The Arab and the African; . mmodity in Central Africa, the medicalman who goes there must not expect to be at oncesurrounded by sick folk all thirsting for his assist-ance. He must be content to abide by the samelaws that rule in other departments of politicaleconomy; and in introducing to their notice such anew article as medical skill, he must be prepared, notonly to provide the commodity, but also to createthe demand for it. This he can only effect bygentleness and by patient dealing with the few whocome to him at first, some with incurable ailments,some with trifling, and many with altoget
The Arab and the African; . mmodity in Central Africa, the medicalman who goes there must not expect to be at oncesurrounded by sick folk all thirsting for his assist-ance. He must be content to abide by the samelaws that rule in other departments of politicaleconomy; and in introducing to their notice such anew article as medical skill, he must be prepared, notonly to provide the commodity, but also to createthe demand for it. This he can only effect bygentleness and by patient dealing with the few whocome to him at first, some with incurable ailments,some with trifling, and many with altogether ima-ginary, ones. Situated as Mpwapwa is at the junction of manyof the great East Central African slave-routes, a Hospital Huts 307 medical man living there naturally obtained manypatients from the passing caravans. Those soobtained were, of course, absolutely destitute, andneeded to be provided, not only with medicine, butalso with clothing, food, and lodging. For lodgingthem we found that it was cheapest to house them. HUTS FOR SICK NATIVES by twos, building for this purpose a sort of largebeehive, six feet high, and seven feet in diameter atthe base. This was built of a light framcv/ork ofboughs, and thatched outside right down to theground. Two six-foot logs parallel to each otherwere then laid along the floor inside, leaving a space 20— 2 3o8 The Missionary between them for a wood-fire for warmth at night,and having the spaces between each of them andthe hut walls filled with dried grass to form a softbed. A few thorns twisted into the thatch outsideat the base of the wall all round prevented hyenasfrom scratching through any unprotected part atnight. These little huts only cost about sevenshillings each, and they were especially useful forisolating infectious cases, as the hut could be burntdown without much loss of money as soon as thepatient was well. All patients so destitute as those of whom wehave been speaking had necessarily to be treatedgratis ; but if possi
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