Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-08-21
kAFFtR DOCTORS.
Most OF Them Are Shameless Quacks Who
Pretend to Cure Every III.

The wizard or witcn doctor is very
cunning. shrewd fellow, and he must
also be doctor Of Medicine. Rain
doctors are supposed to have the power
ofcausing rain to fall. and are appealed
TO after long drought; but they are
clever enough never to commence their
lamentations until indications Of rain
are discerniblc and consequently they
are always sure of success. Next come
the lightning doctors, who dance
around the kraals they have been sum
moned To defend, brandshing their
assegais during the flashes and violence
of the storm in manner that suggests
insanity to the European observer.
Naturally they are lore frequently
successful than unsuccessful. The hail
doctors, again, believe that by burning
medicine while the hail is yet distant
they diminish its power, and that when
they leave their huts to command it to
depart 1t will return whence it came.
Last, but not least. is the medicine doc
tor. Sickness, the natives believe, is al
ways caused by an enemy. or by the will
of The spirits of their departed ancestors
or relatives who generally protect them
from harm, but who, being somewhat
angry, allow sickness to overtake them
or the Vaccinations of their enemies
to prevail The doctors father and
grandfather have generally been in
the profession before him. and the Sc
crets of the healing art have thus been
handed down from generation to gene
ration; though in some instances he
is sef-taught man. who has picked
M some Knowledge of diseases, roots
and herbs. by observation and expert
ence but no faith whatever is reposed
H. a doctor or diviner who happens to
be fat. The medicines employed are
| mostly innocent, but still many power
| full drugs are included in their pharma-
copeia for instance. they use the male
| fern Gnkomankoma, lastred felix mas)
~ a remedy for tape-worm. emetics by
the gallon for slight ailments. and as
correctives after their beer-drinking
| orgies, other indictments, so power
| full that whole families, both black
and white, have been carried of
| by their felonious administration
| but their useful medicines are so
mixed up with useless authorizations that
in most cases it would be better for the
patient to throw physic to the dogs.
1t used to be the case of mo cure, no
pay;' for according to their law, if the
patients died or did not recover until
another medical man had been called
in, the doctor got no payment; but in
Natal now, on first attendance, the
doctor requires preliminary fee OF
ten shillngS, nominally to buy medi-
cine; but at the slme time he stipulates
for receiving bullock IN case of q
cure being effected. As arule they adj
minister harmless drugs, thinking il
safest to believe in the motto of Owls
mcdicatrIx nature" for there is nc
doubt the majority are the most arrani
quacks ever known. Some who rank
high in the profession travel from
place 70 place, and, as the result oil
their skill and knowledge of human
nature, return home after an absence
of months. or it may be years, rich il
the possessions of large herds of cat
tie, The doctor of medicine is alsC
often II witeh-doctor, and so combine,
in one Il knowledge of the two
branches of the profession. From
"Ipenty Years ia South Atriea,'