Chapter III: Part VIII: SAVAGE M.D’s

CHAP. XX.--The science of surgery and medicine in savage
lands--the M.D. in Polynesia--how to cure a broken
neck--straightening a dislocated vertebra--trepanning with a bit
of cocoa-nut shell--pigs’ brains a substitute for human--the
sick man in Figi--summary method of disposing of troublesome
invalids--“be reasonable and let some one help you out of your
misery”--queer physic for a sick princess--the patient finally
strangled--tender treatment of a shipwrecked mariner--singular
malice of the Figian sick--the doctor in Samoa--no medicines
used--strange predictions by dying Samoans--the Tokelau man who
went up into the moon--a physician for every ailment--“confess,
and throw out”--an infallible method of extracting a
spear--Polynesian _disease makers_--the mystery of _nohak_
burning--novel way of burning an enemy to death--how sickness
is dealt with among the Namaquas of Southern Africa--The old
women whom Moffat the missionary found--“I am old and feeble
and no longer of any use”--the sick little Makalolo--nobody’s
child--Galton and the calculating savage--unable to count
over ten--how the difficulty is overcome--dentistry in Damara
land--the traveller Galton nearly a victim--hauling till
“something” gives way--the doctor in old Kalabar--how the
Kalabeese takes his physic--Doctor Abiadiong--how he operates
with his magic beads--burying a dog alive to save a sick
man--how to cheat the demon of small-pox--the M.D. among
the Indians of North America--qualifications of a Pawnee
doctor--a case witnessed by the traveller Murray--how to cure
hooping-cough--setting a broken arm and a few ribs--broken
bones cured by smoke--a medicine dance--Indian sweating baths
and sudatory--how to manufacture a cheap vapour bath--doctoring
in Abyssinia--Mr. Bruce undertakes to cure three queens--our
countryman’s description of his interesting patients--grave
responsibilities of an Abyssinian physician--“what signifies
your curing me if you turn me out like a beggar?”--some
wholesome advice for eastern travellers--stimulants to be
avoided--no water too cold to bathe in. Pages 67–87.