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the place where he will have the best prospects of usefulness. It would be a great advantage, and one which a missionary to Borneo probably ought to possess, to be able to give some visible proof of his ability, as well as inclination to do the natives good, by healing their diseases, or by doing something else for their present good."

Elephantiasis and blindness," says the distinguished Thomas Campbell in writing from Algiers, "are com→ mon; and disease and poverty may be said to walk the streets. Until the French arrived there was scarcely an European surgeon or physician in the regency, except some runaway druggists, apprentices from Christendom. There are, nevertheless, Moors and Jews who pretend to make both clinical and surgical cures; but the native doctors know not a tittle of anatomy, and scarcely the names of their own medicines, many of which are noxious in the cases in which they are prescribed. In surgery they understand not even the use of the lancet. They bleed and amputate with a razor, and stop hemorrhages with boiling pitch. Enormous mortality and suffering necessarily result from this ignorance of the healing art. For one hideous malady they know no sort of remedy. The blood of the sufferer runs infected in his veins all his life, and makes his children also his victims. I am restrained only by the disagreeableness of the subject from mentioning other instances of the human misery resulting from the ignorance and barbarism of this country; but I assure you I have seen enough to convince me that the retention of the country by France as a point d'appui for the entrance of European civilization in Africa is a consummation devoutly to be wished."

In addition to the foregoing extract relative to Africa, will be presented the following touching fragment from the Journal of the Landers, kept during their expedition to explore the Niger. It was at Boosa, far in the interior of that benighted country, that the incident occurred. "In the evening," say they, "long after the sun had gone down, the chief brought a youth for us to pass our opinion upon, whom he introduced as a near relative. He has been ill for the last fourteen months, and the chief prayed that we would endeavour to cure him of his complaint. We sincerely regret our ignorance of the nature of his disorder, and therefore our utter inability to do him the slightest benefit. Nevertheless, the old chief solicited us so warmly for medicine, and with such pressing importunity, that, rather than give offence, and because the young man complained of a sore throat and neck, which seemed to annoy him more than any thing else at present, we chafed those parts with a little spirits of hartshorn, and wrapped around them several folds of warm flannel. It was all we could do to relieve his pain, and it seemed to give complete satisfaction. How happy did this little service make them!" pp. 20, 21.

What an opportunity was thus presented to commend the gospel of Jesus Christ to that dark-minded people; and by acts of kindness like the one just noticed, secure a permanent influence over them!

With regard to the state of the healing art in Africa, the Landers observe: "Properly speaking, the native have no active medicine of their own, though they boast an acquaintance with a variety of medicinal plants, which, as far as our observation extends, are wholly inefficacious.

They likewise ascribe the most wonderful healing properties to a quantity of roots and fibres of trees, which are sought after and vended by a number of idle, lazy fellows, who pretend to be Mohammedan priests. However, from our experience, these do neither good nor harm."

Mrs. Grant, who, with her husband, are missionaries to Persia, thus writes of the doctor's medical practice in that nation.

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My dear husband is daily, almost incessantly, occupied in attending to the multitudes of sick, lame, and blind, who throng our house and yard, and earnestly present their cases for healing.

"I have been forcibly reminded of the times when our blessed Saviour was on earth and 'went about doing good.' The sick, of every description, were brought unto him from every quarter, and he 'healed them all.'

"Husband's prescriptions have been blest in several obstinate cases of long standing, and he has twice successfully performed the operation of cataract on the eye, which, you know, is a very delicate and painful one. After prescribing for fifty or sixty patients, he is frequently obliged, from fatigue, to send away the rest until to-morrow. Scores are thus sent away for want of time and strength to attend to them. It is very interesting and affecting to observe their simple, yet sincere manifestation of gratitude for relief. Not satisfied with words, they keep the doctor's hands full; and one Mollah, in the excess of his thanks, kissed the hem of his garment. He has been told, by Mussulmen, that they gave thanks to God in every prayer for his coming. He often visits

in Musselmen houses, eats at their tables, and receives every mark of attention and kindness. He often hears them thank God that he will not refuse medicine to a Musselman. Amid all the pressing duties of his profession he is constrained to devote an hour or two, each day, to the instruction of Musselmen, who are desirous to learn the language."

The doctor himself thus adds:

"As I prescribe in such quick succession for so many different cases I find it difficult to keep an exact account of them all. To-day I marked down forty-five, which may be about the average number of my office patients. Besides these I visit more or less in their houses in the city, and in many cases ride to their villages to see those who cannot be brought to me. The effort of mind and body, especially of the vocal organs, necessary to examine and give directions as to the medicine, food, clothing, and general habits of so many different and often complicated and difficult cases, can scarcely be conceived by a person who has never made the attempt to hold conversation in a foreign language but partially acquired. What I shall do when it becomes sickly here I know not, as I can scarcely persuade one to call on their own physicians, and it seems cruel to refuse a few moments' attention and a half a penny worth of medicine, when they may be instrumental of relieving much suffering, and often of saving life. I hope we shall soon have the assistance of fellow-laborers, which we so much need."

The author has just received a letter from Dr. Grant, dated Oormiat, Oct. 25, 1836, as follows:

"You know I have long been anxious to see special

efforts made to qualify and send forth pious young men who may go about healing all manner of diseases, as well as preaching the gospel. It is a well known principle that the most ready access to the heart is obtained by relieving the sufferings of the body. And no one ever availed himself more of this principle than did our Saviour while he was upon the earth. When I was in Constantinople it was the testimony, both of the missionaries and native converts, that one physician might do more immediate good than three clergymen. I think this opinion might hold good in Western Asia generally. Certain it is that a physician can find ready access where no one else—and least of all, a minister of the gospel-would be admitted. And this access he would have under circumstances where the heart is most susceptible of serious impressions. Could you have seen the thousands of wretched subjects for whose sufferings I have been permitted to administer relief-the blind seeing-the lame walking and the sick raised up and then as you see the once disconsolate heart leaping for joy, realize that these had all received practical illustrations of the religion of Jesus, I am sure you would press forward in your noble enterprise with fresh vigour and redoubled zeal. Rest not satisfied, my brother, whilst there is a heart unawakened to this subject, or the call for medical men unheeded. They must go forth by scores and hundreds into every dark portion of the earth, administering relief to human misery, and dispensing the precious leaves of the tree of life."

Extract of a letter from Rev. J. L. Merrick, missionary

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