128 CONDITION OF APOTHECARIES IN AFRICA. 
The matsuns (electuaria) form, among the Africans, one 
of their principle forms of medicines ; and accordingly we 
find that for each disease there is a particular matsun. 
Thus, they have matsuns of dates and of bananas against 
dysenteries, complaints of the chest, &c. 
The minor surgical operations, such as bleeding, opening 
of abscesses, &c, are performed by the Speziarides, and that 
in the open street, in order to attract the attention of the 
passers by, who often collect around the Serah or Speziaris 
and his patient in great crowds, amongst whom there are 
not unfrequently hired spectators, who cry up the skill of 
the operator. 
Chemical operations are also publicly performed ; for 
example, the distillation of the liquor Hoffmani, or some 
aromatic spirits, &c. 
It is very difficult, for foreign physicians {%. e. Europeans) 
to establish themselves in these parts ; for they are perse- 
cuted by the natives in every possible manner. The latter 
exert all their power of persuasion to convince the higher 
classes that European Physicians are not acquainted with 
the climate, and that they effect the cure by the assistance 
of Satan, or that, they employ poisonous substances, which 
do indeed possess the power of temporarily checking and 
apparently curing the disease, but that this, in a short time, 
breaks out again with augmented virulence. When an 
European Physician is patronized by one of the European 
Consuls, and is recommended by him to some of the higher 
families, whose confidence he contrives to gain, he may suc- 
ceed in amassing, in a few years, a large fortune; but 
otherwise he is often scarcely able to gain his daily bread. 
— Pharm Journ.from Buchners Repertorium. 
