Page 326 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

8 Nlitil.liCriil) A KAMA

tu bring her to the hospital, where her convalescence could be more closely
supervised. All came well, and her husband has several times come tu
salaam upon us and the women folks occasionally come with patients,
always introducing themselves as people of Shereeta.
The next night it was a gypsy compound not far from the hospital
where our services were wanted. Here the courtyard was of date paints
and the huts inside also of date sticks called barusti’s, really houses of
straw, but surprisingly substantial. By the fitful lantern light the men
gypsies were seen skirting the courtyard keeping away from the sick
woman's hut. About live women were crowded inside the hut and several
babies along with them. One two-year-old lay sound asleep in a wide
wooden cradle hanging from the ridgepole. Presently the new little gypsy
joined the throng and all rejoiced.
The next day it was a case of a first baby over on the other island.
The girl was quite nervous and a Baharner, the native inhabitants of the
island. This courtyard was about the same as Shereefa’s. However, the
four or five women in the room were fearful and not disposed to trust us
too much. It began to rain and, of course, the courtyard became a mud
puddle. It was cold and they lighted fires which filled the hut with smoke,
'this could all be put up with, but, unfortunately, after the baby girl cauie
the patient had severe hemorrhage and retained after-birth. 1 tried to have
Dana, the nurse with me, give anaesthetic, but the women pushed us away.
1 struggled unsuccessfully to do what was needed without anaesthetic.
The patient simply would not permit. Her old father stood outside and
exhorted the women on no account to let me give anaesthetic. The girl's
condition became critical and I went out into the rain and mud to luik in
the father. The poor old man wailed, “My girl, my girl," and liegan tu
cry. So 1 cried a little, too, and begged him to give me permission tu
do what was necessary to save her life. Suddenly he said, “1 believe you
all right. Do what you like." And he shouted to the women tu hinder me
no more. We went to work quickly and in the nick of time. It was all
over in a jilTy and the patient recovered nicely.
However, the outcome is not always successful. Occasionally the
neglect has been too long and nothing avails. This has been particularly ,
true in several cases treated by Arab mid-wives when the patients became
infected and after three days to two months we were called. < hie case
of this kind we were slowly getting back to health. She weighed only
fifty-four pounds and was brought in practically dying. Slowly, slowly
she improved, until her husband observed now she was only sick. Then
her mother got weary and left, refusing to care for her longer. Her
husband stayed with her until his money ran out and he had to go to the
diving. I hired a woman at our own expense to look after and feed her.
hut the girl was weak and did not like strangers. The food was a little
different which the hired woman cooked. She refused to eat and waileil
for her folks, so her husband took her away. She was so happy—her .
name was Sheika—to go to her folks. Of course, the next news was that
she had died. We have no doubt Arab readings were tried and their
various charms, and probably not a single one of the careful instructions
given by us were followed.
A common saying is “(live me good medicine. 1 wish to be well at