In very serious cases and only in extremis an Igqrira elemicisa is called in, who however, seldom does much more than administer herbs.
To facilitate labour, and strengthen the uterine contractions, the natives administer the root of the Um-kanzi (Typha latifolia).
Other herbs are used also for the purpose, one igqira being in the habit of getting his patient stupefied by much smoking of dagga (Indian hemp).
Two months after the birth of the child the mother reappears in public; but should the child be still-born, after a shorter interval.
So much for the mother who usually recovers without much trouble.
The Newborn Infant is, to say the least of it curiously treated. [[99]]
Dr. Casalis in recording the birth of 490 Basuto Children, states that of these 160 die in infancy, and one is not surprised when one considers the trying ordeals of their first few days of life.
No sooner is the baby born than the points of its fingers are bled for luck. The infant is then held in the smoke of a slow fire of aromatic woods till it sneezes or coughs to show that it is not bewitched. Then commence its ablutions. It is first thoroughly rubbed all over with a solution of cowdung and then rubbed clean as possible and rolled in the skin of a goat or sheep recently killed.
Then commences a course of treatment that is in violation of all laws of nature and propriety.
Instead of the infant being allowed to use the mother’s milk “amasabele,” they give it sour curdled milk (a sort of koumiss or calabash milk) from the cow, the same as that used by adults. This they force down the throat of the poor little mortal by blowing it into its mouth and compelling it to swallow. This is continued for three days, and as a result the bowels become much distended and bowel complaint, often ending in death, frequently results. [[100]]