MEDICAL WORK
The real opening up of our medical work in South China dates from the arrival of Dr. Jessie McBean, at Macao, in March, 1906, followed by the arrival of Dr. J. A. McDonald some months later, i Their work for the first few years was of an itinerating character, winning the confidence of the people and an entrance into their homes, ministering to the sick where opportunity afforded, and mastering the language. Yet at the end of the first ten months Dr. McBean reports 119 cases. A dispensary was begun at Kong
Moon in 1907 in three little rooms off the rented chapel, the men and women coming at different hours. There were no conveniences beyond what the missionaries could devise. From the first the doctors tried to have the Chinese pay a small fee, the better to appreciate what was being done for them. Dr. McBean illustrates how poor many of these first Chinese patients were, yet how willing to give what they could, and the same is equally true of the patients to-day : Most of the people are very poor, so poor that they cannot buy enough food to nourish their bodies, and are, of course, not able to pay for medicines. The second fee I received here was the immense sum of 6 cash, not 1 cent, about six-eighths of a cent. It was neatly rolled up in red paper, and handed to me with truly heart-felt thanks for the help given. Miss Dickson and I were quite touched when we saw the 6 cash. Poor creatures, it was all they could afford to give. That same day we had eight patients, and only received fifty-five cents, so you can see my fees are not going to be large, but we are anxious from the beginning that the people should understand, that as far as they aie able, they should pay for their medicine. They value the help given and the medicines much more if they pay something for them. Another dispensary was also established at Ngoi Hoi, one of the outstations.
The records also tell of two Chinese women doctors in Shek-ki, graduates of the Canton Medical School. They are employed by a Chinese Benevolent Society to work among the poor. The first attempt at a hospital was when two rooms were set aside in Mr. McKay's rented house at Kong Moon Port, one for the use of Dr. McBean, the China —
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other for Dr. Macdonald. Among the first patients was a blind woman, Chung A Mo, whose case had gone too far, but who was made happy in the know- ledge of a Saviour, and henceforth went about telling the glad news.
The "Marian Barclay " Hospital
