Smyrna times., 1886-09-22
HOSPITAL WORK.

We received our first patient the last
day Of the old year. A young girl
with scrOfulOus disease of the foot re-
quiring an operation. She is still with
us, is a bright child and spends her
time serving, knitting, learning char
acters and committing hymns and scrip
ture verses. 1t was encouraging 10
hear her teaching the hymn Jesus
loves me" to another child, about her
own age, who came in afterwards. The
opportunity for doing evangelistic work
i'll hospitals is certainly a very import
ant one. In many instances the pa
tients remain for weeks and can receive
daily instruction, while much of the
teaching outside is to transient audien-
ces and more likely to prove seed sown
by the way-side. We have worship
every morning in the hospital and a
weekly prayer-meeting. This is atten-
ded by the pupils of the woman's
school and day schools, nearly filling
our largest room. At one of the meet
ings two of the new patients laughed
frequently during prayer. They said
afterward, that the big shoes made
such noise when the women knelt
that it made them laugh.
At the next meeting these women
were very quiet and repeated verses
the Assistant had taught them.
Three women are with us for the
purpose of studying medicine. With
our inferior facilities, to educate physi-
clans thoroughly, will hardly be posi-
Bile. The hope of making money will
no doubt attract many. The fear that
those least fitted will be the most un-
willing to give the necessary time for
preparation, and go out with the little
knowledge that is dangerous, almost
deters one from undertaking the task.
However, there seems to be 10 other
way than to receive those who applv.
provided they have sufficient education.
and show aptitude for the work. and
teach them what we can.
That some Chinese women are seek
ing through medical training in Ameri-
ca is most fortunate. One has already
graduated at the College of the New
York Iniirmary" and another is pur-
suing her studies in Ohio.
No doubt others will avail themselves
OF the same opportunity. Native wo-
men who have the necessary prepara-
ton and experience to have confidence
in themselves, will we believe inspire
confidence in others, and find a great
field for work not only among the poor
but among the higher classes, where
there is the greatest opposition to male
physicians. Women educated abroad
will be prepared to give instruction to
native students, and thus little by little
the standard of female medical educa-
ton in China will be raised. A school
for midwives in connection with q Ma
ternity Hospital would be a most hui
name charity. That the women here,
in their greatest hour of need, must de-
pend on those who are so ignorant, is
the cause of additional suffering and
peril that is very pitiful.
Our first hospital assistant is one of
the earlier pupils in the boarding
school. Twelve years after leaving
school she returns to us, to prepare for
wider usefulness, she is a faithful helper
and quite enthusiastic in her desire 10
learn medicine.
Another is one of last years gradu-
ates. Their thorough training in the
Scriptures will be of great service in
giving Christian instruction to the pa.
tients the third is Buddhist, a strict
vegetarian. She became interested In
Christianity and came to us that she
might learn the doctrine more full, also
] desiring to learn what she could O