Datura poisoning

It is important to remember that a considerable number of medicinal herbs are being prescribed in Rhodesia by witchdoctors. Consequently, although the witchdoctor is generally a fine botanist, from time to time mistakes can be expected to occur, such as when too much of a particular herb is given or a poisonous preparation administered in error. It is therefore necessary for us to be acquainted with the more common varieties of medicinal poisoning likely to occur in clinical practice. The present case followed the administration of datura leaf and as the clinical picture is of interest it was considered of sufficient importance to publish it.

The conflicting nature of Western and African medical practices in the early part of 20th century Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as observed and experienced by white medical practitioners.