The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-09
METHODISTS IN AID
OF HOSPITAL CENTERS
Would Alleviate suffering and Cure
Disease Through Extension of
System.

To alleviate human suffering and
cure disease through the extension OF
it's great system of hospital centers
now twenty-six in number, in countries
where groups of millions of people
are without adequate medical atten-
ton, the board of foreign missions of
the Methodist Episcopal church will
spend S2,2SS,624 in building forty
five more hospitals and twenty-four
dispensaries in foreign countries, as a
result of the Methodist Centenary
movement TO raise 100000, 900 Tor
world reconstruction, In connection
with that of the Methodist church,
South, with s35, 900 600 as its objec-
tive.
This is an entirely separate venture
from that of the forty-eight hospitals
maintained by the Methodist Episco-
pal church in America through which
pass annually over 10000 patients.
The property value OF these institu-
tons, coupled with their endowments,
is s15.G26,343. In capacity they range
from the Wesley Memorial hospital in
Chicago. caring yearly for about 1000
cases. down to the Sunnysde Metho-
dist sapitarium for tuberculosis at Sill
yer cay, n. M. accommodating
seventy-flve patients yearly.
The church has also just established
A. medical department to guard the
health of its missionary workers.
Besides forty-five hospitals and
twenty-fo dispensaries, the board
will erect other buildings and doctors
residences, the whole costing $1,h13,-
$50. 1t will draw into service NIFTY
nine more missionary physicians and
surgeons, thirty-two missionary nurses
and 1GG native doctors. nurses and
iuta pt, the h1idrot
for staff and maintenance being STA
I694. The total for both buildings and
staff is s2,2SS,e24.
In Mexico where President Car
rama has just given the Centenary
plans his hearty approval, the board
has at Guanajuato the only hospital
in a population of 1905 900. The near
est hospital is 200 miles away and the
next nearest 400 miles distant. This
work Is to be strengthened.
The board will establish hospitals
nurses training schools and organiza.
tons Of visiting nurses in the capital
cities of FIVE republics, of South Amer
lea. The state hospitals there arc not
adequate to care for ! 0 per cent of the
people.
A missionary doctor in Portuguese,
East Africa, is the only medical man
for. an area containing three and half
million people Sometimes O'Clock
in the morning finds fifty patients
eagerly awaiting attention outside the
little hospital. Another doctor and
hospital in Rhodesia are equally popu-
lar among the blacks. 1t is proposed
to increase the hospitals from two to
six. each with missionary physicians
and an adequate staff.
In China the board has eleven hos
pitfalls and two dispensaries, all over
worked When bandits scourge dis
trice they always spare the MISSION
hospitals. because of their. reputation
for healing the sick. Care of wound
ed during the Shinesc civil war raised
the estimation of the foreign DOCTORS
in the eyes of the people still hlgher.
IT In proposed to improve the stan anu
facilities of existing institutions, es
tablish two additional hospitals ana
eleven dispensarles and, in associa-
ton with other missions, man ana
equip medical schools for the tram
ing Of Christian Chinese.
The Methodists will build hospital
for Mohammedans in Singapore ana
erect nine hospitals on the various
islands OF Malaysia, the governments
bearing part of the cost. They already
have hospital In Java and doctor III
West Borneo.
In the philippines a medical station
viii he established at Apparri. Luzon,
which will minister to 10000 people,
who are within four days journey by
boat from Manila; while another sta
ton at Dagupan. the largest COM
mercial center outside of Manila, VIII
have. n field OF million people.
There are many other phases OF
Methodist medical work. such as a
There are many other phases OF
Methodist medical work. such as a
leper home and tuberculosis SAM
tari,,n, in Africa, and three hospitals
and n dispeusary in India, which VIII
he y,proyed and developed.