298 
MEDICAL PKACTICES AND SUPEKSTITIONS OF KOKDOFAN 
Local 
drugs 
26. El. Alain. ( ? .) Considered and named the “ King of roots.” A guard against 
all evil spirits, who cannot remain where its smoke is. To disinfect a haunted room 
or the like a small piece is burnt. To rid a man of “ devils ” he is fumigated, with 
accompanying prayer, or else the Hakim, hut preferably the Fiki, chews up a 
small piece of root and inserts the resulting pulp into the sufferer’s nostrils. The 
root is worn also as a protective charm against sunstroke and snake bite in case of 
necessity, being used in like manner to Ashara. 
27. llabah. (Triaiitheiii.a pentandra, Linn.) Powdered root given in gonorrhoea, 2 drs. 
daily in water or milk. It produces vomiting and diarrhoea (often with blood in the 
stools) and acute nephritis ; apparently a most dangerous drug. {See “Gonorrhcea.”) 
28. Shotirunr. The ash of burnt wood and grass used as table salt by Arabs and Nubas. 
Also employed medicinally as a purge and for dressing wounds. 
29. Aati-sijplulitic Earth (Turebai). Employed as a drug in the cure of syphilis, brought 
from the neighbourhood of Bara, where it is found in limited quantities and sold in 
the Silk at El Obeid. A decoction is made by shaking up the earth with water and 
drinking the product, one coffee-cup full morning and evening. It purges strongly 
and sometimes causes vomiting. The most potent quality, termed Turebn Zokhri, is 
obtained from Malimma, a place on the N ile near Atbara. It costs about 
5 milliemes (^d.) an ounce. 
30. I’ills for Syphilis. Full ingredients not known but made up with a basis of anti¬ 
syphilitic earth. (Their manufacture in pill form is of interest.) 
31. Ilanzaloi' llaiidal. (Colocynth, Oitriilliis cohicyiithidis, Schrad.) Used for the treatment 
of gonorrhma and also as a purgative. Gotran tar is obtained from its seeds and is 
largely used for medicinal application to inffamed or injured surfaces, and as a 
dressing for wounds and sores in men and beasts. 
32. Oadda. (Asafmtida.) Imported and used in stomach disorders, also in cases of guinea 
worm, gonorrhuja, and locally applied for the relief of toothache. 
33. Daiu. ( ? .) Used in the treatment of syphilis. 
31. Taiiira — Tanir-El-Abid. {(freioia viUosa, Willd.) The stem and roots of a shrub used in 
decoction for the treatment of syphilis and smallpox. 
35. Deina bana. ( ? .) Small plant, used in decoction (leaves and stem) in the 
treatment of syphilis. 
36. Kadada. {Dichrostachys nutans, Benth.) The root used in decoction for the treatment 
of syphilis. 
37. Simsim. (Sesame, Sesamuiii indicwni, D.G.) .\n oil extracted from the seeds used as a 
purge, also as an unguent and specific in many disorders. 
38. JIurita. {Jlicinus communis, Castor oil plant.) Oil extracted from the seeds used as a 
purge and as an application. The leaves crushed with water used as a poultice, 
as also Sarnia and Tundub. The plant grows in many parts of Kordofan. 
39. (iidaijil. ( ? .) The root of a tree carried as a preventive charm against 
scorpions. Whilst this is worn, scorpions will not approach and can be handled 
with impunity. For a remedy in cases of sting the root is charred and applied as a 
cautery — small fragments being swallowed in severe cases. 
40. Kasiraswil. ( ? .) A root used as a charm against snakes and as a cure for 
their bites. snake will not attack a jjerson so protected, and when shown the 
root it is said to hiss loudly and sink in a torpid condition to the ground. It is 
used as a cautery “ to withdraw the venom,” and also given internally. The skin of 
the large lizard, called Warrel or Zuhluf,” is commonly used in conjunction with 
this root to refresh the site of injury before applying the cautery (Plate XLI., fig. II). 
41. Abu Tamr Ahmar. ( ? .) The root of a variety of date tree. Eeduced to a 
' Fide Second Report, 1906, p. 237. 
Probably Faranus niloticus. —A.B. 
