A child that had been treated orally with a traditional medicine was admitted to hospital with diarrhoea, vomiting and severe metabolic acidosis. Analysis of the traditional remedy, a black powder, using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission revealed very high concentrations of iron and manganese. Other metals were also present. The composition suggested that this was a sample obtained from a surface fracture in Transvaal dolomite. Following treatment for renal failure and supportive therapy, the child was discharged well.