PRIMITIVE AFRICAN MEDICAL LORE AND WITCHCRAFT

Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1965 Jan;53(1):80-94.

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive study of the methods, practices, equipment, and paraphernalia of African witch doctors in carrying out primitive medical practices. The chief tribes studied are the Azandes of the Sudan, the Manos of Liberia, the Congo tribes, the Bundas of Angola, and the Zulus and other Bantu tribes of South Africa. Primitive beliefs and customs are discussed only insofar as they have a direct bearing on medical practices. The medical practices considered deal mainly with the application of general remedies for ailments and diseases, but certain specialized fields such as obstetrics, surgery, treatment for fractures, and dentistry are also included. Primitive medicaments are presented with reference to their application for various illnesses. An alphabetical list of these medicaments is given at the end of the article.

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Angola
  • Black People*
  • Congo
  • Culture*
  • Folklore*
  • Humans
  • Liberia
  • Medicine*
  • Medicine, African Traditional*
  • Medicine, Traditional*
  • South Africa
  • Sudan
  • Witchcraft*