48 REV. ALFRED T. BRYANT. 



ance on this bushy climber. Its action undoubtedly exhibits 

 all tlie symptoms of a viinilent vegetable poison, but neverthe- 

 less it may contain valuable curative qualities, as it is certain 

 that remarkable cures sometimes follow its application. 



Backache or fixed pains about the loins are a common 

 accompaniment of kidney and other abdominal complaints. 

 These are said to be relieved by a half teaspoonful of ground 

 iviFuzane roottaken inalittle gruel; or by the IXoIo preparation 

 already described. The roots of nSnkumbhili (Hypericum 

 fethiopicum) are also used as a clyster for the same purpose. 

 Again, incisions may be made at wide intervals round the loins, 

 into which the bulbous root of the amaryllid uMahlol-oIoza is 

 rubbed. A festering of each incision follows, which is supposed 

 to "draw out" the internal ill. 



The native pathology of bladder diseases is akin to that of 

 the kidneys. They are mostly lumped together under the 

 single name iQoiido, whether the complaint be calculus, 

 V)ilharzia, simple cystitis or what not. Like the iZenihJte so 

 also the iQondo implicates the sufferer in the evil reputation 

 of being a fornicator. Bladder affections predominate among 

 the youthful male population, and it is believed tliat they 

 commonh' follow illicit sexual indulgence. The harm, really 

 caused by their own excess, is universally held to have been 

 contracted from the girl. The father or the accepted lover 

 of this latter may have suspicions of her faithfulness, and he 

 thereupon secretly treats her — on lines similar to those of the 

 iZemhhe aforementioned — or he may even treat the "lair" in 

 the bush which the couple are supposed to frequent, with 

 some magic medicament, which, while doing no injury to the 

 girl, will inflict an iQondo on the youth. 



We may remark among aboriginal peoples, still in the 

 elementary stages of medical knowledge, a constant predilec- 

 tion for the homoeopathic principle. Thus, a plant is found 

 to cure a certain ailment ; the same plant will therefore pro- 

 duce it ! This is the principle exemplified in the native A-iews 

 regarding the cause and curing of both the iZemhhe and the 

 iQondo diseases. 



