GRENFELL OF LABRABOR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 197, 4 August 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

GRENFELL OF LABRABOR.

AUOI'T "THE DOCTOR WITH THE BIGGEST PRACTICE IX THE WORLD." When a great wind blows oil the coast cf Labrador, which is the northeastern pcirnsula of North America, and lies almost duo north of Newfoundland, the people say "'This'll bring Grenfell." And Grenfell —Dr. Wilfred T. Grenfell, M.D., C.M.G., to give him his full title —is the most eagerly expected and most warmly welcomed visitor Labrador ever has. The people of the peninsula, says in English paper, are mostly Eskimos, and at one time Dr. Grenfell was their onl medical man. He came to them ''through storms that appal the hardiest mariners, sledg'ng across the interminable snows, liending over helpless invalids in squalid huts, building hospitals, judging the unruly from the magistrates bench, and setting Hi order the cause of the oppressed wherever h.e went." No wonder they regarded, and still do regard him, as a very wonderful man indeed. BE FN AT THE FRONT. For some time past Dr. Grenfell lias been at the front with an American surgical unit, but a week ago he sailed from London to Labrador. In normal times his return to this country would] have been looked upon as an important" event, for his fame as perhaps the greatest medical nrssionnry alive 'S tar more than a local one. It was in 1892 that, as a young doctor and an Oxford I'nixersitv "Rugger'' blue, Irs thoughts were first seriously turned to work in Labrador. Hearing that famous missioner and cricketer. .1. E. K. Studd. addressing a street meeting in the slums of Stepney gave him his original impulse to go abroad as a doctor and nr^-ionnry. Soin.e of Dr. (irenfell s experience* put the imaginative eiloti* of Bar::i Munchausen to shame. When he fust appeared oil the coast of Labrador the liat'vcs regarded him as a madman, then as a person with some sinister motive behind h's seeming kindness. Subsequently, however, they came t.• regard 'him as 'an understudy to Providence." ANFARSHAYE. On one occasion lie was carried awat from ihe coast on a moving ice-field wtb some dogs. Having no provisions uili him lie was forced to kill three of the dogs as food for the rest. He dr.itod for part of on.' day, all the following night, and part of the next day. Then he spliced the log bones of the dead dogs into the semblanc.e of a pole, lore a pace off h:s shirt, and by waving tin* makeshift sort ol flag attracted attention and was seen urul rc-i-ned. His •' parish" is -120.IIIK) soium imioin extent., or live t nies iii■ - -i/.'- ' l Groat Britirn, the people In inj- -<> s attero that the average is aboM on< per. son to forty miles. It has be.-u (!.iii■ ■• • 1 for Dr. (irenfell that lie has the biggest practice of any medical man m '.he world. Dr. (Jronfell has scores of good stories to tell of his work and those among whom lie works. Some time ago hfl bought a very line set of caribou hornfrom a poor settler. An Amort .ci bought tiiem from Dr. Grontell at higher price, and the doctor forwarded the extra money to the s"tller. lhn htt( r wrote " Dear Doctor,--Thank you for sending me more money for the horns. ' am glad you are hone.st. T hope we shall see you again soon