I should before describing the treatment, notice the curious fact that the native never wastes a snake. One seen is pursued till killed, then its gall bladder is emptied and the gall mixed with the venom from its venom sacks, and these mixed with clay into a bolus, which is then in part or whole, swallowed, usually in two doses of a day’s interval. The immediate effect is one of pleasant somnolence, and according to the [[94]]Native, the ultimate effect and that aimed at, is more or less complete immunity from the dangers of snake-bite for the future.
Some Natives as a result of this practice acquire immunity and will handle poisonous snakes with a freedom from fear, only accounted for by a conviction of its being safe for them to do so.
The general method of treatment is:—
The bitten limb is at once tied with a thong or anything available between the body and the bite and the wound freely incised and bled. A native cupping-glass “luneka” (a cow’s horn open at either end, suction by the mouth being applied at the smaller) is then thoroughly used. The patient is in the meantime dosed freely with one or other of the numerous snake-bite cures, a mash of the leaves being finally put on as a poultice.
In some tribes a pit is dug, and filled with bushes, which are burnt. The ashes are rapidly raked out, and the bitten man rolled in skins placed in it so as to induce an excessive perspiration, while plant infusions are freely administered. Not a bad attempt at a domestic Turkish bath. [[95]]
The snake-bite plants most commonly used by the Kaffirs are:—
1. Um-fincafincane (Leontis leonurus) chiefly used by the Fingoes.
2. Ubu-hlungu benyushu (Teucrium Africanum) chiefly used by Gcalekas, Tembus and Pondos.
It is interesting to note that to some extent the native Igqira recognises the difference of bites by different snakes, using a different species of Leontis for different cases.
3. Ubu-hlungu-bemamba (Melianthus comosus) is a valued cure amongst the Pondos and Gaikas. This bark of the root is used.