of Edinburgh, Session 1883-84. 
319 
painful spot, introducing her hand into the empty tube. After 
working about for some time she at last draws out a substance which 
she calls the disease, taking care that the people shall not have any 
opportunity of seeing it closely. If pain is felt in the head, she cups 
the patient on the temples or nape of the neck by making small cuts 
with a sharp stone ; an iron knife is not used. Cupping is also 
employed for very severe pain in other parts of the body. 
These women doctors appear to he generally right in their prog- 
nosis. When their work is over they are always accompanied 
home by the head of the house (see Odi for the treatment of 
children). 
Medicine is given internally for fevers, which are generally caught 
through bathing or getting wet after sunset. An infusion is made 
from a root after it has been dried and scraped, and this is drunk 
by the patient at frequent intervals. Profuse perspiration results 
after a few doses. Toothache occurs in old people, but only rarely 
are caries seen. They do not extract the tooth at once, but 
loosen it gradually by working it about a little each day until it 
comes out. 
Epileptic fits would seem to be of rare occurrence, as I could not 
hear anything of them. 
Small-pox occurs in epidemics ; great numbers of the people die 
from it ; and it is rare to see a person pitted, as only very strong 
constitutions recover. When a man is attacked by it, he is placed in 
a hut which has a sand floor, and a large fire is made in it to keep 
the patient very warm. Meat is never given him, and only a small 
quantity of food, such as thin porridge. When the pustules are well 
formed they are all opened with a thorn, and then an infusion of 
roots and leaves is given to the patient to drink twice a day. 
The people are very particular to rub their bodies all over 
frequently with oil, for if this be neglected a scaly eruption results, 
which is, however, soon cured by an extra amount of oil. 
As yet there is very little syphilis in the country, but it is 
gradually making its way from the north and east. 
There are very few dwarfs ; they are considered to be great 
curiosities, but are not ill-treated. Hunchbacks are more common, 
and occur in about equal proportions among men and women, so far 
as I could discover. 
