Opposed to Ablution

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 4, 1879

Opposed to Ablution.

The Dutch settlers in South Africa are exceedingly fond of physic, and although extremely penurious in all other ways, niggardly, in fact, to the last penny, they will not scruple at the slightest symptoms of illness to send for a doctor. Should a surgeon once obtain repute, deservedly or otherwise, his fortune is certainly made. The most ridiculous circumstances often insure to him his good luck, and the amount of money he receives yearly is sometimes surprising. General Cunynghame was told that a medical practitioner lost his credit by simply prescribing the use of liberal ablution to an elderly lady. Her husband was dreadfully angry, making his remonstrance in the following terms: "Young man, you are a stranger in this country, and recommend new customs, which are contrary to usages which we know to be the true rules of health. I have been now married to my "vrow" for thirty-five years, during which time water has scarcely touched her body. It is not, sir, by your persuasions that such inroads can be made into our manners; you are ignorant of our mode of life and do not understand our wants."