130 
CUPPING—NATIVE DOCTOES. 
Chap. VI, 
drawn, and kept out by toucliing the orifice at every inspiration 
with the point of the tongue, the wax is at last pressed together 
with the teeth, and the httle hole in it closed up, leaving a vacuum 
within the horn for the blood to flow from the already scarified 
parts. The edges of the horn apphed to the surface are wetted, 
and cupping is well performed, though the doctor occasionally, by 
separating the fibrine from the blood in a basm of water by his 
side, and exhibiting it, pretends that he has extracted somethmg 
more than blood. He can thus explain the rationale of the cure 
by liis own art, and the ocular demonstration given is well 
appreciated. 
Those doctors who have inlierited thek profession as an hek- 
loom from thek fathers and grandfathers generally possess some 
valuable knowledge, the result of long and close observation; 
but k 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 thek skfil in the presence of thek patients. Any 
explanation in private was thankfully received by them, and 
wrong treatment changed uito sometliing more reasonable with 
cordial good will, if no one but the doctor and myself were present 
at the conversation. Enghsh medicines were eagerly asked for 
and accepted by all; and we always found medical knowledge 
an important aid in convincmg 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 hve. 
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 clnld’s head. Tliis was situated on the nape of his 
neck, and prevented his walking straight. He applied to his 
chief, and he got some famous strange doctor from the east 
coast to cure him. He and liis assistants attempted to dissolve 
it by kindhng on it a httle fire made of a few smah pieces 
