Chap. 27.] EEMEDIES DEEIVED FROM THE HTiENA. 313 
beneficial for the cardiac disease ; and the bladder, taken in 
wine, is a good preservative against incontinence of urine. 
The urine, too, which is found in the bladder, taken with oil, 
sesame, and honey, is said to be useful for diseases of long 
standing. 
The first rib and the eighth, used as a fumigation, are said 
to be useful for ruptures ; the vertebrse for women in travail ; 
and the blood, in combination with polenta, for griping pains 
in the bowels. If the door-posts are touched with this blood, 
the various arts of the magicians will be rendered of no effect ; 
they will neither be able to summon the gods into their pre- 
sence nor to converse with them, whatever the method to which 
they have recourse, whether lamps or basin, water or globe,^"^ 
or any other method. 
The flesh of the hyaena, taken as food, is said to be efficacious 
for the bite of a mad dog, and the liver still more so. The 
flesh or bones of a human being which have been found in the 
belly of a slain hyaena, used as a fumigation, are said to be 
remedial for gout : but if among these remains the nails are 
found, it is looked upon as a presage of death to some one among 
those who have captured it. The excrements or bones which 
have been voided by the animal at the moment when killed, 
are looked upon as counter-charms to magic spells. The dung 
found in the intestines is dried and administered in drink for 
dysentery ; and it is applied to all parts of the body with 
goose-grease, in the form of a liniment, in the case of persons 
who have received injury from some noxious medicament, Ey 
rubbing themselves with the grease, and lying upon the skin, ' 
of a hyaena, persons who have been bitten by dogs are cured. 
On the other hand, the ashes of the left pastern-bone, they 
say, boiled with weaseFs blood, and applied to a person's body, 
will ensure universal hatred ; a similar effect being equally 
produced by the eye when boiled. But the most extraordinary 
thing of all is, their assertion that the extremity of the rectum 
of this animal is a preservative against all oppression on the 
part of chiefs and potentates, and an assurance of success in all 
petitions, judgments, and lawsuits, and this, if a person only 
carries it about him. The anus, according to them, has so 
powerful an effect as a philtre, that if it is worn on the left 
arm, a woman will be sure to follow the wearer the moment 
51 See B. xviii. c. 14. Pila.'» 
