270 
THE HEALING AKT AS PllACTISED BY THE DEllVISHES 
Amputations 
Medical 
practice 
Kespiratoi y 
diseases 
I'ever 
('hickcn-pox 
SmaUj)ox 
Fi'oin the account of ^Mohaniecl Nur-El-Rarudi, wlio accompanied Wad-El-Nejuini 
on his march towards Egy 2 )t and was present at the Inittle of Toski in hShi), it appears 
that the wounds caused hy modern weap)ons and 2 'i'ojectiles were treated with an ointment 
made of lieeswax and sesame oil and were tlien covered with cotton ((lat}i(j(ir) lint. This 
dressing was changed every twelve hours, t)ut the wounds were not washed, merely wijied 
with cotton wool or damoor. When a bullet lodged near an artery or vein, a small jjiece 
of lead (.•■'/(•) was placed on the wound in order that the lead outside might corrode the 
lead bullet inside. Eullet wounds where the Inillet completely 2 ^erforated the 2 )art without 
effecting a lodgment were filled with honey in order to exclude the air. 
.\jIPUT.\TIONS .\S C'ONnUOTED BY THE BaSSIK 
The limb to l)c anpiutated was stretched out of an ojjening in the wall of the dwelling 
or out of a window hy the assistant, the latter standing outside and to the right of the 
liml). A jiillow was placed under the limb and then the Ilmisir severed the latter with one 
stroke of a shar^i sword. The stump) was at once plunged into boiling oil and Inemorrhage 
in this way spieedily arrested, A bandage of calico was ajjpjlied and after three days a first 
dressing with l)utter was carried out. The wound was then dressed daily until it had 
healed or until death supjervened—no uncommon occurrence. Of course, no aiuesthetic was 
empfioyed, and in some cases the person undergoing the op)eration was expected to render 
help) to the Ihissir liy handing him instruments, etc. He was also exprected to repreat 
the prayers of the Mahdi, and was taught to believe that all these ills of the flesh were 
intended to hapipen, and that they must Ije considered as cause for rejoicing. The iMahdi 
issued prroclamations to this effect. Some of the patients were exceedingly stoical and 
endured the piain and wounds without a murmur. 
During convalescence, esp^ecially in the case of fractures, the Biisarn advised the 
piatients to eat dates, said to he the most useful diet for p)romoting union of hone. In case 
of ilelayed union they were wont to assert that failure was due to an insuflicient quantity of 
dates having been eaten. 
Medical Phactice 
Some of the natives were clever at diagnosis, while the treatment of various diseases 
presents pjoints of interest which will now be mentioned. 
llpspiratonj disecm’s. Bronchitis and cough were treated with ground, torrified dura 
(millet), pjrepiared like a decoction of coffee and termed “ Galiya.” The flowers of 
“ Karkiulp” [Jfi.lii.Kcns siilHluri.ffii, Linn.) were also empiloyed. The pilant grows abundantly 
in the Sudan and has purpile flowers. Prom these an infusion was prepared which piossesses 
a delicious taste. It was given hot and sweetened with sugar. The Sudanese believe 
“ /v(j)-A-arfe ” to he one of the pilants of Paradise. In pmeumonia, venesection was piractised. 
Headache and migraine were often treated hy giving liquid tallow. This was drunk or 
pioured upi the nose, a funnel being used to facilitate administration. This, the method of 
El-Tasfeeh, possessed a great repiutation. 
Fn'er. In ordinary febrile attacks massage was en]ployed, a mixture of vinegar, henna 
and common salt being used as the luliricating agent, and, at the same time, a piurgative in 
the shapie of senna or tamarind was administered. Occasionally I'll Kunul, the fruit of 
Ml Sant (Acacia alhida, Web), was ground and pilaced in the piatient’s bed. 
Chichen-pn.r. (Ml llnrffnnt) was lightly considered and treated by a senna purge and the 
ap)p)lication of mud to the vesicles. The pjatient was not allowed to have a hath until a 
week after the termination of the disease. 
Snia.llpa.c. This disease was, and is, dreaded hy the natives, espiecially the Aral)s, who 
know and fear its sequelte. When quarrelling amongst themselves a common term of 
