To accommodate himself to the different spirits he modulates his voice, changes the character of his dance, and alters his costume.

Both doctor and patient are generally decked with wood-shavings while the work is going on.
Sometimes an effigy of the sick person is prepared, and the spirit is charmed from the man of flesh to the one of straw.

The shaman induces him to take up lodgings in this effigy, and the success of his persuasion is apparent when the invalid recovers.

If the patient dies the shaman declares that the spirit was one over which he had no control, but he does not hesitate to take pay for his services.
[Illustration: PRACTICE OF MEDICINE.] A Russian traveler who witnessed one of these exorcisms said that the shaman howled so fearfully that two Chinese merchants who were present out of curiosity fled in very terror.

The gentleman managed to endure it to the end, but did not sleep well for a week afterward.
The Gilyaks believe in both good and evil spirits, but as the former do only good it is not thought necessary to pay them any attention.
All the efforts are to induce the evil spirits not to act.