Bantu Folk Lore (Medical and General)Hewat, Matthew L.
Science
Bantu Folk Lore (Medical and General)
Hewat, Matthew L.
Pondo (African people); Traditional medicine -- South Africa; Xhosa (African people); Zulu (African people)
1st U-gezo proper, probably mostly delirium or convulsions, which is
treated the same way as “Isi-tutwani” epilepsy. Here also the herb
Um-nyanji (Phytolacca stricta) and other emetics are used till the
patient is utterly prostrate, when he is left to slowly recover, while
being fed on goats milk.
2nd A form of madness known to attack those who are in the initiation
or student stage for the position of Isanusi, when they are supposed to
be in communication with the “Imi-shologu” departed spirits. During the
initiation the candidate is hypnotised by the Isanuse and made to see
and converse with these spirits, as it is from them that all his
knowledge comes when in practice. As one would expect, the impressions
of the lessons are at times lasting and unhinge the minds of weak ones,
who continue to have delusions and are then considered to be possessed
by their departed ancestors. In the treatment of this, therefore, every
endeavour is made to propitiate these ancestors, by sacrifices and
offerings, mostly with the assistance of one of the witch doctors. In
the old days of Chacka a case is recorded as occurring, and after
treatment had failed either to kill or cure, the maniac was sent to
join his ancestors by order of the king (the greatest doctor). A truly
summary method of at once appeasing the offended spirits and getting
rid of a troublesome customer.
3rd. Uku-posela, evidently Acute Mania, attributed to being bewitched
by some one having a grudge, and the process of smelling out “Ukunuka”
as described previously is gone through.
Tetanus. Supposed to be due to having crossed the path of the Icanti
(water snake) or Inamba (python) and the plants used in snakebite are
administered as well as the usual observance of ceremonies calculated
to appease the wrath of the ancestor whom the snake represents.
Sunstroke. Uku-zolika or Uku-hlatywa lilanga, is well recognised and
fairly common amongst the workers of the fields.
Treatment. 1. The sufferer is placed in as cool a place as is
available, soused with cold water, and drugged with emetics and
purgatives.
2. Seated in a cool spot on the ground his finger and thumb tips are
freely incised so that he may bleed, and he is dosed freely with
Ubuhlungu (teucrium Capense), a carminative snakebite cure.
Toothache. Ama-zinyo. The Kaffirs say that in the old days this was
unknown, and they attribute it now to eating food cooked and hot.
Treatment. Small doses and local application of Ubuhlungu benyoka
“Acocanthera venenata” a nervine tonic and favourite snake-bite cure
are used; or the sufferer chews the bark of the Um-nungumabele
(Xanthoxylon Capense) and expectorates the juice; or a paste may be
made of the powdered bark and placed in the hollow tooth (this is
another favourite snakebite and anthrax drug). Other plant drugs used
in much the same way are:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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