THE ARAB DOCTOR

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1923, Page 19

THE ARAB DOCTOR

SIMPLE WISDOM IN EAST

AFRICA.

Heading of insulin and oilier recent medical experiments, I wondered wha£ the 'old Arab doctor down in the native village at Dar-es-Salaam, East Africa, would think of such remedies, writes L. G. Green in the "Daily Mail." His own methods are most peculiar. Hia consulting room is simply a mud hut with palm-leaf roof. On his tiny verandah, squatting on their haunches, a crowd of gleaming brown children mutter interminable passages from the Koran. Wood slates, covered with charcoal inscriptions, litter the floor. Stranger things meet the eyes when they become used to the semi-gloom inside. Live snakes there are in plenty; also scorpions and lizards, leeches and centipedes, each one cooped up in its own little cage.

An old man, the doctor, with a fringe of black beard round his yellow, wrinkled face.. He looked almost distinguished in -his long, brown muslin gown. A fancy waistcoat and the gold chain round his neck lent a touch of the picturesque. He spoke a little English, and told mo how he extracted poisons from his revolting menagerie to euro his patients. Then he produced his testimonials—over 2500 of them. They were written in many languages; but the most surprising of all were English. With nimble fingers he turned over the pile of faded papers, keeping his ringcovered hand over the names. Even an Arab doctor may not tell. His reputation among the'natives is great, for ■ he is credited with magic powers Swahelis (coast natives), Moslems Hindus flock to his den for treatment Always a group of patients atch him with wondering eyes aa he pounds queer herbs in his mortar. Ine old Arab doctor is a hypnotist. 1 have heard of white men who went to him complaining of strange dreams and illusions, brought on by sunstroke or malaria He made them forget. As for the nat.ves their faith in his skil is so be cist ' CUr6 in "^ cases ™^ vis?tn,- treatS/ Very One free- The chance is financed by a society of Moslem "whn