Anaesthesia. 1975 Mar; 30(2): 190-3.

Methaemoglobinaemia following treatment dispensed by witch doctors. Two cases of potassium permanganate poisoning.

Mahomedy MC, Mahomedy YH, Canham PA, Downing JW, Jeal DE.

Two cases of acute acquired methaemoglobinaemia following the ingestion of witch doctor's preparations, are presented. Chemical analysis of the ingested powder revealed a mixture of soot and potassium permanganate. Both patients were comatose and deeply cyanosed but the response to oxygen, methylene blue and vitamin C was good.