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Sanitarium Work in India

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 7, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 23.

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Sanitarium Work in India

By R. S. Ingersoll

R. S. INGERSOLL, M. D.
As there has been very little mention of the sanitarium work in India, it has occurred to me that it might be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW to have a brief outline of our work here during the past few years. The first medical work that was started in India was by Dr. O. G. Place who, with his wife, came to India in February, 1897. He had been preceded a month or so by three nurses, two ladies and one gentleman.
It was a question of the best way to undertake the new work in India, for the circumstances, customs, and habits of the people are so different from what they are in America that one has to work differently for them. However it was thought best to begin work among the native people and so a room was fitted up and arrangements were made for giving treatments to them. After some months it was seen that the better class of the native people would have no confidence in the work unless the Europeans did. Accordingly rooms were secured in the European portion of the city (the first location having been in the native quarter) and practise was begun among them. This was evidently a move in the right direction for the salaries of the workers and the expenses of appliances for treatments, without any financial returns, would have been a very heavy drain upon the finance of the Mission Board if they were continued indefinitely. From this time there has been a gradual growth in the work.
Medical receipts for 1897  $ 30.00 “  “  “ 1898  1,266.53 “  “  “ 1899  4,472.66 “  “  “ 1900  5,943.74 “  “  “ 1901  7,207.78 “  “  “ 1902  5,403.48 “  “  “ 1903  7,418.20 “  “  “ 1904  9,169.34 “  “  “ 1905  8,676.34
In 1899 my wife and I, together with other workers for India, came to assist Dr. Place in his work. On our arrival a building was rented and arrangements were made for taking in patients. We had our first major operation four days afterward. It was successful, and the influence of it helped to establish the confidence of the people.
On Jan. 12, 1902 we took our stand for self-support, and since that time have been able to conduct our work without any assistance from the Mission Board excepting about one thousand dollars which has been loaned us. This we had to ask for when we moved from our former house at No. 51 Park Street to our present location, No. 50 Park Street, year before last. At this time we also incurred other obligations which we are gradually paying off, and we hope to be able to clear those other obligations during the current year.
It has been satisfactory to note the growth of our work in spite of our many shortcomings. The move that was made by Dr. Place to establish the sanitarium work among the European people was no doubt a move in the right direction, as we have had a considerable patronage from the well-to-do native population. They have come to appreciate the treatments given, and send their friends to us for help. At the present time the majority of ladies who come for treatments only, are educated native ladies, belonging to the Bramosamadge community.
As we have the confidence of the influential native people, it would not now be a difficult matter to open up a charitable dispensary among the poor natives, if we had the means and help with which to do so.
It is our prayer, that we may be in that humble position where the Lord may rely on us for faithful work. We have also had the satisfaction of seeing a few of our patients come fully into the truth as the result of our work, and also a large number have acknowledged the truths which we hold to be correct, but, on account of the difficulties in the way of their stepping out and taking a decided stand for the same, they have not done so. The difficulties standing in the way of a person who has to depend upon his own labor to earn his living, are great when he takes a stand for the Sabbath, the keeping of the Sabbath clashing as it does with the customs of business. Only the Lord knows what will be the result of these influences, and I often think that when the great crisis comes and the work is drawn practically to its close, we may be surprised by seeing some of these very people taking a decided stand for the truth. It seems also that it has been in the providence of the Lord to leave the working of these Oriental countries until the last on account of the peculiar difficulties which exist. We have had many difficulties to contend with, and there are no doubt many for us in the future, yet we are of good courage and trusting the Lord to fight our battles for us. He has told us to cast all our care upon him, for he careth for us. I know this is true, and I believe it is the desire of every worker in this field to do that very thing. May the Lord keep us humble and ever in the love of truth, giving us courage to press on to the end.
Calcutta.