Traditional Childcare and Treatment of Children's Diseases among the Besermian

Abstract

The article is based on fieldwork conducted in 1986-2000 among the Besermian (a small ethnic group in North-East Udmurtia, the districts of Iukamen, Iar, Balezino and Glazov, and the Cheptsa watershed).The article overviews the beliefs, customs and healing practices applying to labour, care of the mother and the newborn.Also, Besermian midwives and verbal healers and their practices are reviewed.The Besermian retained traditional medicine longer than the neighbouring groups, especially as regards child healing methods.Diseases and healing practices of complex mythological background are slowly forgotten, knowledge and practices relayed within a family have survived better.Children's diseases and prophylactics are treated similarly to that of adults.Receiving health from an adult and the ritual of "new" birth played an important role.

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