INTRODUCTION. bab4 I may here, I think, quote an extract from a letter which ‘bears upon the subject of medical practice and shows the spirit in which Emin carries on his work as a physician :—“ Well I remember the day when I received the magic title of Doctor of Medicine, and thought that then the whole world was my own. May far happier days and greater successes be granted you than have been granted me! But may I give you a word of warning ? Keep yourself well in hand, and do not follow without very just cause the too modern developments of medicine. A sick man is no subject, but a feeling and suffering being, whose sensibility is greatly heightened. Be to your patients in the first place friend—then doctor. Our mission is a high and holy one, and the murmured thanks of a poor man is of far higher value than a few guineas, and the knowledge that one has saved a sick child for its mother is a far more beautiful reward than can ever follow a brilliant but risky operation or the humbug of the so-called ‘ scientific medicine.’ Do not laugh at my words. I have grown old and grey in the battle of life, but it is just this Idealism which has helped me over many a bitter hour. My strife and work draw near to their close.”

It must be remembered, in this connexion, that it is now many years since Hmin visited Europe, and that he has, therefore, not been able to keep abreast with all the advances which medicine has undoubtedly made. ‘This is not his own fault.

In almost every letter he asks for medical journals, as well as for information on new methods of treatment, and he has always shown great appreciation of the few papers he received from me. Unfortunately, the means of communication with him is so uncertain that many of the books I sent have never reached him, I remember, too, with gratitude, the pains he took to teach me how to construct a map and how to make many an observation, which subsequently proved of great value tome. After returning from Ugianda, he plotted out with me my first attempt