28 JtliV. ALFIJEI) T. BUYANT. 



The IXolo or (N.) utnKhiihln (Tricliilia emetica) is a 

 tree possessing very powerful iiiediciiial properties, ainong-st 

 others those of a purgative. A piece of the bark, of the 

 length and breadth of two lingers, is pulverised and mixed 

 into two teacupfuls of hot water as an enema, in which form 

 this drug is usually administered. The islThelelo (Aster 

 erigeroides), with its pinky-white daisy, is also a strong 

 .purgative, a double handful of the small leaves being steeped 

 in two cupfuls of boiling water and injected as clyster. The 

 bulb of the inGudnza is also used, being chopped up, 

 thoroughly boiled so as to leave a pint of extract, and 

 administered as tlie previous remedy. 



The castor-oil (icmHlalxUva), like the Stramonium {iVoli), 

 is one of those valuable plants, growing in wild profusion 

 around every old kraal, of whose medicinal value the natives 

 know nothing. This is strange, since they have discovered 

 the oil itself contained in the castor-oil seeds, and have 

 extracted it from time immemorial as a suppling agent for 

 hides. 



Other cathartic plants are the nMalnsi and uMtoikenki'tha 

 herbs, the bark of the uMahilwaua tree, the roots of the pink 

 umbellate lUlulelemmiihlta, and those of the blistering nni- 

 Nqandane wezimpi-n or iuDodeminjauia (Eoy ena villosa). 



Dysentery and Uiarrhoea. 



Dysentery {isiHudo) and, in a lesser degree, diarrhoea 

 {ukuHuda, uHndo) are two predominant diseases among 

 natives. The cause is no doubt found, firstly, in their impure 

 water-su]iply, in very many localities from stagnant pools and 

 contaminated streams, and, secondly, from their domestic 

 system not ])ermitting sanitary methods of living. Though 

 they are aware of the diffei'ence in the symptoms of these two 

 complaints, they do not recognise any essential difference in 

 their nature or treatment. Their sole effort in both cases is 

 to stay the Hux. Purgatives and astringents of the most 

 drastic nature are what they mainly rely upon. The ih-iZimeine, 



