Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 11 - Health

Bathing

• The Ethrans are fastidious and bathe frequently, every day if possible. Every citadel (ðűno) has separate showering rooms (ᵹiþte̋ro) for men and for women. There are also spa facilities.
• Every Pyran village (da̋bo) has a bathhouse (laɱde̋mo). The Pyrans bathe regularly, once a week or so, especially before celebrating the annual festivals (dı̋lo sa̋ro).
• The Hydorans have no need for bathing facilities because they regularly spend time in the water.
• The Humans seldom bathe. Only when traveling and they come upon a river or other source of water, do they disrobe and spend some time in the water.
• The Xylans do not bathe regularly but, like the Humans, plunge into water whenever they come across it.
• As with the Pyrans, every Lithan village (kı̋lo) has a bathhouse (laɱde̋mo). The Lithans bathe regularly, once a week or so, especially before celebrating the annual festivals (e̋no sa̋ro).

Clean water

• The Sefdaanian Peoples build their settlements near sources of fresh water.
• The Ethrans, with the help of dweomory (seȝűra) and clay pipes, have indoor plumbing. There are communal bathrooms on all the floors. The kitchens have water piped to the sinks, although there is no hot water heater. The source of the water is the mountain streams.
• The Pyrans build their settlements at the confluence (dąᵹe̋ðo) of a stream (vőge) and a river (dą̋e). The plan of the settlement is U-shaped with the opening toward the river. There are four rows of six houses, two on each side of the village square. The rows of houses are back to back. Water from the stream is directed into two stone-lined channels (tűlo) that flow between the rows of houses. The stream may be partially dammed (pa̋ðo) to help the flow of water. The dam may be used as a causeway (paðf̣ǫ̋lo) across the stream. Behind each house a pit (xa̋no) is dug in the channel and residents draw water from these pits. Nightsoil is used as fertilizer, but any excess is dumped in the channel downstream from the residences.
• The Hydorans live in thatch houses on the shores of lakes or ponds. Thus, fresh water is always available. These lakes or ponds must be fed by a river or a spring and must be exorheic. The settlement is built near the exit of the water flow so that waste is drawn away by the outflowing water.
• The Humans must build their settlements on the steppes near a source of fresh water as much for their horses as for themselves. Fresh water is drawn from these sources and carried to the houses. Nightsoil is deposited in a compost pile at a distance from the house. This compost, along with the horse manure, is then used on their gardens and to fertilize the hawthorn hedge that encircles the settlement. Any excess is dumped in the stream. Should it happen that the settlement must be built at a distance from a source of fresh water, then one or more cisterns are dug. These fill with rain during the rainy season.
• The Xylans always have access to fresh water in the streams that flow through the forests. A Xylan will build his log cabin near one of these streams. Bodily elimination takes place wherever they happen to be.
• The Lithan settlements are built in the mountain valleys along flowing water. Rather than being built in a compact unit, as with the Pyrans and the Humans, the Lithan houses ares strung out along the water. If there is enough room, the houses will be built on both sides of the water. This gives them access to fresh water. Once again, nightsoil is used as fertilizer, along with the dung from the animals, on the gardens and hemp fields.

Health care

• There are no health care professionals. Each of the inhabitants of Sefdaania is taught whatever preventatives and cures are known in his society.
• There are no facilities for the treatment of disease or injury. The sick are cared for in their own homes. Those with terminal illnesses, congenital defects or permanent disabilities are cared for until they die. Euthanasia is a punishable crime.
• The diseases and injuries of Sefdaania are no different than those found among contemporary humans.
• Injuries would include broken bones, cuts and wounds, bruises, infections, burns, and blisters.
• Mention of the following diseases and symptoms has been found in the records: goiter, whooping cough, emphysema, fever, flu, venereal disease, mange, asthma, rabies, pleurisy, dropsy, diarrhea, epilepsy, leprosy, cyanosis, and rash.
• The Sefdaanians are aware of the antimicrobial value of alcohol and vinegar, but do not know about bacteria, viruses, etc. Only the Ethrans have access to pure alcohol. The others make use of the alcoholic beverages and vinegars that they make. They also know the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey. Sphagnum moss, because of its absorbing property and its acidity, is used for dressing wounds. It is also used in babies’ diapers and to absorb menstrual flow.
• The Xylans are especially skilled in the use of herbals as cures for various conditions.
• Problems, the solutions to which are not known, include mental illness and dental caries.
  • Those with mental illness are cared for as best as possible in the home. If the behavior becomes too anti-social, the person is exiled.
  • The People brush their teeth with chew sticks, but even so, cavities occur. Twigs from the dogwood, walnut, apple, hazelnut and silver birch tree are used as chew sticks. The only cure for toothache and tooth disease is to knock out the tooth. The diet of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean meat helps to keep dental problems to a minimum.