p. 690 | Medical Missionary Department

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 17, 1913

Medical Missionary Department

W. A. Ruble, M. D. . . . . . . . . . . General Secretary L. A. Hansen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Secretary H. W. Miller, M. D. . . . . . . . . . . N. Am. Div. Secretary

Field Experiences of Nurses

THE following excellent report is sent by Dr. G. B. Replogle, of the sanitarium in Argentina. The nurses reporting the experiences are native graduates of the sanitarium. The institution feels justly proud of these workers. The experiences will be of general interest.

Adela Toledo writes from the city of Corrientes as follows:— “A few days after coming here I went with Brother Rojas to visit various doctors in this capital. Some said that it seemed that Corrientes was not the place to begin work of this kind, but others wished to see it tried.

“On visiting the president of the Council of Hygiene and presenting our diplomas, he said that we had come to the place where competent persons were needed for that kind of work, and assured us of much success and that we could count on his help. “We had, however, to pass an examination a few days later. For this, they took us to one of the best hospitals in the city. The president of the council and three other doctors who are also members of the council, and other visiting doctors, were present. At first the president had me give a massage to a rheumatic leg, and asked questions, such as, ‘What is the effect of massage?’ and, ‘How often should it be given?’ He was apparently satisfied with the replies. I was shown a seat, and was asked many questions, the answers to which seemed to be well taken. “When he had concluded, one of the other doctors had a list of questions to ask about things that I had studied at the sanitarium, one of which was, ‘What does this mean, “The History of the Advent Message”?’ This gave me a splendid opportunity in the presence of all to explain to them about the principal points of our faith, after which they thanked me and let me go. Later the diploma was duly registered and signed by the council. “A few days afterward, not having work, I went out with our health paper Salud y Vida, visiting the families and making acquaintances. Later I was called to give treatments to several women in the hospital, also to a child that is cared for by a Sister of Charity, who is also sister superior of a hospital. She expressed herself as much pleased with my work. “I was sent by a doctor to the father of the governor of the province, who is suffering with rheumatism in the leg. He was well satisfied with the treatment. I have since been called to treat others of the best families here. “Several times a week we go to the hospital and sanitarium to give massage and electricity, and sometimes to assist at operations. “We have had offers to connect with the institutions here. The doctors are asking about our plans for the future. We told them that we are working as opportunity offers, and if possible will establish treatment-rooms. One institution offered to equip us a room, another offered to employ us permanently; but we are content to follow the Lord’s opening providences.”

Alejandro Vedoya, who is also working with our mission at Corrientes, Argentina, writes as follows:— “I will give some of our experiences. We are happy and content with our work in the city. I passed my examination very well in the presence of four doctors, and now have a provincial diploma that permits me to work at my profession as a nurse. They gave me very difficult questions, but I answered them all. “I can see that the preparation that I received at the sanitarium is sufficient and complete for my work among the doctors of the world. I shall never forget my home in the sanitarium, and the counsel that I received from the teachers there, which helps to guide me in my work here and in this way to do something for the cause of Christ. I am thankful to the Lord for the success that I have had. “I can see more clearly than ever how important is the profession of a nurse, and what a faithful nurse can do for those who are without hope in the world. “I am happy in my work, and have plenty to do. In the morning I go to the sanitarium and help the four doctors in office work and operations. I am earning fifteen pesos a day without any night work. The price of massage is good. They pay from four to five pesos for a general massage, and from three to four pesos for local treatment. “The doctors here seem satisfied with our work. We are the only trained nurses in the city.”

Louisa Mangold, who is located with our mission in the city of Santa Fe, writes that she is employed as the principal nurse in a sanitarium in that place, and that she enjoys her work.

Brother Pedro Kalbermatten, who is working for our conference in the city of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, writes as follows:— “I have much pleasure in relating my first experiences as a nurse. It is now a month since I came here to begin my work as a missionary nurse under the direction of the Argentine Conference. “The first week I visited some acquaintances who are lawyers, doctors, and pharmacists. These persons received me very kindly, and gave me their cards of recommendation to the different doctors, hospitals, and sanitariums. This gave me a chance to call on them and make their acquaintance. “Some offered me work, but I did not know where to begin. I prayed the Lord to direct me, and truly he opened the door. One night the ambulance stopped in front of my lodging, and brought me an order from the director of the Assistencia Publica (government emergency hospital) to come to see him as soon as possible. I went to see him early the following day. He asked me if I should like to engage as nurse in the ambulance service. After taking in the situation, I was convinced that the place was quite suitable for me, and that in no other place could I have so many opportunities. After the director saw my diploma, he put more confidence in me. I went to work at once. I took off my coat, put on an apron, disinfected my hands, and treated such patients as generally frequent these public institutions. The first thing that I had to do was to open a large abscess, and then treat other classes of wounds. “I often have to go out with the ambulance to give first aid to very serious cases. Here I can put into practise the precious lessons that I learned at the sanitarium. I cannot but give thanks to the Lord for the privilege of being so situated that I can use my talents in his service. “The doctors seem to have much confidence in me, and consider me a religious man. I frequently talk to them in regard to the truth. This institution has about twenty doctors, and some six or seven hundred patients a day. I expect the blessing of the Lord in my work. Pray for me.”

Brother and Sister Bartolome Rojas, who went as medical missionary workers to the Indians in Bolivia, write as follows to Dr. Habenicht:—

“MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: My wife joins me in saluting you and the family at the sanitarium. By this letter I wish to acquaint the brethren and sisters of our new residence at the ‘mission indigina,’ in Puno, Peru, on Lake Titicaca. In the daytime it is fine, but at night it is cold. We cannot walk fast nor work hard, as in a short time we get out of breath. With the help of the Lord, we hope soon to be accustomed to the new conditions. “After our arrival, I went to various places on foot or on horseback with Brother Stahl. He felt ill with malaria, and had to go to bed. He had chills, attended with pains in various parts of the body. This delayed our starting the school and other work. We have several sick persons to attend to every day. There are all classes of diseases, but we have good success with them. “Now that Brother Stahl is sick, I have to conduct the meetings. I speak twice on Sabbath, besides the meetings that we have on Sundays and Wednesdays. On Sabbath, March 22, I spoke about the Sabbath, the blessing that it has, and cited the text in Isa. 66:22, 23, that in the new earth the redeemed will come to worship God every new moon and Sabbath. “I asked all present (there were about four hundred) how many would like to greet their Saviour and Heavenly Father each new moon and Sabbath in the new earth. Their hands came up, men, women, and children. It made a deep impression on me to see courage so firm, with faith like a child’s. I had never seen the like before. These Indian brethren have the love of Christ very strong in their hearts, and desire to do his will. “At the close of the meeting we noted thirty-seven names of persons who want baptism. There are many others who will take this step soon. All are awaiting Brother Stahl’s recovery.”