5/10/14
In some African cultures, scarification is a means of beautifying the body, kind of like tattoos. There are other theories about the reasons it is done. As a tribal custom, a young individual of either sex cuts themselves or someone cuts them to cause a scar after healing. The cuts are small in length, but are deep enough to cause a scar. To the layman, that means that they are deep enough to be felt as a stab wound. They are laid in a pattern that may be simple or elaborate. Tonight’s patient had about 500 scars over the face to resemble a classical drama/comedy mask, if it were solid.
In the American culture, cutting oneself might get you 96 hours on a lock down psychiatric ward.
More urgent news from your grumpy Uncle/Brother Dave.
Weary