In most cases the surgeon exhibits internal as well as external remedies, using purgatives and emetics freely to assist healing and relieve pain. [[48]]
Blood-letting, as his name implies, is frequently had resort to by the native surgeon. Thus, I know of a case where one of these Awokuqapula on his own initiative incised the temporal artery for persistent neuralgia.
Blood-letting by means of incisions or scarifications is frequently used to relieve deep seated pain. A common method of treating pleuritic pain is to scarify over the ribs and rub in some irritant.
The native Surgeon, whether taught by outside practice or not, it is hard to say, resorts to venesection as one of his routine methods of treatment for violent fevers. He usually selects one of the veins of the forearm, using direct pressure to stop the hæmorrhage when he considers that his patient has lost enough.
A cupping instrument called “Luneka” and needles “Izinthlum” are used by the Kaffir Surgeon for acupuncture and bleeding in such cases as snake bite, pleurisy, etc.
Surgical cases of any degree are put in clean huts and usually on the top of a hill, thus shewing that the Kaffir appreciates the value of fresh, clean surroundings: and the ashes of plants (carbon) used for wounds shows a [[49]]spontaneous knowledge, that an antiseptic is of value in assisting healing.
C. THE HERB DOCTOR (Physician).
| Igqira elemiciza. | Amagqira awemiciza. |
| (The doctor, who is of herbs.) | |
The herb doctor is simply a Kaffir practitioner and differs in no essential respect from the European “herbalist,” only, he employs South African herbs and drugs.