Medical Missionary Training
By M. E. Kern
"Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel." Recognizing this truth, and with the world field before us, and the great cities of the East at our very doors, the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary has provided for medical missionary instruction. Two lines of work are offered,—a course for graduate nurses, and elementary instruction in medical lines to all evangelistic workers. The Postgraduate Missionary Nurses' Course
There is a large demand for medical missionaries, persons who are competent to diagnose and treat disease, though not working necessarily as physicians. The course we offer covers one year, and includes six hours a week for nine months in medical subjects, and two classes for nine months in Bible or history, and missions or Bible workers' training. The medical classes include such subjects as minor surgery and anesthetics, elementary dentistry, advanced hydrotherapy, physical diagnosis, obstetrics, chemistry of foods, tropical hygiene and diseases, eye, ear, nose, and throat, and advanced materia medica. Three months are spent in practical work in our Washington dispensary. The plans and success of this new enterprise have already been presented in the REVIEW. The work continues to advance beyond our expectations, and is furnishing just the experience our nurses need to prepare them for foreign or city mission work. In order to furnish dispensary experience to all, it is desired to have several nurses enter this course at the beginning of each term. There is room for a few more to enter September 4. Others may enter November 27, February 19, and May 14. Arrangements are made for those who can furnish good references, and desire to pay their expenses in school by nursing at the Washington Sanitarium. Elementary Instruction in Nursing
We have been told that "in connection with our larger schools there should be provided facilities for giving many students thorough instruction regarding gospel medical missionary work." The subjects offered to evangelistic students who are not nurses are hydrotherapy, general diseases, tropical hygiene and diseases, skin diseases, accidents and emergencies, and any other subject which the previous knowledge of the students will allow them to take. These students are given the privilege of observation and experience in the dispensary also. In an article in the REVIEW of Sept. 10, 1908, Sister E. G. White said: "Let our ministers who have gained an experience in preaching the word, learn how to give simple treatments, and then labor intelligently as medical missionary evangelists." It would be an excellent thing for a number of young ministers to drop their field work for a few months, and avail themselves of this instruction, as well as of the work in Biblical and historical research, and of evangelistic methods offered by the Seminary. The words of the old Talmud are especially true at this time: "The day is short, the work is vast, the reward is great, the Master urges." M. E. KERN,
President Foreign Mission Seminary.