CHAPTER XI.

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_Materia Medica and Diseases._

The report of the Materia Medica and Botany of Ashantee, was the only one which I was not required to furnish. It was afforded by Mr. Henry Tedlie, assistant surgeon, whose subsequent death has mingled a regret with the recollection of the Embassy, which the recall of my own sufferings, and the family affliction it entailed on me, could never have exacted. The intelligence reached me in England, to correct the pride of success by associating misfortune with it; for the recollection of Mr. Tedlie’s social virtues, of his enterprise and ability, makes it a severe one to myself, and to the world. Mr. Tedlie suffered severely from intermitting dysentery during the Mission, but I had hoped it would have been eradicated after his return. He had previously attended the expedition to Candy, and expired at Cape Coast Castle in the 27th year of his age. Throughout the Mission he indulged the feelings of the natives, in his professional capacity, with a patience few could have exerted; whether labouring under sickness himself, or disturbed in the moments of a scanty rest; he awed and conciliated the people by the importance of his cures, and thus contributed to the success of the enterprise.

“During the earlier part of our residence at Coomassie, the season was tolerably favourable to the gathering of plants, but we were then allowed to go out but seldom, and never beyond the town. Latterly, when better impressions succeeded, and our walks were unrestrained by limits or attendants, the rains not only checked, but generally disappointed my researches, by presenting the subject flowerless, (or in an unfit state for preservation,) and consequently not admitting their classification, as is too evident in the following list of such plants as are used as medicines by the Ashantees.

1. Cutturasuh. ([124]_Chrysanthellum procumbens_. _Persoon. syn._ 2. _p._ 471, _Verbesina mutica_ _Willd._) A small plant, a decoction of which is purgative, before boiling it should be bruised.

2. Adumba, (a species of Ficus.) The bark and fruit are pounded with Mallaguetta pepper and a small plant called awhinteywhinting, boiled in fish soup: two doses in the third month of gestation are said to cause abortion.

3. Koofoobah (_Gloriosa superba_. _Linn._) is bruised with Mallaguetta pepper (lesser cardamom seeds) and applied to the ancle or foot when sprained.

4. Tandoorue (_perhaps a_ _Cupania_ _or_ _Trichilia_.) The bark is pounded and boiled with Mallaguetta pepper; used for pain in the belly, and acts as a purgative.

5. Bissey. (_Sterculia acuminata_. _Palis. de Beauvois, Flore d’Oware_ 1. _p._ 41. _tab._ 24.) The fruit is constantly chewed by the Ashantees, especially on a journey; it is said to prevent hunger and strengthen the stomach and bowels; has a slight bitter aromatic astringent taste, and causes an increase of the saliva while chewed.

6. Attueh. (_Blighia sapida_. _Hort. Kew. ed._ 2. _vol._ 3, _p._ 350. _Akeesia africana_ _Tussac Flor. des Antilles_ 66.) A decoction of the bark is said to be anti-venereal. The fruit is eaten.

7. Ricinus Communis _Linn._ Castor oil nut tree, 30 feet high here, and not a bush as on the coast: not used as medicine by the natives.

8. Apooder. (_Two species of_ _Leucas_, _of which one is hardly different from_ _L. Martinicensis_ _Hort. Kew. ed._ 2. _vol._ 3, _p._ 409, _the other is perhaps new._) A mixture of the bruised leaves with lime juice is applied to inflammations.

9. Hooghong. (A species of Urtica) is bruised, mixed with chalk, and drank by pregnant women to correct acidity in the stomach, heartburn, &c.

10. Accocottocotorawah. (_Heliotropium indicum_. _Linn._) The juice expressed from this plant is snuffed up the nostrils in cases of severe head-ach. They also inhale the smoke of it into the nose.

11. Crowera (_Acalypha ciliata_. _Willd. sp. pl._) is bruised with lesser cardamom seed, and rubbed on the chest and side when pained.

12. Enminim (_a species of_ _Vitis_.) A climbing plant. The juice expressed from the leaves is dropped into the eyes when affected with opthalmia or pain.

13. Secoco. (_Leptanthus_?) A small marshy plant. Is pounded with lime juice and rubbed on the body to cure the crawcraws; a severe and obstinate species of itch.

14. Ammo.—The juice is applied to cuts and bruises.

15. Petey (_possibly a_ _Piper_.) The leaves are pounded and applied as a plaister to inflammatory swellings and boils.

16. Abromotome.—The bruised leaves are used to discuss boils.

17. Yangkompro. (_A syngenesious plant related to_ _Cacalia_.) The pounded leaves are applied to cuts and contusions.

18. Oeduema. (_Musanga cecropioides_ _Br. See Tuckey’s Congo, p._ 453.) The hairy sheath or stipule of a large palmated leaved tree; it resembles a skin, is boiled in soup, and used as a powerful emmenagogue.

19. Semeney, (_probably a species of_ _Aneilema_.) The leaves are pounded and applied as a plaister to favour the discharge of boils and collections of pus.

20. Wowwah (_perhaps a_ _Sterculia_.) The inner bark of this tree is scraped fine and mixed with Mallaguetta pepper, and drank for colic and other pains in the belly.

21. Anafranakoo.—The bruised leaves are applied to discuss boils and other inflammatory swelling.

22. Kattacaiben (_Leea sambucina_.) A decoction of the leaves is drank every morning by pregnant women when they experience any uneasiness in the abdomen. The bark of the tree powdered is rubbed on chronic swellings.

23. Aserumbdrue (_a species of_ _Piper_ _related to_ _umbellatum_.) The leaves are used in soup to allay swellings of the belly.

24. Ocisseeree.—The bark of this tree is used to stop the purging in dysentery and diarrhoea.

25. Gingang. (_Paullinia africana_ _Br. See Tuckeys Congo, p._ 427.) The bark of this tree is used internally and externally, mixed with Mallaguetta pepper for pain in the side.

26. Cudeyakoo.—A very small plant. The leaves and stalk pounded are applied to eruptions on the head. A mixture of it with lime juice is applied to the yaws.

27. Affeuah (_unknown_) and Nuinnuerafuh (_Hedysari species_.) A mixture of the bruised leaves of these plants with Mallaguetta pepper, is rubbed on the body and limbs when swelled or pained: a decoction of them, with an addition of the plant Comfany (_Alternantheræ, sp._) is used internally in the same cases.

28. Adummah. (_Paullinia africana_. _The same as No._ 25.) A decoction of the bark of this tree, reduced to powder with Mallaguetta pepper, drank once a day, stops the discharge of blood and cures the dysentery.

29. Tointinney (_probably a_ _Menispermum_.) Is chewed with Mallaguetta pepper as a cure for a cough.

30. Apussey. (_A leguminous plant, probably allied to_ _Robinia_.)

The bark of this tree pounded with Mallaguetta pepper is applied to the head in cases of head-ach.

31. Thuquamah.—The bark is pounded and drank in Palm wine, with Mallaguetta pepper, for pain in the belly.

32. Conkknoney, a dark purple coloured Toadstool, the size of a hazel nut, rubbed with Mallaguetta pepper and lime juice, it purges briskly. To stop the purging, a mess of boiled Guinea corn meal and lime juice should be eaten.

33. Suetinney.—(_Brillantaisia owariensis_. _Palis. de Beauvois Flor. d’Oware_, 2. _p._ 68 _tab._ 100, _fig._ 2.) A decoction of the leaves is drank for pain in the belly.

34. Soominna, (Tetandria Monogynia,) is bruised with lime juice and used to abate cough.

35. Thattha (_Scoparia dulcis_. _Linn._)—The expressed juice of this plant is dropped into the ears when pained.

36. Aquey (_Melia Azedarach_. _Linn._) A decoction of the leaves of this tree is used with Palm wine as a corroborant.

37. Dammaram (_Mussænda fulgens_. _nov. spec._)

The diseases most common in the Ashantee Country are the Lues, Yaws, Itch, Ulcers, Scald-heads, and griping pains in the bowels. Other diseases are occasionally met with, I should suppose in the same proportion that they occur in civilized countries; but I do not know to what cause to assign the prevalence and frequency of one of the most unsightly diseases that can occur in any country: it is an obstinate species of ulcer, or, Noli me tangere, which destroys the nose and upper lip; it attacks women chiefly, although men are not exempt from it; there are more than 100 women in Coomassie who have lost the nose or upper lip from this cause alone: it commences with a small ulcer in the alæ nasi, or upper lip, the size of a split pea, excavated, with the edges ragged and turned inwards, it proceeds by ulcerating under the skin; the bottom of the ulcer is uneven, covered with a foul slough, of a very disagreeable smell, and the discharge is thin, watery, and very irritating: it seldom cicatrices before the alæ nasi and lip are completely destroyed; when it does cease, the skin is puckered and uneven, and has a very disagreeable appearance; the only remedy which the natives use, is an external application of bruised leaves; they seem to let it take its course, without being very anxious about a cure.

Framboesia, the Yaws, is a very frequent disease with the children of the poor and slaves: before the eruption takes place they are severely afflicted with pains in the joints, and along the course of the muscles of the superior and inferior extremities; in young persons, hard, round bony excrescences, the size of a walnut, form on each side of the nose under the eyes. The Natives either are not acquainted with a remedy for this enlargement of the bones, or if they are, they do not put it in practice. I administered alterative doses of calomel and antimonial powder with success, as it stopped the enlargement of the bones and caused them to be absorbed, and relieved the pain in the arms and legs particularly; during the exhibition of the alterative pills, a foul ulcer on the head got well: the natives apply a mixture of the plant Cudey-akoo, with lime juice, to the eruption, but apparently with very little benefit.

Psora, the itch, a very severe species of which, called craw craw, is a frequent disease, and is very contagious; it is most commonly met with in children, few of the Dunko slaves are without it, from their poor diet and extreme dirtiness; they do not seem to experience much uneasiness from it, as they seldom apply any remedy; sometimes they use a rubefaciant, made of a plant called secoco, bruised and mixed with lime juice.

Gonorrhœa is of rare occurrence, two cases came under my care, the patients had never used injections, they drank decoctions of leaves and bark, but could not tell me the plants they used; one of the ingredients, was a small plant call Cutturasuh, of a purgative nature. The disease is allowed to take its course by the natives, as they are unacquainted with any method to stop it.

Tinea Capitis, the scald head, is a common disease with the poorer sort of Ashantees and slaves, arising from their neglect of cleanliness; the applications which they use to cure it have seldom the desired effect. They apply plaisters of pounded leaves and charcoal, but do not wash the head. In one case, where a boy was placed under my care, he got well in eight days, by having his head very well washed with a brush, soap, and warm water; then a strong infusion of tobacco, applied with a sponge, and when the head was dry, a composition of resinous and mercurial ointment was rubbed on it.

Hydrocele occasionally occurs; they attempt to cure it by frictions of the castor oil nut, burnt and bruised with Mallaguetta pepper, but without any benefit. I drew off the water from one hydrocele, but, from our want of stimulants, could not perform any radical cure. Their applications to Inguinal hernia are equally ineffectual. They never attempt the reduction of umbilical hernia, although some are very large, and the disease very frequent.

When a fracture of the leg or arm happens, the part is rubbed with a soft species of grass and palm oil, and the limb bound up with splints. “If God does not take the patient he recovers in four months,” as they say.

I have not seen a single instance of fracture in the Ashantee country. Gun-shot wounds of the extremities, when the bone is fractured, are generally fatal, or, where a large blood vessel is wounded, as they are unacquainted with any method of stopping the hæmorrage; in fact they pay little attention to their wounded men; if they are not able to travel, they are abandoned. One of the King’s criers had his thigh dislocated at the hip joint with an anchylosis of the knee; the limb was considerably longer than the other, and the accident must have occurred a long time ago, as he walks very well.

During the time we remained in Coomassie, and from our first entrance into the Ashantee country, I was every day applied to for advice and medicines by those who were afflicted with diseases, of which the number was great, and in the capital more especially, from its very unhealthy situation, being entirely surrounded by an extensive tract of swampy ground, and the natives consequently very subject to dysentery and fever. On first entering the country I was applied to by numbers of patients, many of them miserable objects, from the effects of the venereal disease: to as many of those as applied, during our halt in a town, I gave boxes of pills and strict directions for their use, and told them if they came to Coomassie during my residence there, I would do every thing in my power to cure them. Many availed themselves of my offer, and attended me on my arrival. To those who had ulcers or wounds, I applied the proper dressings, and left with them lint, adhesive plaister, and ointment. Most of them as a mark of their gratitude, sent presents of fowls, fruit, palm oil, wine, &c. to me after I had arrived in the capital. One man in Assiminia, who was nearly in the last stage of existence from a complication of disorders, originating from lues venerea, after I had seen him, sent every week to Coomassie for medicines, and completely recovered. Another in Sarrasoo who had the worst looking ulcers of the inferior extremities, that I have ever seen, did the same, and with the same success. A great many caboceers attended me every morning with their slaves and children affected with dropsy, crawcraws, yaws, fever, bowel complaints, &c. and expressed the most unbounded thanks for the medicine and advice they received.

At the King’s particular request, I attended his own brother, the heir apparent, who had oedematous feet: by the use of friction, a roller, and an alterative course of calomel, and diuretics, he soon recovered.

The King’s uncle, heir to the crown after the brother, was severely tormented with stricture of the urethra; he could only pass urine, drop by drop; three weeks passing the catheter, enabled him to make it in a full stream; when he immediately requested some powerfully stimulating medicine to correct impotency, which it was not in my power to grant.

The captain whose office it is to drown any of the King’s family who have offended, had an ulcer two inches long in the palate bone; when he drank, part of the fluid passed out of his nose, and his speech was very unintelligible; the sides of the opening were scarified, and the granulations touched every third or fourth day with lunar caustic until they united; he got well in one month.

The only unfortunate case I attended, was our guide Quamina Bwa; shortly after we arrived in Coomassie he was attacked with remittent fever; by the use of febrifuge medicines, the cold bath, bark, &c. he recovered, and was able to attend his usual duty of waiting on us, when we visited the king; he went into the country, and I did not see him for six weeks; at the end of that time, he sent for me, and I found him labouring under a severe bilious dysentery, and liver complaint. I was unable to prevent the formation of matter in his liver; it formed a large swelling with distinct fluctuation, and as he hesitated to have it discharged by puncturing with a trochar, it burst internally, and he died. I had one case of cancer of the upper lip, although the disease is said rarely to occur in that part. This case had all the marks of a true cancer; I dressed it every day during the whole time I remained in Coomassie, but the effect flattered and disappointed me by turns.

The most importunate man for medicine, especially of an invigorating kind, in the whole Ashantee country, was old Apokoo, the treasurer and chief favourite. He was afflicted with inguinal hernia: I wrote to Cape Coast for a truss, which I applied, and it gave him immediate relief and satisfaction. He would take the most nauseous drug with pleasure. I generally gave him bark and peppermint water, which he regularly either sent or came for every day, during the two last months of our residence, and earnestly requested me to leave plenty of medicine with Mr. Hutchison, the British resident there. Most of the chief men were very earnest in their solicitations for me to give them stimulating medicines. I always assured them that it was impossible, that the English never used any, and that nothing astonished me more than that they should ask for such things. Their answers were, “they knew that the English had good heads and knew every thing, and must know that too, but I did not wish to give them any.”

_A List of the Diseases which I have seen in the Ashantee country._

Febris remittens 2 cases

Hepatitis 1

Dysenteria mucosa 6

Colica 1

Anasarca 3

Ascites 3

Scrophula many cases

Syphilis many

Gonorrhœa 2

Stricture 3

Cataract 2

Staphyloma 5

Ectropium 1

Bronchocele many

Cephalagia many

Odontalgia 10

Ulcers 8

Framboesia many

Psora many

Hernia inguinal 1

Umbilical (hernia) many

Dracunculus 7

Tinea capitis many

Hydrocele many

Cancer 1

Elephantiasis 1

Lepra 7

[Footnote 124: I am indebted to Mr. Brown’s knowledge for the names and references in the parentheses.]