130 CUPPING -NATIVE DOCTORS. Chap. VI. 



drawn, and kept out by touching the orifice at every inspiration 

 with the point of the tongue, the wax is at last pressed together 

 with the teeth, and the little hole in it closed up, leaving a vacuum 

 witliin the horn for the blood to flow from the already scarified 

 parts. The edges of the horn applied to the surface are wetted, 

 and cupping is well performed, though the doctor occasionally, by 

 separating the fibrin e from the blood in a basin of water by his 

 side, and exhibiting it, pretends that he has extracted something 

 more than blood. He can thus explain the rationale of the cure 

 by Ins own art, and the ocular demonstration given is well 

 appreciated. 



Those doctors who have inherited their profession as an hen- 

 loom from then fathers and grandfathers generally possess some 

 valuable knowledge, the result of long and close observation ; 

 but if a man cannot say that the medical art is in his family, he 

 may be considered a quack. With the regular practitioners I 

 always remained on the best terms, by refraining from appear- 

 ing to doubt their skill in the presence of then patients. Any 

 explanation in private was thankfully received by them, and 

 wrong treatment changed into something more reasonable with 

 cordial good will, if no one but the doctor and myself were present 

 at the conversation. English medicines were eagerly asked for 

 and accepted by all ; and we always found medical knowledge 

 an important aid in convincing the people that we were really 

 anxious for their welfare. We cannot accuse them of ingrati- 

 tude ; in fact, we shall remember the kindness of the Bakwains 

 to us as long as we live. 



The surgical knowledge of the native doctors is rather at a low 

 ebb. No one ever attempted to remove a tumour except by 

 external applications. Those with which the natives are cliiefly 

 troubled are fatty and fibrous tumours ; and as they all have the 

 vis medicatrix naturce in remarkable activity, I safely removed an 

 immense number. In illustration of their want of surgical know- 

 ledge may be mentioned the case of a man who had a tumour 

 as large as a child's head. This was situated on the nape of his 

 neck, and prevented Iris walking straight. He applied to his 

 chief, and he got some famous strange doctor from the east 

 coast to cure him. He and his assistants attempted to dissolve 

 it by kindling on it a little fire made of a few small pieces 



