MEDICAL PliACTICES AND SUPEKSTITIONS OF KOKDOFAN 
299 
pulp and packed in small leather charms, or in the cut ends of gazelle horns, 
it strengthens the nerve and body and renders the wearer fearless and brave in fight. 
42. ISalaua. ( ? .) Used by the Ualatah Fikis in cases of sunstroke, fits, etc. 
A decoction of the root is bathed ovei' the head and body of the sufferer. 
43. LiifiLa (Falatah name) ; Kidkul (Arabic) ; (Hduhitiia rafexcens, Lam.). A root 
used by the i’alatali in cases of leprosy—cut into small pieces, each of which 
is inscribed with words from the Koran—it is then boiled and the decoction given 
internally {El Malmia). 
44. Boware. ( '? .) A Falatah root, a decoction of which is drunk by one who 
wishes to communicate more fully with the spirit world, and used to assist the 
metamorphosis of man to animal (notably to the hyena) : probably a narcotic. 
45. Uid linishat. Dried muscle tissue taken from the left shoulder and upper arm of 
the porcupine (Um Raishat). It is administered in cases of difficult labour 
in the form of powder, which is mixed with water and swallowed. 
46. Wad-Elharah. ( ? .) (Thechild of yesterday.) A root obtained in the vicinity of 
El Obeid, and carried in conjunction with an equally-sized piece of the Ushar bush 
root. This latter, though having no active effect in the cure, exerts a passive infiuence 
on the Wad-Elbarah — to which it bears a feminine relationship. The two are carried 
together as a protection against snakes and scorpions. In case of poisoning by such, 
the Elbarah root is chewed into a pulp and this applied vigorously to the lesion. 
47. Eiki. Bila Dowayii.. ( ? .) (The Holy Man without an inkstand.) The root of a 
small shrub growing in the vicinity of El Obeid. It is used as a protection against 
evil spirits and the evil eye, and as a cure for ills arising from the attacks of such. 
It may be employed as a fumigant, or chewed to a paste and applied to the interior 
of the patient’s nostrils. 
{(I.) Balah Mawcjood. ( ? .) A root derived from South Kordofan, which has a 
similar action to the above, as also : 
{b) El Gdinie Maijine. ( ? .) A root derived from the Falatah country 
(W. Africa). (Bee also 25 and 26.) 
48. Khara JIadid. Refuse “slag” iron taken from the smelting furnace, used in decoction 
with various other drugs as a cure for syphilis, and as a general tonic. 
49. Haht-El-Muluk. (The Seed of Kings.) Croton oil seed. Used as a drastic purge, 
from two to four seeds being taken at a time. The outer covering (which is 
considered poisonous) is removed, and the seeds when crushed are swallowed with 
milk or water. 
The following drugs are imported from Egypt and elsewhere for use in Kordofan : — 
50. Zinzahil. (Ginger.) From Egypt—used as a decoction in cases of fainting, acid 
eructation, and as a general tonic. 
51. IJiiL Ushush. The crushed leaves of the Ilelba (12)—used in decoction, in cases of 
indigestion, also as a fumigant. 
52. Kiirkinii. (Curcuma.) A yellow root. A decoction is used in cases of indigestion and 
as a cosmetic dye to the face. 
53. Toom, or atooni. (Garlic.) Imported, also grown locally. Used as a stomachic and as 
a cure for chest complaints. The common onion, Basl, is also largely employed as a 
specific in eruptive fevers, gonorrhoea, etc. The juice is applied locally to skin 
lesions. 
54. Shon. Grown in and imported from Abyssinia. Powdered and drunk with sour milk 
as a vermifuge. [This is Kousso, the female inflorescence of Ifaijeiiia ahtjssiuica. It is 
often called “ Bhou hahashi — A.B.] 
55. G-irft dud. (Worm hark.) The bark of a tree ( ? ), powdered and used as a vermifuge. 
56. Um Gheleila. ( ? .) .\ small yellow aromatic seed used in cases of general 
malaise as a decoction. 
Local 
drugs 
