Right Methods Win Success and Give Influence — The Paramount Need of Medical Missionary Training
By GEORGE THOMASON, M. D.
If it was essential for Jesus to spend much of His time in dealing with the sick, the suffering, and the dying, when doing His work upon the earth, such a course is, if possible, even more important in the work of God in the world to-day. Sickness and suffering are much more prevalent in our day than when Christ was upon the earth. In spite of the great advances in hygiene and sanitation, in medical and surgical knowledge and proficiency, disease and physical and mental degeneracy are constantly increasing.
JUSTIFIED BY UNIFORM SUCCESS
It has been well said that “the history of medical missions is the justification of medical missions.” Dr. Parker, through whose influence the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society was formed, and whose long experience in medical missionary work in China gives weight to his testimony, says, “I have no hesitation in expressing it as my solemn conviction that as yet no medium of bringing the people under the sound of the gospel and within the influence of other means of grace can compare with the facilities afforded by medical missionary operation.”
GARDEN BACK OF OUR SANITARIUM AT STANBOROUGH PARK
NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND
Dr. Parker began his work in Canton in 1835. By his own hand he brought physical blessing to many hundreds of thousands. Dr. Kerr, who later took charge of the work started by Dr. Parker, attended seven hundred thousand patients, and performed forty-eight thousand operations.
Efforts are now being made to raise the standard of medical practice in China; but most of the medical work in China has been and is quackery of the worst type. The Chinese materia medica is perhaps the worst on earth. Their ignorance of the first principles of physiology is said to be marvelous; and the “medicine man” is deceitful and unscrupulous in playing upon the credulity and superstition of the people. Here is a sample prescription:
Powdered snakes .................... 2 parts
Wasps and their nests ............... 1 part
Centipedes .......................... 6 parts
Scorpions ........................... 4 parts
Toads ............................... 20 parts
Grind thoroughly, mix with honey, and make into pills.
In many places in India, the sick are dosed with putrid Ganges water, or suffocated with charcoal fumes.
In India is the largest medical mission in the world. In 1899, 110,000 cases were treated. Here the gospel is preached to thousands of people while they wait for treatment. Scripture texts are pasted on the medicine bottles, and literature is distributed.
BREAKS DOWN CASTE
Medical missionary work destroys caste. Every day, in the dispensary waiting rooms in India, sitting side by side, may be seen Brahman, pariah, devil worshiper, Mohammedan, and Protestant. Persons of all castes and creeds, while waiting their turn to be examined, are listening to God’s word and the preaching of the gospel. Thousands of these otherwise would never have opportunity to hear the tidings of salvation.
CAMEL’S LIVER AND BURNING
The Arab swallows bits of paper containing certain written words. A man in the last stages of consumption takes a prescription directing him to feed for a fortnight on the raw liver of a male camel; and fresh raw liver not being obtainable, he continues the use of this meat in a putrid state until he dies. The Arabs’ most common remedy for disease is the burning of the skin entirely around the seat of pain with a red-hot iron.
In Africa, the natives are largely at the mercy of the witch doctors, who, by the “smelling-out” process, by throwing bones, and by practicing the “poison test,” attempt to diagnose and treat disease.
NEVER FAILING SUCCESS
Dr. Post, of Syria, says: “One thing is perfectly certain; namely, that medical missionary work never fails. Other work may fail; but this affording of relief for physical suffering goes on the debit side of Christianity in all cases, and opens the way for other work to follow.”
THE HEALING ART IN SUPREME DEMAND
It is now a serious question with all missionary societies as to whether any missionary should be sent out without some knowledge of the healing art. The medical missionary is honored and welcomed always and anywhere in the foreign fields. National and religious prejudice vanishes before him; and in one year he can do what it would take another missionary many years to accomplish. Many who are studying the great problem of the evangelization of the world agree that the consecrated medical missionary and the well equipped hospital are most important elements of success in the foreign fields.
Dr. Livingstone said, “God had only one Son, and He gave Him to be a medical missionary.”
