In olden times the “doctor” was a really clever man in many cases, would come and do work for a bull, cow, or even heifer; but now the “Doctors” have sadly deteriorated, and first his fee of a bottle of brandy, three shillings, [[92]]and a roll of tobacco must be paid before he will fix up the case.
Need we remark doctors are now not so much used or respected. Down near Alexandria in 1894, we know of only one hut being burnt down in the whole year. That hut, the doctors say was burned down by the lightning bird. The lightning struck near the huts of two men. They rushed out and began digging for all they were worth; but failed to find the eggs. Then one of them called in an Isanuse, and his place and himself were “disinfected,” he paying besides the usual fee a bull calf. The other man had no brandy, no money, no tobacco, and the doctor loved him not. The former is a wealthy native now, owns a lot of cattle, and has two wagons and plenty of wives and children; the latter man’s hut was burnt down a week afterwards, and his little store of fifty bags of grain, totally destroyed. Of course the lightning bird as I said before “fired that hut.”
Opththalmia. I-ndloloti.
Treatment. a. The fresh juice of the umhlaba (Alœ ferox) is dropped into the eye with good effect. [[93]]
b. U-tywala bentaka (Lantano salviæfolia) in the form of an infusion of the fresh leaves or at times the dried leaves is used. It is very astringent, causes much smarting and only used in severe cases.
c. The juice pressed from the leaves of U-watile (Hippobromus alata) is dropped into the eye; or by some, these leaves are chewed and the saliva applied.
d. Iyeza bamehlo (Scabiosa columbaria) in infusion of the root.
e. I-ran (Urtica) nettle. Of this a paste is made of the leaves and used externally.
Other affections of the eye are not specialised.
Snake-bite is a very common occurrence and one in the treatment of which the Native is fairly expert.