In the early morning, a call came to visit a woman twelve miles away, who had been ill for a month, at the mercy of the village quack—who is far from merciful. I promised to go the next day.
Itinerating Dispensary among Santals, India
Breakfast and family worship over, I started for our dispensary in Kalyan, two miles away. One of our inpatients was very ill. After cheering her up and inspecting the dispensary, we had our regular Marathi service. The precious word of God was read and explained, then followed an earnest exhortation to the people by our native medical evangelist. Our Indian nurse prayed for the sick bodies and the sin-sick souls. The people had crowded in, there being about as many men as women. We worked steadily from 9:30 to 12:30, giving treatments, dressing wounds, advising, comforting, and helping the people in general. In those three hours, we treated seventy-five patients.
Peas in the Wounds
We had quite a time with a woman suffering of rheumatism. A rag was tied below each knee, where we found a peculiar looking wound on each leg. In each we discovered a hard, round substance, which proved to be a pea. I prepared to remove it, but saw that this offended the patient. She had been instructed by the witch doctor to press the pea into the wound to keep the place open, so the disease could find a way of escape. She refused to have the pea removed, saying the gods would be angry.
At 1:30 P. M., lunch arrived from our bungalow. I had just twenty minutes for refreshments, then hurried to the station, taking the 2:00 P. M. train for Igatpuri, our Kalyan branch, fifty miles away. My helpers had preceded me two hours; so when I arrived at 4:00 P. M., everything was ready for another battle with disease. Here we worked hard until 8:00 P. M., treating ninety patients, mostly women. There is always a rear entrance for Mohammedan women. At 8:00, I told our workers to close the door, as we could treat no more.
Dr. Mrs. M. D. Wood, and her 1919 class in training as missionary nurses at our Kalyan dispensary
As we started to a friend's home for the night, we met a man who earnestly entreated us to go and see a sick child about a mile away. It was an only child, two years old. How could we refuse! They secured an old two-wheeled wagon, which they said had springs, and a correspondingly old horse; so we were soon on our way again. The615poor mother seemed heartbroken. We did our best, and pointed her to the great Healer. We promised to pray daily for her child's recovery. Thank God, the child has passed the crisis and is doing well. She had pneumonia.
Carried. Thirteen Miles to the Mission Dispensary
D. Man with a Native Worker Traveling
Through the Punjab
Supper was served at 9:00 P. M.; and after a friendly chat with our good hostess, we retired at 10:30, thanking God for the strength and wisdom He had given for the day.
