Page 400 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

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Fur Kuwait Men’s work l)r. Storm reports from May 1st when he
olVieiallv took charge due to the illness of Dr. Mylrea and his consequent
absence on sick leave. “The summer’s dive coming so soon after May
1st naturally caused a slight slump in the number of clinic patients, but
none whatever in the number of inpatients. This latter was a big feature
uf the work and usually there were between twenty and thirty, meaning
for Kuwait hospital a full house. I many times wished 1 had more room
and certainly, if one had twenty to thirty in-pateints all the time, there
would he real need for new buildings and more ward room. When you
consider that each in-patient has from two to live, and sometimes more,
friends with him you see how inadequate our space was. lint as Bedouin,
and most of our people were Bedouin, love the open, the hospital veran­ i
das and the sand in front of the hospital served useful purposes. Weekly
touring to the villages proved a most satisfactory and profitable plan. (De­
cast on was al ways made to give the Gospel message and 1 find that these
village tours give a splendid opportunity, evangelistically. Each trip re­
sulted, either the following day or some days later, in-patients coming into
the hospital who I am sure would never have come otherwise. On several
occasions 1 am sure lives were saved by the doctor’s being asked to see
someone whom he either brought in himself or encouraged friends to
bring oii the following day. The work has been most encouraging and
surely, year by year, we will see advances towards our coveted goal.”
Concerning the Women’s work in Kuwait Dr. Barny writes, “Morn­
ing clinics arc held daily excepting Sundays and Thursdays. The women
arrive an hour or so after sunrise and continue coming until nearly noon.
Discounting holidays and exceptionally stormy days in the winter months,
die lowest number was 46 and the highest 132. The clinic consists of
women from all classes, the poor of course predominating. A good third
of the out-patients are Persians. Treatment for the most part is free,
the occasional fee in no part paying for the labor or medicine used. Sun­
days and Thursdays no formal clinics are held but there are always from
ten to twenty patients coming in for dressings, and any severely ill patient
is seen and treated. During the year l have been impressed by the trust
and confidence the women have in the hospital, which L realize is due
to the work done in former years. In no home have I received an un­
friendly reception and though occasionally there has been suspicion and
distrust among the relatives, there is always some friend who stands forth i
to encourage the patient to believe in us and our ways. It is indeed a
pleasure to see young women who as children have received treatment in :
the hospital, now bringing their babies for vaccination and for treatments.
I he year financially has been poor. 'The clinics in no measure pay for I
themselves, and oulcalls among the paying class are comparatively few.
At present 1 see no way of increasing our intake unless the clinics defi­
nitely are made paying, charging for all medicine and a fee lor seeing the
doctor. This would of course turn away a very large number ol the
most needv and I am not prepared to do this unless it becomes an absolute
necessity.”
Reporting on the Kuwait Hospitals. Hiss Van Pelt registers deep
thanks for the large supplies of gauze, dressings, sponges, etc., linen and
absorbent cotton that have come and have kept'the work going—“a grow­
ing work on lessening means.” She writes. “1 would like to here pay
tribute to those who have folded and packaged these thousands of spoil-