272 SOMK TIUHAL CUSTOMS IN' THEIK KELATION TO JIEUICINE AND MOKALS 



Xose and Ear Nona and Ear pcrfuralioii.s 

 perforations 



The Gour woman, indeed, seems to aim at making herself as repulsive as possible 



for the delectation of the male. She not only mutilates her squat, ungainly body with 



scars, hideously deforms her naturally ugly face by the addition of lip discs and the 



extraction of teeth, but also perforates her nasal septum for the reception of a long 



moustache-like straw or thin stick, and the margins of her ears for the carrying of 



innumerable brass rings and occasionally their lobes for the reception of discs. 



After perforation the ears are protected by means of half sections of small gourds 



placed over them and secured in position by cords fastened around the head. 



MiNOK SUKGEKY 



A few words on the minor surgical methods of these people will bring this section 

 to a close. 



WiiHiiih mill Ulcers 



Wounds and ulcers are usually treated (after cleansing with water) by the 

 application of wood-ash, the antiseptic properties of which are well-known, charcoal, 

 green leaves, oil, chew.ed-up or macerated herbs or tobacco, saliva, mud, earth and dung 

 being also employed. 



The use of Kita-Dondura leaves and powdered Gangula root, by the Nyam-nyam, 

 has been referred to in dealing with their circumcision. Scrapings from the bark of the 

 Barin Bala ti'eu, or tlie Dagba tree-bark pulled off in large strips, are applied by them 

 as dressings, these being held in position by ties of cord or bark, or by means of a 

 coarse meshed net. 



Frar.turea 



Are splinted witli lengths (1 to 2 feet) of twig, bamboo, or dura (millet) stalk, from 

 four to eight in number, arranged at intervals around the liml) and bound in position with 

 several "ties," little padding being used. The splints are removed every three or four 

 days, an advance on the continuous splinting methods of the people of Kordofan, where 

 they are left in fitn for as many weeks. 

 Surgical This primitive form of splint apparently is, and has been, common to all primeval 



""^ li°ncL-s people — Sudanese, Congolese, Arabs and Abyssinians alike. Professor Elliot-Smith found 



it also among mummies of the Fifth Dynasty {vide Third Report, Wellatme Tropical 

 Research LaUiiraturius, Khartoum, page 316). Indeed it is so obvious a resource that it 

 must suggest itself to any one in an emergency. 



The Gours use broad strips of bark as slings for broken arms. 



Foreign hodii'X 



Thorns, chiggers, etc., are extracted by means of another thorn or the point of a 

 knife, the patient, if in pain, being given a stick to bite on and so prevent his crying out. 



Snrgical inslrniiicuti! and appliances 



These are so primitive that mere mention of their names will suffice. Spears and 

 knives, " sappi " [vide Plate XIX., figs. 6-8), come first in importance, rude forceps, made of 

 brass or iron, are also used, and 2^>'ohes, Mema (Zandeh), of wood or split chicken bone. 

 For such purposes the Nyam-nyam w^oman's hair pin is employed as well. Their 

 splints, slings, ties and nets for bandaging, wound guards, tooth chisels, cupping horns 

 and circumcision clamp have already been referred to. 



