The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-27
AN APPEAL
For Contributions for DIR. Mobiles Hospital
at Pao Ting Flu.

There are many whohave an interest
in foreign missions who may be willing
to help to plant Western medical science
where Oriental quaokery now prevails.
To such make. this appeal.
In the city of Pao Ting Flu, the capital
of the Province of Chilli, is a hospital
under chargeof DR.. Willis G. Noble He
has competent Chinese matron in the
woman's ward. and two Chinese medl-
cal students. In busy times so to 100 at
tend the daily clinic, and ailments of
every kind are treated. Unmentionable
diseases, the results of crime and filth,
loathsome sores which are rarely seen in
America, and paralysis caused by excess
i've fits of passion are common, but fully
three fifths are diseases of the eye or
skin. A large majority of cases require
both surgical and medical treatment en-
tirely beyond the knowledge of the most
enlightened native doctors.
Treatment at the hospital is gratuitous,
except as q grateful patient makes
contribution, but the Chinese are not
given to that way of acknowledgement;
they prefer to send tablet with some
appropriate inscription and name of the
donor In truth nearly all of the patients
are poor and cannot pay for treatment.
DR.. Noble has received only So from his
patients the past year, and tablets enough
to cover the walls three deep.
Patients are required to board them
selves yet many can scarcely provide the
small sum necessary for this till COM
plete cure is effected. DR.. Noble helps
not few from his own private means;
the other members of the station "a fam
lily and two single ladies) have each con-
tributed more or less, and friends at
home have provided for one or two free
beds,Tyet for want of funds numbers must
be turned away.
About three months ago man came
whose arm was drawn up by the growth
of cioatricial tissue An operation was
necessary the board during the time OF
treatment would be about one dollar of
gold His face fell. 81 don't know
where can get the money, am poor and
have no friends. How can l work If my
arm is not cured?" One dollar is not
much to many of your readers, but it
will do q sight of good If spent in one
hospital. There was no dollar that could
in any way be found for this poor fellow
and he had to be turned away. To see SO
much misery as we see here and to be
unable to relieve it for lack of very lit
tie money makes one heartsick. For
threefyears the hospital has been run on a
mere pittance as compared with what a
hospital at home would require. Mean
while we have read of thousandsll ayished
onshouses and yachts and other personal
pleasures which bring no real, lasting,
joy. Are there not those sswho will give
and give literally for the healing of their
fellow men?
| My pleassis for gifts from those who have
not been in the habit of contributing to
the American Board or other foreign
missionary societies. I[doznot want to
take cent of the money that ought to
go to the general fund of these boards.
1t is our hope that there may be those at
home who are possessed Of humanitarian
instincts who will help their fellow men
in China in the hour of their need.
Contributions of any amount may be
sent to my father, John G. Gould, Nation
al Traders Bank Portland, who will for
ward itsswithout expense.
ANNIE A. GOULD.