The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-05-13
IN HIS STEPS

i fernapS no class OF workers walk
more literally in the footsteps OF
Jesus than medical missionaries in
lands where hospitals are pitifully
few. Here is graphic picture of the
way DR.. c. D. USHER goes about the
streets of Van in Eastern Turkey. He
writes: I'VE take circuit of the
city, down one side and up the 9TH
err, visiting rich and poor as they
come. First we enter a one-story
mud house whose earth floor has an
oven in it about three feet deep. This
may or may not contain hot ashes
or Goals from the dried manure burn
ed in the morning, according to
whether the people are fortunate
enough to have gathered some in
the summer. They cover the oven
with a quilt and sit under it for
warmth. A sick woman lies on a
few rags spread on the damp earth.
The house consists of one large room
and a small dark closet lighted only
by tiny paper-covered window near
the ceiling. The one hen belonging
to the household, worth ten cents,
is perched on top of her body to share
the scant heat. The children, enact
ated and with swollen abdomens, sit
around tucked under the same quilt
or warmth. The youngest child
clutches piece of bread, God for
give the name) made of mixture of
bran and dirt sifted from the sold
lers flour, and linseed husks left over
after the oil has been extracted. No
wonder that all are suffering from
gaStrltis and diarrhea. The poor
mother also has severe pneumonia
but when we say Come to the hospit-
a. she replies, I cannot leave the
children. We persuade a neighbor
TO care for them, few cents of relief
funds sent by generous American
friends provides little food, and the
woman is then happy to enter our
to her-palatial hospital.
The neighbors entreat us to see the
rather of another family, sick for
two months and we find him in worse
condition than the woman we have
just left. He is covered with bed
sore sand filthy to the last degree.
His wife died month ago and his
only attendants are there half nak-
ed, hungry children, the Oldest
girl of nine and the youngest four.
He begs to be taken to hospital and
Y, what JOY 1t Is if our funds suffice.
II we can also help his children to
food and clothing through the gener-
osity of friends in the homeland,
how much reader they are to believe
what We tell of Gods love.
Our next call is at the house of a |
well-to-do merchant. The second |
story consists of four large rooms,
one each in the four corners, wide |
hall between. The rooms
are furnished with divans and rugs.
In the corner nearest the door is
sheet lion stove, vertical cylinder
in which wood is placed standing on
end. This is lighted once or twice
day, then the hot Goals are placed in
brazier and put under low table,
like structure covered with large
thick quilts. Under this the sick
lie or the family sit most of the day.
Few use bedsteads, nearly all spread
their bedding on the floor
The next house is the home of an
artisan. We enter through a low
door, and at the end of long dark
passage come to a room whose floor
Is below the level of the ground. The
walls are damp and the patient has
rheumatism which she thinks is caus-
I'd by being frightened in dream.
Nearly every disease is attributed by
he people to fear AS we go back
,oward the street the son of the sick
calls out Humble yourself,
tumble YOURSELF But it is too late.
Wy head strikes low beam and I
lrop to my knees half stunned and
"humbled."
During the year Dr. USHER and
lis assistant visited 1907 patients in
heir homes. When the people we're
n better circumstances, the medical
department. of the Van hospital was
more than self-supporting. but for
everal years prices have been rising
teadily and last year only 43 of the
40 in patients were able to pay reg
lar charges. There is dispensary
n the building, to which all sorts of
ersons come, often on some ones
ack, and sometimes so far gone as
0 die on the road or on the steps.
is pitable and humbling to see their
aith in the "Prote" doctor. One Door
elbow said, please lay your hand on
~ head and I know I shall get we'll"