Misinformation about CJ: chittam/chitticum

[Dave Robertson]

Misinformation about Chinook Jargon:

groups.google.com/group/misc.health.alternative/browse_thread/thread/9076f1cc0a87eb94

"Rhamnus purshiana (Cascara Buckthorn, Cascara, Bearberry, and in the
Chinook Jargon, Chittam or Chitticum; syn. Frangula purshiana, Rhamnus
purshianus) is a species of buckthorn native to western North America
from southern British Columbia south to central California, and inland
to western Montana.

...

Cascara Sagrada means "sacred bark" in Spanish. The much more
pertinent name chitticum means "shit come" in Chinook Jargon; chittam
comes from the Chinook Jargon phrase chittam stick = "laxative tree"
which is similarly from the English word "shit"."

I'd be more likely to pursue a hypothesis that "chitticum" came from
pidginlike English.  But the question is, what documentation supports the
supposed CJ etymology -- and what else is known of the etymology of
"chittam/chitticum"?

I see some discussion in Wikipedia "talk" pages related to Chinook Jargon
(sigh) that puts forth "chitticum" as CJ without evidence or citations.

--Dave R

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