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The African's concept of the causes and treatment of epilepsy and convulsions


M. Gelfand

Abstract

Epilepsy is believed to be due to the upset of an ancestral spirit or to the evil influence of a witch. Other popular hypotheses are that the disorder is related to the moon cycle, to the consumption of the wrong food by the fetus in utero, or is brought on by the performance of an unusual act. Nganga recognise the characteristics of a fit, have noticed that it may be hereditary, and distinguish between convulsions in childhood and epilepsy. Treatment consists mostly of purgatives or enemata.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 879 (1974).

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574