I have the record of a man with a perforating ulcer of the foot, who refused amputation and who was ultimately cured by a Kaffir surgeon.
d. Callous ulcers or slow healing wounds are treated by applying the juice of the Isi-dikili (Lasiosiphon Meisneri), which acts as a pretty considerable irritant and answers its purpose admirably. It is also used internally in infusion as an alterative and blood purifier.
e. The leaves of the Iyeza lezikali (Pelargonium-reniforme) when boiled yield a mucilage that is applied on and around wounds to protect them from flies which in this climate rapidly breed maggots in unhealthy sores.
f. The leaves of the Ubu-shwa (Venidium arctotoides) are used for callous ulcers after they have been scarified.
g. A paste of the leaves of I-dwara (Senecio latifolium) is used.
h. Um dambiso (Senecio concolor) also used in the form of a paste of the mashed leaves.
i. An ointment made by boiling in lard the [[88]]leaves of the Ubu-vumba (Withania somnifera) is frequently applied in painful cases.
Burns. The following is a graphic description of the mode of treating burns, given me by a Fingo. It is certainly not a gentle one. Here is the case of a child who through carelessness has fallen into the fire and lies screaming. It is found on examination to have a severely burned arm and shoulder. The father takes the case in hand. He goes out and secures some in-kubele (healing plants) and one or two mealie cobs (the centre of the Indian-corn cob after the grain has been removed). He has some water boiled and is now ready to commence operations. The child is laid over his knee, while the mother stretches out the injured arm and holds it firmly. The whole of the charred and injured tissues are firmly rubbed off with the mealie cob, which has been soaked in the hot water, until the wound is considered clean.
The screams of the child are not considered of any importance compared with the scraping process which must be thorough.
The wound is then freely dressed with the leaves or mashes used in healing wounds. [[89]]