320 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



Common diseases among the natives are umbilical 

 hernia and prolapsus : the latter is treated by the ap- 

 plication of powdered bhang, dry or mixed with ghee. 

 They are subject to kihindu-hindu — in Arabic, sara — 

 the epilepsy, which they pretend to cure by the marrow 

 of rhinoceros' shank. Of the many fits and convul- 

 sions which affect them, the kichyoma-chyoma is the 

 most dreaded. The word, which means the " little 

 irons," describes the painful sensations, the cramps and 

 stitches, the spasms and lancinations, which torment the 

 sufferer. Many die of this disease. It is not extraor- 

 dinary that the fits, convulsions, and contortions which 

 it suddenly induces should lead the people to consider it 

 in the light of possession, and the magician to treat it 

 w T ith charms. Madness and idiocy are not uncommon : 

 of the patient it is said, " Ana wazimo " — " he has 

 fiends." In most parts the people, after middle age, 

 are tender-eyed from the effects of smoke within, glare 

 without, exposure and debauchery. Not a few samples 

 of acute ophthalmic disease w^ere seen. 



In the lower and more malarious spots, desquama- 

 tions, tumours, and skin diseases are caused by suddenly 

 suppressed perspiration. The terrible kidonda or hel- 

 coma of the maritime regions and the prurigo of Ujiji 

 have already been alluded to. The " chokea " is a 

 hordeolum or large boil, generally upon the upper eye- 

 lid. The " funza " is supposed to result from the bite 

 of a large variety of fly. It begins with a small red and 

 fiery swelling, which bursts after a time and produces a 

 w T hite entozoon about half an inch in length. " Kumri" 

 are common blains, and u p'hambazi " malignant blind- 

 boils, which leave a deep discoloured scar ; when the 

 parts affected are distant from the seat of circulation, 

 the use of the limb is sometimes lost. For most of these 



