Page 260 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

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MEDICAL WORK

The Ministry ot Healing
'Wol to be ministered unto, but to minister."

USCAT. Dr. Harrison reports that the second year of medical
work in Muttrah has doubled in volume over the first year.
M Although the Wali of Muttrah has died—a ruler for thirty years
and a warm friend of Dr. Thoms and all who succeeded him. the
community has been increasingly cordial and there has been frequent evi­
dence that the hospital is much appreciated. Touring has made the medical
work known in the villages, and increased facilities in transportation make
it evident that we must develop outlying disi>ensarics in < )mau. t >ue of
the hospital assistants has already been out on the road working as an
itinerant vaccinator. A new form of dessicated vaccine for smallpox,
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recently brought out in America, is hailed by our doctors as one of the
greatest medical advances in years. Lack of rain, crop failures, and even
a poor fishing season have caused dire poverty amongst the people, and a
very low resistance to every form of disease. Dr. Harrison hopes that the
new hospital when built can be "the home of every wayfarer, and that we
can dig a well that will be a source of supply for all who wish it. When
it becomes possible, feeding our poor patients will afford a very lovely
demonstration of Christ’s spirit in Muttrah. The outstanding feature of
the year was a two months tour made with Mr. Van I’eursem along the
coast through ijie district we call the Batina. We did nearly as much
medical work on that tour as in all the rest of the year put together.
Both of us came away greatly impressed with the call lor village work."
Dr. Hosmon writes of the development ot her work in pediatrics, and
the fact that each succeeding year a few more mothers are willing to trust
their babies to her care. She says: "During my absence in the summer
there was a wide-spread epidemic of measles and many, many dozens of
i children died of broncho-pneumonia. This is a most dreaded disease that
u»|lows measles. When I arrived, four babies, very sick with this same
disease were put in my care as in-patients. Some others were simply
carried each morning to the dispensary among the out-patients. 1 do not
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want you to get the impression that crowds of mothers are putting their
babies in our care and asking our advice in the feeding of the under-fed
J ones. I am only touching the surface of the problem, and I am thankful
that each year there is a gradual increase in the number and the interest
shown.” She was able to make a tour again to Kiryat, and looks forward
to weekly visits to villages on the north coast when the motor road is
i 1 opened.
In Bahrein the outstanding feature of the year was the touring done
by Dr. Dame—two months on the Trucial coast and one in 1 lassa. hour
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invitations were received to visit IJassa. One of these was to treat Amir
Saottd, oldest son of King 11m Saottd and heir to the throne, a most
gracious host and a frank, charming personality. Another was to neat
the liovernor of Hassa, who was suffering from melancholia after the
death of his son in a battle with some rebel Bedouins. On the last irip
to Hassa, Dr. Dame was for the first time allowed to treat the public.
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