We arrived in Buenos Ayres, December 2, just five weeks from the day we left Battle Creek. The trip was a pleasant one all the way, with the exception of a few days after we left England, during which time our little girl was sick. The ship’s steward was very kind to us. The last two weeks of the trip all were well, and we enjoyed it very much.
Shortly after our arrival, we began to lay plans for beginning work, although no way seemed open. We found that in order to be admitted to regular medical practice, I would need to pass an examination in Spanish, in all the branches taught in the medical college, just as the students finishing the course do; and it would cost nine hundred pesos, or about three hundred and sixty dollars, gold. We first thought of opening treatment rooms in Buenos Ayres, and working in that way till I had learned the language, and passed the examination, but the way did not seem clear for this.
GERMAN RUSSIAN COLONISTS IN ARGENTINA
About the middle of January I made a trip to the province of Entre Rios, where our school is located; and while there, the way opened for work in those parts. The town of Crespo was the place suggested to my mind, and in company with Elder J. W. Westphal, I visited that place. While there, we met a druggist who speaks German, and had a conversation with him in regard to our plans. He seemed very anxious that we should begin work in his city, and offered to go to Parana, the capital of the province, and help secure the permit for it. We considered the matter, and decided to do so if the permit could be secured. It was decided that I should go with the druggist to Parana, which is about thirty miles from Crespo. On our way to the station, I told Brother Westphal that I did not feel free to go alone with this man, not being able to speak Spanish nor very good German; so it was thought best for Brother Mass to go with me. When we arrived at the station, the druggist said that he would drive, and we could go on the train. We then decided to drive also. Then he decided to go on the train, and meet us in the city the next morning. We made the drive in the night, as the day was very hot, and in the morning we went to the place appointed, to find that our man had taken the early train, and had gone back to Crespo. Thus we were left with no one to speak Spanish for us, and neither of us was able to make our business known. We met a German in a restaurant who cited us to a Mr. Clark who could speak English. We found him to be the British proconsul, and also the head official of the railroad of the province. He treated us very kindly, and told us that he knew our man, the druggist, and that his aim was to see the president before our arrival, and thus shut us out, as he himself was acting the part of a doctor. An English physician, a friend of his, had formerly been at the same place, and he knew all about it. He gave me a letter of introduction to the president of the board of hygiene, and sent an interpreter with us, in a cab which he ordered for us. We were kindly received by the president, and in a few minutes the required permission was obtained, and we went on our way rejoicing.
I returned to Buenos Ayres; and as soon as we could make ready, we moved to our new field. We spent a few days at the school, and then came to our present location in Crespo, Entre Rios, about ten miles from our school. March 1 we began work. Our first treatment was given to the comisario, or chief officer of the place. We then gave treatments in one of the rooms of the small house in which we live.
From the first, we have been busy, having as many as thirty-two calls a day for advice and treatment. Often four or five wagons stand in front of our door, containing beds with sick people, many coming from ten to thirty miles. As the sick come to us, we are made to realize the great need of instruction in the simple principles of right living. The habits of the people are such as breed diseases of the worst kinds. We are glad to be able to tell them some things which may help them. A few cases are creating special interest in our work. One man who has been paralyzed for four years, and has been to all the large cities for help, is recovering rapidly. The removal of a rapidly growing tumor, and the extraction of a cataract from a blind eye, which resulted in the restoration of sight, are being noised abroad, and people are coming from other towns for treatment.
We now have another house near by which we use as office and treatment rooms. Brother L. Brooking, who spent two years at the Sanitarium, is now with us, rendering valuable assistance. The last year’s failure in crops has made the times extremely hard, so that the financial part of the work is not so good as it would otherwise be. But as it is, our first month’s work came to three hundred and eleven pesos.
I spend two afternoons each week in school, teaching vocal music, physiology, and simple treatments. On Sabbaths we meet with the various companies near us, and try to help them all we can.
God has blessed me much in the study of the language. Although very busy with other work, having only evenings for study, in less than five months I am able to conduct my school lessons in Spanish. I have also greatly improved in my use of German, as most of the people here are German. We hope soon to start work on a permanent basis. Pray that God may bless still more, and that we may soon enter the large cities. We give him all the praise for what has been done.
