabit only the most remote and inaccessible parts of either country, and yet they are far in advance of the nomads of the far north. For their medical knowledge the Kalmucks are indebted to the Buddhists, to the schools of Thibet, founded for the Lamas; among them medicine is a divine knowledge, and possesses its especial idol, Burchan. For the following excellent description of their obstetric customs I am indebted to Dr. Rudolph Krebel's work: Volksmedizin und Volksmittel verschiedener Völkerstämme Russlands. (Leipzig & Heidelberg. 1858.)

"As soon as labor begins, the friends of the patient assemble; their idol is brought forth, conspicuously placed above the sufferer's couch, and illuminated with a lamp. The parturient now takes to her bed in expectation of the coming pains, during which she squats, her buttocks resting upon her heels, grasping with her hands a pole, which is firmly attached to the chimney, and of sufficient length to afford her a comfortable support; behind her sits another woman, who compresses her body with both arms; but, if in better circumstances, the husband takes some vigorous young fellow into his `kibitke,' who, after being hospitably treated, takes his seat on the floor, with the parturient on his knees, and with his arms encircling her body, he compresses the abdomen and with the palms of his hands rubs the uterine surface, being careful to stroke it from above downward, and to exercise compression in the same direction. As soon as the female attendant observes the appearance

of the head in the vulva, she signals the crowd of men who have been waiting outside, who simultaneously fire their guns, in order to assist nature by the sudden fright which this will cause the patient. The poor either buckle broad leather belts around the abdomen of the patient as soon as labor begins, and try to hasten matters by pressure from above downward, or they press a cloth firmly over mouth and nose of the woman to try the effect of choking, so that the exertions of the struggling sufferer may possibly expel the tardy fetus.

"It is said that in difficult cases female assistants have for ages practiced version, and physicians among the Songars have performed embryotomy with the knife. We hardly need mention that superstitions play an important part in their management of labor.

"The young mother is looked upon as unclean for three weeks after confinement; she is never abed at anytime over seven days during the puerperal state. Immediately after delivery mutton is given the patient, but only a little at a time, whilst broth is given in considerable quantities; the amount of meat used is gradually increased.

"As soon as the child is born, the cord is tied and cut, and the placenta buried at a considerable depth within the `kibitke.' The child is washed in salt water and wrapped in furs. The remnant of the cord is carefully preserved, and kept as a charm, considered especially valuable in their petty lawsuits. Until the remnant of the cord separates from the child, the father does not permit fire from the hearth to be taken from his hut. The wealthy sometimes keep a wet nurse; the poor nurse their own children, not unfrequently up to the very time when prevented by a succeeding pregnancy. Additional nourishment is given the child during the first year. During the first days the infant is not given the breast, but a piece of raw mutton tallow to suckle. The mortality is great among children, especially during the second year, on account of coarse food and hereditary syphilis.''