322 
MEDICAL rUACTICES AND SUrKUSTITlONS OF KOUDOFAN 
Tribal 
marking 
Tattooing 
12. “ Tn'liiil ” itKirkinij. Facial marking — which, as far as one can gather, seems to be 
undertaken with no very hard and fast rule as regards the relation of the mark to the 
tribe — is performed during childhood ((> to 10), the design being first traced on the face and 
then deeply scarred with a knife or razor. The wound is roughly dressed at intervals 
and may be powdered with antimony to produce a blue keloid. 
The commonest facial markings are-- 
(a) Three longitudinal scars on either cheek. 
(hj Three longitudinal scars and one transverse. 
(cj Three transverse scars on either cheek. 
(d) Two transverse scars crossing two longitudinal (called the Selim or ladder). 
(i‘j Three scars in arrow shape (I)arab El Tare or track of the bird), restricted 
chiefly to women. 
(f) Two or three small scars, longitudinal or transverse, placed between the eye 
and ear on either side. 
T'liese are imprinted for custom’s sake, sometimes apparently for cosmetic effect 
alone, or as signs, in some cases undoubtedly tribal, in others 1 imagine more “ family,” 
and as marks of possession and for identification. 
13. TattdiiiiK/. Largely employed by Arab women for the supposed improvement of 
their appearance. In Koi'dofan the front of the gums and the lower lips are the only 
parts interfered with. The operation is undertaken, as a rule, during early childhood. The 
surface to be coloured is pricked with thorns, after which powdered antimony is rubbed in, 
a process which is repeated at intervals until a permanent dark blue effect (intensely 
repulsive) is gained. 
< '(iiicliisioii. As I have said, the major operation is a matter of last resource amongst 
these people. Most native surgery consists in the dressing of wounds and ulcers, the 
opening of abscesses and the like, scarring, cauterising and cupping, as surgical means to 
a medical end. 
Then, again, there are the large percentage of religio-sexual operations for circumcision, 
the purely sexual plastic operations before marriage, and before and after childbirth, in 
women, and, lastly', the cosmetic operations—lip-splitting, tribal marking, and so forth ; 
from which it will be seen that this branch of healing is not far advanced. 
In conclusion, I wish to express my indebtedness to El Yusbashi Michael Eff. Zughayor, 
of the Egy))tian Medical Corps, for much valuable assistance and information. 
