Page 194 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

■ » i

NEGLECTED ARABIA 13

their chronic ailments for Thursday morning diagnosis and treatment. Un­
doubtedly the fact that the doctor in charge is a man, keeps some of the
women away, because they themselves refuse to accept examination at the
1 hands of a male, or because their husbands refuse tu permit them tn Ik;
I seen and examined by u mule doctor. Vet it in a contort and encourage-
i.
I incut to the doctor und his uisistunt to heur muny an Arub woman, and even
I man, say that they trust the American doctor and look upon him as their
I brother. This is especially noteworthy since the government doctor is such
i
I a sensual, selfish individual, showing extreme lack of principles in the
I treatment of the women.
| The morning clinic which I am describing to you was an especially try-
I ing one, because of the fact that 160 unfortunate, poverty-stricken, and ig-
I norant women presented themselves for treatment. It was no small task
I tor Regina, the hospital assistant, and her helper, to keep the women in
1 order, and convince them that they must wait their turn in seeing the I.
1 American doctor. Many there were who tried her patience to an extreme
1 iimit, because of their importunity, and their unscrupulous selfishness in
I trying to break the routine of the hospital.
| After the morning Scripture reading, lesson, and prayer given by Mrs. ;
1 Moerdyk, the clinic began. The first patient was an old friend, who pre- i
I .rented herself early at the hospital in order to receive prompt attention. ! $
I She was an old woman about 70 years of age, who came regularly to us •{
I for treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, a disease so common among the
I Arabs. Her first visit to me dated hack 31/2 years. One lung was com-
1 pletely gone, and many a time the doctor wrote on her slip, “Still here,
I though beyond help except for relief from pain and discomfort.” Never-
1 iheless, though the doctor found it impossible to satisfy her ever present
1 desire to be restored to health, he had the satisfaction of relieving her dis-
1 comfort and pain, and lightening her burden of suffering to some degree. 1
I Following her, the women were ushered in one by one at the command
I of Mrs. Moerdyk, who listed their names, gave them identifying numbers.
1 and told them to come again if in need of further medical treatment.
! Varied and peculiar were the complaints they olTered, many of them of m»
1 relation whatever to the discuses they were subjected to, and many a time
1 the doctor wished that they had presented themselves early in their dis-
1 ease, so that he could have done something to relieve therp from the rav- : I
1 aging disease which had so strong a foothold in their systems. Often-
1 times he expressed his ideas on the subject, and his eyes were opened to I
I the ignorance of the patients he dealt with, their utter subjection to the 1 V
I wills and whims of their husbands, the slavery their very physical bodies 1
1 cried to be freed from, and the lack of love which their lives portrayed on
I the part of husbands, fathers and guardians.
I Here is a woman suffering from the black gangrene of the Orient—
1 a disease of which we know very little, and the treatment of which we
| know still less. One month ago, she was carried in to the hospital on the
I back of her sister-in-law, suffering from terrific pain and unable to care
I for herself. Today she has shown marked improvement as a result of a
I simple treatment given her at her home, meant principally to relieve her
3 suffering. But, with the help of God, th^t simple treatment has done the ;
1 work, and she is on the way to recovery from a disease the doctor himself f*
I called incurable. . >. -
1 >