The New England Sanitarium, South Lancaster, Mass.
By C. C. Nicola
C. C. NICOLA, M. D.
The managers and the employees of the New England Sanitarium can but feel grateful to God for the degree of his blessing which has attended the institution since it was opened three years ago. The work began with very little equipment and few facilities, but it has steadily grown, both in extent and in efficiency, until at the present time we have a thorough equipment in every department, and are enjoying a good patronage. During the past year the total number of guests was over six hundred, coming from twenty-six different States, besides several of the Canadian provinces and the West Indies. The average number of patients at the present is about fifty. The work has nearly doubled each succeeding year. It is evident that there is a good field for medical missionary work in the East, and that the Lord is ready to bless man's effort in this direction.
The aim of the institution has been to make the work educational as far as possible, not only with reference to health subjects, but in religious topics as well. In the institution the educational work for the patients is carried on by means of weekly lectures and the distribution of literature, as well as by personal instruction. Morning worship is conducted publicly for the guests, together with Sunday afternoon services, mid-week prayer meeting, vespers at the beginning and close of the Sabbath. In addition to these, the chaplain devotes considerable time to personal work.
In connection with the institution we are also conducting a well-organized medical missionary training school for nurses, which is modeled as nearly as possible after the plan of the International Medical Missionary Association, both as regards the requirements of admission and the course of study given. This school has called together an intelligent and promising class of young people, who have indicated their desire to devote their lives for the good of humanity. Three classes have already been organized, the first of which completed the prescribed work in the fall of 1901, while the second class will soon complete their course of studies. Although, on account of the constant growth of the work of the institution, most of the students who have completed their course of study have been retained in connection with the work here, some have already gone out into more aggressive work, and all are prepared to do so.
The educational work outside of the institution has been conducted through the agency of schools of health, the circulation of literature, and the influence of missionary nurses who have gone into private families to teach not only the principles of health, but the principles of the whole gospel. During the past year three very successful schools of health have been conducted. This work was under the direct charge of Dr. Mary B. Nicola, assisted by Miss Olive Jones and others. The first was held at Northampton, Mass., in connection with the Connecticut Valley Chautauqua Association, where it was attended by a large class of educated people. The interest and enthusiasm manifested in this branch of study were so great that the managers of the association have offered us greater inducements to carry on a similar course in connection with the Chautauqua to be held during July of this year, and arrangements have been made for sending a corps of laborers to take up this work.
The second school of health was held in Boston in connection with a vegetarian restaurant which has been conducted in that place, and was also the means of reaching a goodly number of influential people in Boston. The third school of health was held in the early part of December, 1901, in Dover, N. H., in connection with a course of religious meetings conducted by Brethren Gilbert and Hartwell. The school of health was held in the same hall, and took the place of the religious meetings in both the afternoon and evening during a period of ten days. Between sixty and seventy of the best people of the city were in regular attendance, while the lectures were reported in the daily papers. Through this effort, not only were the principles of health brought to the attention of many people, but a great deal of prejudice was removed, thus enabling the ministers to become acquainted with many influential people of the city. Here, also, there is an urgent invitation to continue similar instruction another year.
The second school of health was held in Boston in connection with a vegetarian restaurant which has been conducted in that place, and was also the means of reaching a goodly number of influential people in Boston. The third school of health was held in the early part of December, 1901, in Dover, N. H., in connection with a course of religious meetings conducted by Brethren Gilbert and Hartwell. The school of health was held in the same hall, and took the place of the religious meetings in both the afternoon and evening during a period of ten days. Between sixty and seventy of the best people of the city were in regular attendance, while the lectures were reported in the daily papers. Through this effort, not only were the principles of health brought to the attention of many people, but a great deal of prejudice was removed, thus enabling the ministers to become acquainted with many influential people of the city. Here, also, there is an urgent invitation to continue similar instruction another year.
We also feel grateful to the Lord for the general success that has attended the medical work. Out of the large number of patients who have visited the institution during the past year, representing nearly all classes of diseases, not a single death has occurred. This is the more gratifying as we have had quite a large number of surgical patients during the year, some of the operations being of a very critical nature. On the whole, there is the best of feeling among the patients with reference to the results of their treatment at the sanitarium, and we are continually receiving expressions of appreciation and gratitude from former patients. Our standing among the members of the medical profession seems to be good, and we are constantly making new acquaintances, and already a considerable number of our patients are sent to us by physicians. We have the friendly interest of some of the leading physicians in the East.
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In connection with this report, it might be proper to mention some of the recent developments which contemplate the removal of our institution from South Lancaster to a more desirable location. A few months ago our attention was called to what seemed to be an ideal place for a sanitarium, inasmuch as it was located within a few miles of Boston, and with direct railroad connections with important centers in the East. Although so near to Boston as to be reached by trolley for a single fare, and surrounded with cities on every hand, the place enjoys all the charms and beauties of nature in its primeval state, and being located in the midst of what is known as The Middlesex Fells, a park of thirty-five hundred acres, which has been reserved by the State in order to preserve the charming effects of its natural scenery, it is as completely isolated from the business and rush of civilization as though it were a thousand miles from the city. The property consists of22several large, commodious buildings, thoroughly furnished with all modern conveniences, together with forty-one acres of land laid out in lawns, recreation grounds, gardens, etc. The place is peculiarly adapted for sanitarium purposes, and we can but feel that the hand of Providence directed in securing the place for our work. Although our entire plant here has been sold, we shall continue our work in South Lancaster during the present summer at least, in addition to opening the new sanitarium. Later on, the entire work will be removed to the new location at Melrose, Mass.
We feel that any past success has been due to the Lord, who has helped us in our experience, and we feel the need of constantly looking to him for help in the added responsibilities that come with the increase of our work.
