Excrement

Several months ago, I mentioned in a blog that an infusion of elephant dung is a traditional remedy to treat hypertension. About half of what elephants consume passes through its intestines without the nutrients being digested or absorbed, so it is just possible that vegetation could contain chemicals with an anti-hypertensive action. But I would…

Conversations in the Clinic

I am fascinated by how Swazis name their children. I can understand the delight of having a new baby. Names such as “Happiness”, “Lucky” and “Precious” make perfect sense. But what about calling the most recent addition to your family “Futhi” which means another girl or even “Sanelisiwe” which translates as we have had enough…

We all make mistakes

Her gnarled hands lay in her lap, looking painful. The knuckles were swollen, the fingers distorted and the palm muscles which controlled her thumbs were wasted. I made a diagnosis of long standing, “burnt out” rheumatoid arthritis. No fancy finger joint replacement for her, too late for physiotherapy, all I could do was to prescribe…

General Practice, but not as you’d know it

A day in the life of Matsapha Comprehensive Health Care Clinic. The day didn’t start well. The King’s motorcade drove through Manzini at 7am, the start of rush hour, causing traffic chaos. We were late being picked up by the driver, and it took longer than usual to get to the clinic. The last patient…

Patients

The young man needed to be physically examined. He stripped off his shirt to demonstrate various abrasions, lacerations and bruises as proof of his having been assaulted. The problem for me was that these injuries did not appear to have been sustained at the same time. Some appeared to be recent, within a few days,…