Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1911 — SPREADING LIGHT IN KOREA [ARTICLE]

SPREADING LIGHT IN KOREA

Campaign Against Tuberculosis la Progressing Well, According to «* - , ■ » Advices Received. That the campaign against tuberculosis is bearing fruit even In far off Korea Is evidenced by an interesting report Just received from Dr. Edwin 1L Kent, a Methodist Episcopal medical missionary stationed at Haiju In the northern part of the Korean peninsula. Speaking of the work of a dispensary established several months ftg» in connection wltlr a little hospital in Haiju, Dr. Kent says: “Since the dispensary opened it has treated 999 patients. From the first It has been noted > for the fresh air treatment of tuberculosis. The advice for tubercular patients, so often given, soon became known as the “Yeggy," the native helpers learned it by heart and at the word from the doctor turned loose on the unsuspect-ing-sufferer such a floods of good advice as he doubtless never had heard before. Such has become the hos? pital’s reputation for fresh air advice that not long since, a man expressed himself as only waiting for warm weather before going to the hospital, ‘for,’ said he, ‘the doctor wljl urge me to keep the. door. open, and that is very hard in winter.’ Nevertheless, Haiju has several converts to the fresh air preaching.” * Another interesting result of the health campaign is noted in a series of health talks held last spring. Dr. Kent says of them: “The subjects ranged all the way from washing in the springs to why the doctor did not give cough medicine. One evening the people were told they might' ask any questions they wished about America and Americans. A man immediately arose and asked: ‘Why do Americans abominate the Korean topknot? Why do American women have small waists? Why do American men walk with their wives?’ The man was a school teacher and it is safe to say that his boys - had been asking questions! However, it was a relief when the next man asked something so easy as a description of-New York city. But these health talks have not been without results. The talk on a pure water supply bore fruit, at least in so far as the spring iq front of the compound is concerned. Even the water carriers have taken the matter up and if they find a woman doing the family washing in the spring scold her so roundly that she is seldom found there again. The steady din of “Leave your floors open and breathe pure air” has also borne fruit. In many homes large holes were cut In the paper doors in the midst of winter, while many boasted that they left the door open at night. Another direct result of these lectures has been the establishment of three Korean milk merchants. Before the talks began it was rare indeed to find cow’s milk in a Korean house. Now that invaluable food is consumed in nearly 50 homes.”.