302 
MEDICAL PRACTICES AND SUPERSTITIONS OF KORDOFAN 
I'reatment 
of fever 
Treatment of 
splenomegaly 
Treatment of 
exanthems 
Drays 
1 . 
2 . 
3. 
4. 
5. 
Local 
1 . 
2 . 
3. 
4. 
Fevkk 
used :— 
Ardeh. (Tamarindus indicui,.) Infusions of the bark, root and fruit (Tamir Hindi) 
of the Ardeh is probably the most useful and universal treatment for fever in 
Kordofan, where the tree is widely distributed. 
The fruit is boiled and reduced to a paste, after which it is dried in cakes and 
sold as a drug, being a popular tonic and remedy for many ills. 
Gnrad (frnit of the Sunt tree). (Acaria (irahira.) A decoction of this fruit is largely 
used in fever. It lias an astringent action. 
llan/al. [Soleiiinoiitp.inma Ai-gel). Half an ounce powdered and drunk in water 
every morning. 
Mnrdu or (fiilwiii. (('apparia lpinpnt<i.s(i, Lam.) Used in decoction. It is poisonous 
in large doses. 
Taysin. ( ? .) The root used in decoction. 
treatment :— 
}[assage with dilka, or common oil; simsim, or semn, is employed in severe cases, 
the patient being told to avoiil the sun and cover himself well, especially as to the 
head and face. 
Blood lettinrj (the universal remedy) is also resorted to as a preventive (before 
the rains), as well as a remedy, the site chosen being the back of the neck. 
Fiimiyation. — with smoke of red pepper, alum, dofr, etc. 
For Fularyed Spleen. A mixture of powdered iron ore and Shatta (red pepper. 
Capsicum frntescens, Linn.) with oil is rubbed over the splenic region, which may 
he cupped or simply scarred. The carrying of a written charm and design called 
the Prophet’s sandal, and the principle of bending to put on the right shoe and 
take off the left shoe first (as practised by the Prophet) is also deemed a method 
of prevention. 
Ex ANTHEMS 
1. Small po.r. The following is from the report of a local Hakim: “The patient 
must be isolated, and precautions taken against spread of the disease by contact with other 
people. He must be neither washed with water nor rubbed with fat, and must smell no 
fragrant smell, perfume or spice. His diet consists solely of milk.’’ 
2. “ Vaccination." Direct from the patient to the healthy (inoculation) is practised, 
as instanced at Nahud last year, where twenty-five children were so treated by the local 
Hakim from a suspected case, which, however, proved not to be one of smallpox. None 
of these twenty-five “took.” 
3. The use of onions in smallpox. When the pustules make their appearance, the 
patient is to he given onions to eat in quantity during the day — this prevents the pustules 
spreading to the mouth. .4 droja of onion juice is also put daily into each eye to prevent 
these organs becoming affected. During this treatment only milk is allowed as a diet. 
4. The Hot Sand trentmeyit. In cases of smallpox and other eruptive fevers the 
2 )atient’s body is buried entirely in sand, his head alone being left out. This treatment is 
undertaken at noon (when the sand is at its hottest) on three successive days for an hour 
daily. By this time all the jjustules will have dried u^). A milk and onion diet is 
prescribed. 
5. Measles and Chicken-pox. As far as one can gather, little special treatment is 
adopted, the patient being sim^jly isolated and jrlaced on a milk diet; occasionally the body 
is rubbed with oil to “ limit the erudition.” 
