MEDICAL I’HACTICES AND SUPEKSTITIONS OF KOEDOFAN 
309 
5. As a cure in cases of giddiness, epilepsy and general mental weakness, seum may be 
rubbed into the patient's shaven scalp, over the forehead and within the nostrils, 
or the actual cautery applied either to the centre of the scalp or centre of the 
forehead at the point where it joins the scalp. 
G. Another strange dietetic cure for such ills is the daily administration of a pigeon’s 
head, which is plucked and eaten raw, in toto (brains, bones and beak) by the sufferer. 
As among most primitive people, various other meats are credited with medical 
properties influencing mind and body—thus the flesh of the porcupine to hasten 
delivery, that of various cats, the leopard, lion, &c., to secure strength, activity, and 
bravery, the jackal and fox for cunning. 
Fumigation, Massage, etc. 
1. Futtiicjation. 
A universal custom, especially popular amongst Arah women, and indulged in Fumigation 
from the point of pleasure, cleaidiness and health. 
A burma (large earthenware vessel) is sunk in the ground, and in it placed 
glowing charcoal and the fumigant. Over this the person squats, enveloped in a 
tohe (cloth) so arranged that the smoke clings to the body without escaping. A single 
fumigation may last an hour or more. 
The common fumigants are : 
Sandal wood, Laban 
Talk wood, Bahnur 
iSubaJch wood (Oombretuiii trifoUatum, Vent.), Wad-Abiad, etc. 
Pepper seeds 
For medicinal purposes, too, various drugs, such as natron, alum, etc., and 
materials as cow-dung, hair, etc., may be added. 
Fumigation is largely employed in syphilis (skin lesions), gonorrhoea (especially 
among women), and after child-birth to assist restoration. 
2. Massage, or dilka. 
.\nother universal custom amongst the Arabs in health and disease. Massage 
strongly-scented paste made from ground dura, marissa grounds, fat, oil, 
water and such aromatics a.sjitna (a complex Eastern perfume), niagmoa, surratia, set 
sandalia, and baida, to which various medicaments may be added where therapeutic 
results are aimed at. This jiaste is rubbed piecemeal over the entire body from 
head to foot, and gradually worked off with a strong kneading action. With it all 
dead epithelium is removed, and a refreshing “ tone ” given to the skin and muscles. 
Such procedure largely takes the place of our hot-bath, whilst in wasting diseases, 
fever, rheumatism, strains, sprains and the like no better treatment could be 
employed. 
3. Anointing with vegetable oil, seinn, ostrich and rhinoceros fats, also universal, is the -Anointing 
more common practice amongst the N uba and Bagara. 
.4s a safeguard against the sun, semn or fat is smeared thickly over the scalp (especially 
amongst children). Certain Nubas also make a thick paste of flour and oil, which 
they rub into the hair, smooth down, and let dry into a perfect plaster-cast about an 
inch thick. This, dried white in the sun, contrasts acutely with their black skins. 
Even with shaven heads, absolutely unprotected, the Sudanese seem to be aide 
to stand any degree of light and heat without ill-effect, though I have seen one case 
