G. NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Paralysis. I-dumbe is attributed entirely to supernatural causes and for its treatment the Isanuse (witch-doctor) is called in to find out, “who has bewitched him.” The bewitcher may be severely dealt with.
Epilepsy. (Fits) Isi-tutwani is recognised as a constitutional disease and treated by the Igqira elemiciza (herb doctor). His method is as follows:—a. Various Herbs are mixed, which administered in decoction, act as a strong [[71]]emetic. A sheep is killed and the dung from its entrails is rubbed all over the patient’s body. He is now made to stand up in a hole made in a large ant-heap, Isi-duli (in Kaffirland these ant-heaps are often very large), and the emetic administered till vomiting is induced, the remainder being poured over him to wash off the dung. The hole is then covered up and the disease supposed to be left there. He now goes home, and avoids this spot for ever afterwards. Should this treatment fail the following is adopted.
b. The sick man is treated as before, only at home in his hut. The refuse, i.e. vomited matter and washed off dung is burned in a brisk fire and the ashes used as Umhlabelo, medicine used in lancing (Ukuquapula) in the following way.
An incision is made above the forehead, the blood being collected carefully and subsequently buried at the threshold of the hut; and this Umhlabelo well rubbed into the incision.
c. Another method I have had described is to lance the temple, collect the blood and having caught a hare and lanced its head between the ears, to rub the patient’s blood into the wound and let the hare go free, the [[72]]spectators and patient not daring to see the hare depart. Similarly a cock may be used (failing the hare), its beak soaked in the blood and it allowed to go free.
d. A most prized, and secret cure for “fits” is the administration of about a tablespoonful of a decoction in goats milk of the leaves of Exomis oxyrioides. This is a method used in the domestic medicine of the back-country Boer, who calls the bush “Honde bos” (dog bush) and is said to be very successful.
N.B.—the watery decoction of this is dangerous and strongly soporific.
Insanity. U-gezo. Three varieties are recognised.
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.