Danskeren. [volume] (Neenah, Wis.) 1892-1920, 1916-02-09

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ever there was any ward space
available, | had applicants for
admission. | have had in-patients
in my offiee-rooms, and | shall
not soon forget the mornings
when Bible-talks and prayers,
consultations and treatments,
were all carried on within the
narrow space of those rooms,
for the rest of the Hospital,
waiting-rooms and all was filled
with beds for wounded. | thought
seriously for a while of renting
and equiping a room somewhere
in Ashar for my clinics: but this
presented several obstacles, and
my extra time was always needed
in the other work. The women
kept coming however, the num-
bers ebbing and flowing accord
ing to the more or less crowded
state of our wards; they came
in spite Of the guard, in spite Of
lack of space, and they were so
interested, so full Of sympathy
for the wounded within our walls
that it was a JOY to have them
come.
During the spring | was able
for a while to go out once a
week with the Bible-woman to
look up old patients, especially
those who had not come to the
hospital, but had been treated
in their homes. We also went to
the farther away parts of the
town, the suburbs Of Busrah, if
they deserve so dignified a name,
from which come a large unmber
Of my regular out-patients. |
chose houses and districts not be-
fore visited by the Bible Woman,
thus charging the circle Of her
acquaintance and Influence. This
visiting ] enjoyed very much,
and found it helpful in my own
life thus to go among the women
in their own homes when illness
was not hanging over them, and
| could talk with them freely.
It is a privilege | hope to enjoy
further.
| think | ought to mention the
women who came to us with
food and clothing for the woun-
ded. Most of them were women
whom | had not met before /;
many of them of good class, but
fanatical in their religious views /;
some also of the opposite extre-
me, with little religion and less
respectability, but with plenty of
money to spend. All black, veil
ed, eager figures, produsing
bundles Of varying size from an
der their draperies, asking that
they be distributed to such AMI
such a one. whose wounds caus-
ed them to need frequent change
Of clothing. Often rather preemp-
tory in their demands, not much
given TO observing Hospital rules,
but with good and kind intention,
bringing their gifts For the
sake og Cod as they usually
put it After a while stricter
military regulations forbade their
passing through the wards this
was a relief in some ways, but
on the other hands a source Of
regret. It did them good to come,
| think, and gave us the chance
Of winning their confidence, and
it was in itself a pleasure to see
them administering charity first
hand. The convalescants did
enjoy the dishes Of Mahallaba,
a delieacy not on our Hospital
bill-of-fare, and the extra Jumps
Of sugar for their tea, and they
were all eager for tobacco. A
Turk will smoke with his last
breath almost, and the first
thing he asks for after coming
out Of an anaesthetic is a ciga-
rette.
The Woman miss jasmine,
our Bible-woman succumbed
to Plague early in April this
year. Every now and again
someone ask after her, and many
a quiet tear is shed in her mem
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