Page 398 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

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NliUUiCTlin AKA HI A 13

» discussed bul lias nut materialized because of lack of money. TIiim
ically coining into existence would mean that “our task would then be
Mill more towards the surrounding districts and the very large lloaiing
’ uilation 0f Bahrain, the hundreds of men forced lu remain after the
diving season because they have nut earned enough money to return home.”
The statistics reveal an increase of 7,632 dispensary treatments over last
iear and also 171 more operations than last year, with corresponding in­
n-cases in outcalls and inpatients.
Of the Bahrain Women's work Dr. Tiffany reports advances in the
number of outcalls, in-patients and obstretrical cases. She writes, "The in­
patients come from far and near, a number arriving from Persia and not
a few from Quteef, Quttar and other coast towns.- Occasionally a few
ionic from the interior." Interesting glimpses are given of tile hospital
helpers, one a Persian woman with a girl and blind boy to support , an-
other who is a convert from Islam and takes pleasure in conducting hos­
pital prayers occasionally, and a third who works from dawn till dusk and
has very high standards of cleanliness, a phenomenon in Arabia. Outcalls
have been made all over the islands, the Indian nurses being so trustworthy
and capable that they were able to make a number of them without the
company of the doctor. ' The obstetrical work is frequently heartbreaking,
'•revealing the suffering and tragedy these women are called upon to
uulurc. Of the 81 listed cases, 47 were normal, the remaining ones suf­
fering from various complications. Many people do not dream of call­
ing us unless they think the patient is in.danger of her life, liven in some
„( our normal cases that was the reason they called us. Perhaps the
most important thing we have to do is to educate the people to new stan­
dards in caring for mothers.” The enormous amount of work done is
well attested to by the fact that in June and July there were 1,164 and
I,lOO patients seen.
In Muscat the Women’s work had great cause for rejoicing in the
acquisition of a choice piece of land adjoining the dispensary lot. It
lielonged in the family of an influential councilman who had called the
doctor to care for his wife when very ill with pneumonia. l)r. Ilosnmn
writes, “After many days of hard work the Lord blessed the efforts in
die complete recovery of that paitent. The husband had no money to
pay for all the benefits, but a third brother owned a splendid sized and
-haped lot adjoining our dispensary lot. So T presented an oiler to the
councilman to buy that lot. In the meantime, the Lord also worked in our
behalf in another house where the patient was a cousin of the Sultan ol
Muscat. The Sultan asked me to care for her while lie wenl away lor
a few months. She also recovered so that when the Sultan returned it
was easy for me to have a conversation with him about my need ol that
lot. Within four days after my visit with him, he came in person and
presented me the land in the presence of a few other Arabs, lie took
ibis land from the Councilman’s brother, gave him a better piece that
pleased him and then was free to give me what 1 wanted so that there
was no bitter feeling created at all.” Baby care is a feature of the work
here and seeing thin babies grow sturdy and happy under careful feeding
and proper treatment is very gratifying. Village work has also been car­
ried on, providing very fine opportunity for taking medicines to poverty-
.siricken folks who are not able to come and get it, and for telling them
•'about Christ and how He is able to help them in their daily lives.”