CHATI

A young girl was brought to SHATI farm yesterday suffering from the agonizing pain of a scorpion bite on her right big toe.  Her helpers had placed the flat side of a razor blade to the wound, held in place with a torn piece of rag. This it seems is the local selfhelp first aid action, together with the eating of an onion.

The blade was removed and Xavier questioned her about the pain, which extended up to just  below her knee, causing her to cry out when touched. A piece of charcoal made from animal bone was then placed on the bite area , instead of the blade, and this appears to draw the poison back to the original entrance point and out.

She was also given a teaspoon of a powder made from a plant whose name in Tamil is SIRIAYANANGAI,  taken in a tumbler of water. This medicinal herb has been planted on our land and Xavier usually has some of it dried and powdered ready for such an emergenccy. This year though he has already treated over 16 people so had bought in a commercially produced packet from a herbal supplier in a city to replace our stock.

Fifteen minutes after starting the powder and charcoal treatments the area of pain had had reduced to just above the ankle. The girl stayed at SHATI resting  for about 2 hours, at one time  appearing to have a high temperature and shivering. At this point I went to pick some of our organic cotton bolls so did not see her when she set off back to her village.Xavier reported that the pain had practically gone by then, instead of the long drawn out suffering which usually lasts up to eight or more hours.