ZULU WITCH DOCTORS. 31/ 



To guard against a native's leaving his studies when only 

 half-way through his cotu'sc. and taking out a license as an 

 herbalist, I would suggest that, when a native enters on a course 

 of medical study with a view to gaining a license to practise as 

 a modern civilised medical practitioner, he be debarred there- 

 after from taking out a license as an herbalist. 



The status of the Native Medical Practitioner after gradua- 

 tion is a phase of the subject which should receive much careful 

 thought. It seems desirable that he sould be subject to certain 

 amount of supervision and control until he has proved his ability 

 and his good character before he is given an unlimited license. 

 It has been suggested that he be required to give to the magis- 

 trate of the district or other suitable authority a list of his visits 

 and charges made. This might be more easily done if the 

 Government could establish medical outposts, so to speak, in 

 out-of-the-way districts, and appoint these graduates to such 

 posts at a small guaranteed salary, the Native Medical Practi- 

 tioner retaining all his fees and not drawing the Governmer-t 

 guarantee in case his fees exceeded the guaranteed amount. But 

 this is going into details, which should be properly worked out 

 as the scheme unfolds itself. 



It is an imjx>rtant question, " Should we aim to give the 

 Zulu the same education that he would get in an English univer- 

 sity, or should the local education come short of this?" That is 

 a question that I would leave to the Medical Education Board. 

 My own feeling is that he should be given all that the general 

 ])ractitioner requires to know, but that he be not required to be 

 an expert in the various specialities. For instance, I should not 

 undertake to drill him in the technique of the Wassermami reac- 

 tion, of the Widal blood test, or in ophthalmic surgery, or in 

 the details of pathological microscopy. , I should concentrate on 

 the lines that the ordinar}- practitioner learns and remembers. 



I am pleading for an opportunity for the South African 

 Native to get a good, practical medical education in South Africa, 

 and that he receive qualifications enabling him to practise as a 

 civilised physician among his own people, a qualification differen- 

 tiating him from the herbalist, and giving him a standing in the 

 community, but not on a par with the European practitioner. 



The South African native is going to get a medical educa- 

 tion. It is for us to decide what sort otf an education he is 

 going to get, what examinations he must pass, and what his 

 standing will be in the community after he has obtained the medi- 

 cal education. It is our duty to suggest a practical, workable 

 method to accomplish this. It is our privilege to help the native 

 along and guide him in bis endeavours to be a man. 



In this outline of medical study and general procedure, 

 which I have suggested, I do not for a moment claim or think 

 that I have solved all the difficulties connected with medical 

 education for the natives. I have not touched on the financial 

 aspect of the matter. I have not suggested who should teach 



