The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-04-13
THE MEDICINE Man
How He Lives and works in
South Africa and West
Africa.
TREATS NERVES AND SOULS
And Perhaps He Succeeds In Doing
More Good Than Harm TO
Most Patients.


known Is ful OF mystery and awe lie
regards the world about him MS filed
with spirits, some good and some evil,
The medicine man, who Is found
among all primitive peoples, prctends
to have some knowledge OF the UNI
known and TO be able to exercise some
mcSauro Of control over conditions
ana things particularly the supernat-
ural. Some Of the characteristics of
the African medicine man arc these. He
makes It n part of his business to
know all that Is happening IN his COM
munlty, Directly and indirectly he
secures the help of those who invoke
his aid, When case of witchcraft
arises, he finds out who Is likely to
have grudge for the afflicted one.
lie Is the wise man Many believe in his
powers. He believes In himself or In
the theory by which he works
The methods by which ono may en-
ter the profession vary. In South Afri-
ca among tho Banta tribes q candidate
Is said first % fcign sickness. He re-
fuses to eat or move or even converse
with others. a medicine man Is sum
monod II he concludes that the patti
ent "a preparing for the profession nc
declares him to he let alone. The
patient assumes q fantastic garh, alb
stains from certain articles Of food,
/ processes to have dreams and to see
visions, In due time he ls a fully pre-
+ pared doctor.
In West Africa and probably IN
+ South Africa the medicine Office Is In
some eases hereditary. but children Of
medicine men sometimes refuse to de-
vote themselves to the profession
Parents who wish their children Ia
become fetish doctors may have them
ms ructed by the fetish men for q
suitable fec. Persons declaring thai
tho fetish has seized them are per.
mi,ted after suitable demonstration
of ihelr powers. 10 assume tho office
All West African tribes have secret
societies, one for men and one fol
women Tho boys arc early instructed
in the mysteries " the societies. If
during his education a boy IS dlscov
crod with the ability 10 see spirits til,
elders Of the society advise that he b,
trained for the profession II, the ad
vice IS followed, he L. apprentlced Il
medicine man, who always charge
large fee. He learns the art Of hi
profession and the financial standln
OF the people.
The methods Of practice also very
Tho West African medicine man Ia
; three methods of practice. The frs
Is rrophylatlc 'Ile takes charms I
! protect his patient from Wild animal
and all danger by land or water; ais
his wives, children, goods. plantation
canoes. etc. from damage, and HI
houses from IRE. This, which Is
/ sort Of insurance. Is a very payln
part but IL fun Of anxiety. The secon
Is clinical This consists In comhatln
the witches who are always workln
: mischief. sucking the blood of youn
{
[ into people to eat up their most VA
j., ued visrera. stealing souls nj night ar
hllghting crops" Tho third, also Cil
: ical TO large extent, consists
!, treating diseases Of the soul. TT
: West Africans are said to believe tn
: everything has soul even matter
regarded rs a form Of soul The ca
! abar natives recognize four kinds
souls in person. Tho first survl'
DEATH the second lives Ike an anl,N
:, in the bush. II cnn assume the for
Of an animal and he killed. In white
!. case the owner dies The third Is q
: shadow cast by the body; and Ii
: fourth Is the dream soul There a
:. diseases peculiar to each of the
souls, The medicine man must kno
' them and have remedies for each. I
must also know about the therapcui
= action OF low grade spirits such
! dwell In herbs The dogma viii,
rules his practice Is that in all cas-
T. Of disease In which no blood is shol
ing, the patient Is suffering fro
something wrong IN tho soul
u IN East Africa tho medicine man
u required in every detail " life. In "a
: of Illness an offering of flour Is ma
q to the ancestors. If there Is no II
y provement the magician Ia sunmono
= He may simply direct the patient
% change his residence for q time,
y other times he practices the art
= Gaping by means OF an inverted ho
T. In which case he pretends to extra
. the disease In the form Of somethn
= by way Of example. a bug or beet
/ Counter irritation by means Of Incl
y ions In which ashes and powder
y roots arc well rubbed IL termed Xxi
II ing the disease charm may
y given which the patient must wear
y q means of cure and as u tallsm
II against OWL Tho most common met
> cd Of euro IS smelling out" tho pc
y son who is bewitching the patient
u means Of sorcery This Is done
Ie cases Of protractcd Illness and when
" person dies s1ddcnly Srmctinlca {
'e magician Simply 'marks' the pers
l, who causes tae discGfe and WHO 60
u Immediately WITH 4 present 10 the ST
man and a fee 10 the magician, Y
! common custom Is TO have the culp
u put to death as a sacrifice, In Sou
y Arrlca the culprit Is put to death n
criminal Tho magician In East AZ
ca has the power Of summary 60
dcmnatlon, and execution " tho 0
cuscd may Immediately follow, VIII
os answering questions the magci
SNAKES his gourd and examines
claws. teeth, and pebbles which II co
at tans. From these he receives
r. oracles and according to their 20
KS tion his answers are satisfactory
*, the reverse. The advice, althou
of somewhat ambiguous, Is genera
b. shrewd
e. In south Africa there are f.
N, grades or glasses of maEicaans fit