\C) REV. ALFRED T. BRYANT. 



(9) Treatment of Diseases. 

 S c I' o f u 1 a . 



Tliere was, however, one ailment — rather a constitutional 

 taint than specific disease — which was from the beginning', 

 and still is, particulai'ly rife among them, presenting, I su])- 

 pose, their national physical weakness. It is scrofula, called 

 by them umZiinhJi'omnhi (bad flesh) or nmChohnlxo (the 

 breaking-up or breaking-out disease). It is hereditary, and 

 there are few families without it. It may have originated in 

 the tribe by something harmful in their mode of life, perhaps 

 chronic stomach derangement owing to improper and indi- 

 gestible food, less probably impure air or Avant of exercise. 

 It is, perhaps, the explanation of their extreme impressible- 

 ness to the infection of new diseases, as well as of the strange 

 fact that, despite their robustness of nature, they are neverthe- 

 less much more frequently down with indisposition than the 

 European. 



It shows itself in the usual glandular swellings, erratic 

 tumours, periodical outbreaks of refractory sores, impotency, 

 tendency to persistent, though apparently not very harmful, 

 chest complaints, peculiar and indefinite internal disorders. 

 It follows the orthodox rule of scrofula, in that it is mostly to 

 be looked for at once among the extremely dense-headed and 

 the precociously intelligent ; among the coarse-featured, 

 wrinkle-faced, generally deep-black, and most repulsively 

 ugly of the Zulu people, and among those of markedly deli- 

 cate, finely-foi'med features, generally of a fair complexion, 

 the beautiful of their race. It is as prevalent in the royal 

 family as among the poorer classes of Zululand. I believe 

 the disease is gradually being eradicated, probably owing to 

 better food, among the younger generations in Natal. 



It is possible that the disposition to extreme obesity in the 

 Zulu royal house is in some Avay attributable to this blood- 

 taint. Both Mkungo, still living, and his father. King 

 Mpande, are, or were, so hugely fat as to be utterly incapable 

 of walking or even of leaving their hut or chair. 



