F. SKIN DISEASES.
Itch. Uku-rauzela is not usually distinguished from intolerable itching (Um-babane) and both are treated by washing the parts and rubbing in animal fats; or applying Iyeza lomlambo, a parisiticide; or umtuma, one of the solanums of similar action.
| Eczema. | Um solo or Um-lambo. |
| Psoriasis. | Umkondo. |
| Leprosy. | In gquinda. |
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Are all looked upon as different manifestations of the same disease, caused by coming across the Icanti. Vide “Leprosy.”
Treatment is described under leprosy.
Another method of treating these diseases chiefly Eczema is to gather the little cones of mud raised on the banks of a stream by a small crab or worm and rub the sores with the mud; or to collect specimens of all the available riverside medicinal herbs, boil them, and with this decoction freely bathe and massage the patient, after which the remainder is taken to that part of the river where the sick man is supposed to have been smitten, and there thrown in while the sick man shouts something equivalent to “Don’t stare at me with those eyes.”
Lupus. Isitshangubo is treated thus:
a. Pieces of sneezewood (Umtote) are burnt and the resinous juice (Incinde) which exudes from the ends of the stick is rubbed into the spot while still warm. As it dries on it forms a covering, which in time falls off with a scab. If needed the process is repeated.
b. The fleshy branches of the Isi-hlehle (a [[68]]kind of Euphorbia usually found in clusters on the ground) are bruised and the milky juice, very caustic in action, carefully rubbed on: the process being repeated from time to time.
Psoriasis. Umkondo, attributed to the sufferer having crossed the track of the Icanti (see leprosy).
Treatment. Umsolo omkulu, a plant resembling the Ityolo is used here. The leaves are, bruised, put into a vessel covered with water and stirred briskly and for a time (Ukupehla). After much stirring a thickish lather as of soapsuds rises and this is applied externally, the liquor being taken in ounce doses frequently repeated.
The roots of the Ipuzi-lomlambo (Gunnera perpensa; river pumpkin) are sometimes prepared and used in the same way.
The Um-nyanji (Phytolacca stricta), a vomitive, used much in chest cases and also in snake poisoning is sometimes administered in small doses and also applied externally.
Warts. In-tsumpa.
Treatment a. The milk of the Isihlehle a species of Euphorbia is painted on the wart, [[69]]and causes it to wither. b. The juice (Incinde) which comes out of Sneezewood twigs (Um-tote) when they are burned is used similarly. c. When large, a fine piece of hide is firmly tied round them and they in time fall off.
Baldness. Ubu-Nquyi (a bald person In-Nquyi).
No treatment is used and a bald person is considered wise and eloquent in speaking, and likely to be rich; but curiously enough he is expected to become so by sly and cunning means not necessarily of a high moral standard.
There are few Bald Kaffirs.
Amaas. A disease fairly common amongst Kaffirs, occuring in epidemics and variously described by medical men as Small-pox i.e. in its severe forms, or chicken-pox, in its milder manifestations. Many hold that it is a disease sui generis.
The treatment adopted is the same as in a case of Smallpox.
Ringworm. a. The leaf pulp and yellow juice of the In-gcelwane (Aloe soponaria) is well rubbed into the patches. b. A paste of [[70]]the green berries of the Um-sobo (Solanum nigrum) similarly. c. A paste of the green berries of the Ubu vumba (Withania somnifera) d. The milky juice of the In-tsema, a large wild bulb.
The natives are very successful in their treatment of this disease, which is fairly common amongst them, and believed by them to be caught from a dog. Dogs are found everywhere where Kaffirs do congregate, and certainly, if one is to judge by the appearance of the curs one sees about a Basuto or Fingo kraal, they are a very likely source of skin disease.