Anthrax. I-dila. A disease well-known to the natives, and treated by their doctors with great success.
It is contracted by the natives feeding on the meat of anthractuose cattle. So confident are the natives in their power to cure the disease, should it appear, that they have little hesitation in eating the infected meat; a fair proof of the success of their doctors’ practice. The procedure is this:—Generally speaking, be as early as possible, for should the pustule, which under their treatment should rise properly, be allowed by delay to subside, a native doctor will not undertake the case, as he considers it useless to do so. [[56]]
A decoction of two bacteria killing plants, and controlled by a sedative plant, is given internally in oft repeated doses. Externally a paste of the leaves of the same plants is put around, not on the pimples, to limit the local disease and prevent the inflammation spreading. The pustule itself is treated by dropping the juice of a sedative plant on it. It is left uncovered and freely exposed to the air, and the application made from time to time until the scab falls off. The Kaffir believes, and experience has been his guide, that the pustule must be left alone, and meddling with it, either by incision, excision or irritation is dangerous treatment.
1. Internally: The usual prescription is:—
Blepharis Capensis (Ubu-hlungu basigcawa) leaves and roots one part: Cluytia hirsuta (Ubuhlungu bedila), leaves one part and Monsonia ovata (Igqita), two parts. Use about 5oz. of this mixture made into a decoction of a pint and take about a tablespoonful 6–8 times daily till recovery.
2. Externally.
Blepharis Capensis 2 parts, Cluytia and Monsonia one part each. Rub up to paste with lard and apply all round the pustule. [[57]]
3. Locally.
i.e. On the pustule. The juice squeezed from the green leaves of Monsonia.
Withania somnifera (Ubu vumba) is sometimes used instead of Monsonia.