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Samoan Material Culture

Remarks

Remarks

The operation usually takes place when the youth is about 16 years of age. The time taken depends on the fortitude of the subject. The artist can finish the whole operation in three or four days. Such periods are endurance tests, of benefit neither to the subject nor to the operator.

A good deal of scabbing takes place after the operation and much of the outer skin is shed by scaling. Coconut oil and turmeric are rubbed over the skin to assist healing. Some of the youths have to lie up as they can only page 656walk with difficulty from the inflammation and swelling. By performing the tattooing intermittently, with rest to allow the inflammation to subside, the patient has a much easier time. The usual time to complete the full operation may be from four to six weeks. Any longer period is due to longer resting periods. In prolonged cases, the artist goes home and carries on with other work in the resting intervals.

From the point of view of modern surgery, the preparations and carrying out of the operation seem to invite danger. The cloth used for sponging and applying directly to the bleeding surface is old bark cloth that has been softened by use. It is soaked over night in any available fresh water contained in an unsterilized wooden bowl. The skin over the operation site and the instruments receive no special treatment. There seem to be few septic complications in spite of the lack of asepsis and antisepsis.