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.