The experiences of his professional practise were not all
depressing. Operations were successful in spite of his fears,
and when least expected. Most cheering was the gratitude of the
patients, many of whom acknowledged their lives reclaimed from
death by his hands. The marks of appreciation on the part of some
of these were most touching.
“Have been permitted by a gracious providence this week to
have the happiness of saving the life of a fellow-creature,
which the venom of a poisonous snake was appearing fast to
be destroying. Poor fellow, he was thankful enough. The
first symptom of returning consciousness before he regained
his lost power of speech was his attempt to put his feeble
hands together and raise them to his forehead in token of
his gratitude to his doctor. When three days after, sound in
health and limb, he came to see me. ‘Doctor, you are very,
very good,’ was his very emphatic expression of what filled
his heart. And then he grasped my hand—a liberty men of his
condition in life seldom take—in both his and repeated, ‘You
are very, very good.’”
Dr. House had adopted the policy of gratuitous service. His
motive was to exemplify the Christian spirit by rendering these
inestimable benefits without charge. Perhaps at the time he did not
know the philosophy of the Siamese in the matter of good deeds.
The theory of the Buddhist religion is that a good deed gains merit
for the doer. As a sequence, to be the recipient of a favour is
to assist the other person to earn merit; and since the merit is
ample reward for the good deed it is not necessary to make any
personal return for the favour received. When Dr. House later came
to understand this philosophy he perceived why it was that “of ten
healed only one returned to give thanks.” Yet there were not a few
whose natural sense of gladness was not wholly suppressed by their
religious theories. One day, three or four years after he had been
in Siam, he went out along one of the canals into the country to
a limekiln to get some lime for the new house under construction
at the mission. An old woman came out to wait upon him, and to his
surprise she refused to take pay; and explained that some time
previously the doctor had healed her little girl.
The set policy not to accept fees was not so easily understood by
the Chinese to whom he ministered. Frequently, to avoid offense,
the Doctor found it necessary to compromise by accepting gifts
in lieu of money; and then he would be the recipient of generous
presents of fruit, quantities of rice, numerous cakes of sugar and
small chests of fine tea—gifts in such abundance that he had to
share them with his friends to dispose of all.
But not least of the rewards for professional service did he
esteem the acquaintance and friendships among the patients. These
people came from many parts of the country and there were numerous
representatives from other countries. Sailors from European ports
sought him out for medical treatment, Chinese tradesmen and junk
captains, Malays, Burmese, Peguans, Cambodians, Lao, and the
foreign merchants from India. Then, too, Bangkok the capital
of Siam was visited periodically by officials from the distant
provinces, many of whom came for professional advice to the foreign
physician. The contact established with these various peoples,
and especially with the provincial governors, served to excellent
advantage in after years when the doctor made tours into the far
regions. In particular, the under-Governor of Petchaburi who came
for professional advice, invited the doctor to visit his provincial
capital, and in later years when he had been promoted in office and
rank in Bangkok he remained the steadfast friend of Doctor House.