VI.

THE MEDICAL MISSION.

Sympathy with the sick poor around her for whom no medical aid was available, early led Mary Whately to dispense simple remedies and especially to distribute medicine to relieve the terribly prevalent ophthalmia.  In this she attained considerable skill, and though her nerves were more susceptible than others often thought, she bore bravely the contact with dirt and the sight of suffering which these labours entailed.  “She loved to relate,” says her sister, “what affectionate gratitude was called out by these acts.  The Egyptians are very sensible to kindness, and she never forgot how a poor mason, whose hand, injured by the fall of some part of a wall, she had daily dressed, afterwards recognising her as he passed by her garden railing, saluted her with the words, ‘May Allah ever hold your hand, O lady!’ This kindness it was that won her a way among the poor of the city.  In lanes and streets where she had been met by pelting with dust and cries of ’Cursed Nazarene!’ she was now met by the salutation, ’Blessed be thy hands and feet, O lady!’ or similar words of welcome.  ‘Sitt Mariam’ (literally Lady Mary) became a household word in many mouths.” [1]

[Footnote 1:  Life of Mary L. Whately, p. 62.]

Miss Whately perceived that medical mission work—­of which none whatever had been attempted in Cairo—­would form an excellent introduction to Christian work among the adult population.  In 1878 therefore she engaged Dr. Azury, a skilful Syrian doctor, who had been trained in the American Medical College at Beyrout, and who had lately married Mrs. Shakoor’s sister.  Almost before the necessary premises could be secured numerous sufferers applied for treatment.  At first a small wooden room was built by Miss Whately on her premises as a waiting room for the patients and dispensary for the doctor; and during the first three years over four thousand patients were cured or relieved, and many operations performed, some of which restored sight to the blind.  In 1881 a suitable building for this branch of the Mission was erected, containing two airy waiting rooms, one for women and children and the other for men, a consulting room in which the doctor saw his patients, and two separate rooms, each containing a bed or two for the reception of cases that needed constant care.  In the waiting rooms Mary Whately might be found almost any morning reading the Bible and talking to the patients waiting their turn to see the doctor.  No compulsion was used, but an attentive hearing was usually obtained, while a psalm or some story from the New Testament was read and explained.  As the same people would often come every day or two for several weeks, something like continuous teaching could be given.  In this work Mary Whately greatly delighted.  In any difficult case, says a friend (Sunday at Home, 1889, p. 406), “‘Sitt Mariam’ would take