Medical Work Among the Natives of India
By Olive P. Ingersoll
For the past four months we have been doing medical work among the natives of Calcutta. In April we opened treatment rooms, meagerly equipped, and started with one patient. Sister Fleming, with the assistance of a native Christian girl, has been giving all the treatments. The work has gradually increased, so that now we are treating from six to ten patients daily. We find that we have considerable to learn in dealing with these people. Their prejudices are very strong, and in some cases lead them to do very amusing things. One patient took her child off the treatment table, and ran hastily out of the house when she saw that Mrs. Fleming was going to give her some simple treatment; and in spite of all our explanations and persuasions, we could not get her to come inside the gate again, even to get her medicine, for which they are all extremely anxious. Those who come in are, of course, of the lowest castes of both Hindus and Mohammedans, as the higher class always have their physicians visit their homes. The baboos (educated Hindu men) will sometimes consult a physician at his office, but they will never take their wives out. They must always be seen in their homes. But in spite of their prejudices and superstitions, quite a number are taking the treatments, and the Lord is blessing them. The patients feel very thankful when they find themselves getting well. Their expressions of gratitude are, if possible, more elaborate than their manifestations of fear; for when they are pleased with what has been done, or if they wish us to do something for them as a favor, they fall down on their knees before us, grasp our feet, and bow their heads in a most humble way. Frequently we have to work hard to get them to stand up, as we try to explain to them that it is the Lord, the God who created heaven and earth, whom they should praise, because it is he who heals them. We have recently been called to some of the homes of the wealthy. In such places the health principles are much appreciated, and have proved to be an “entering wedge.” The Good Health (English) affords a means of gaining an entrance to many homes. Sisters Shaw and Hansen have obtained subscriptions from quite a number of these native men; and the paper is always appreciated. Although the work is moving rather slowly, we can see that the Lord is impressing hearts, and opening up the homes by awakening a spirit of inquiry, and we are anxious that the Spirit of the Lord may be so manifested in our work that the darkness of their minds may be penetrated by light from God himself. OLIVE P. INGERSOLL, M. D.