The need for a dispensary and hospital became daily more
imperative, and it was opportunely met in the munificent gift of
the Nawab of Rampore, who owned an estate adjoining the mission
premises in Bareilly. The Hon. Mr. Drummond, the commissioner of
the Northwest Provinces, was interested in mission work,
especially in the effort to help the women of the city and
neighboring villages through medical aid, and he agreed with the
missionaries that the Nawab's estate was just what was needed to
carry out their plans. He therefore arranged that Mr. Thomas
should go to Rampore and in a personal interview represent to the
Nawab his desire to procure a portion of his estate in Bareilly
which adjoined the mission property, for the purpose of
establishing a hospital for women.
Accordingly, on receiving an intimation that the Nawab would
receive them, on October 8, 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Dr.
Swain set out for this momentous interview. An interesting
description of this visit is given in Mrs. Gracey's book, "Woman's
Medical Work in Foreign Lands," and in Dr. Swain's book, "A
Glimpse of India." Mr. Thomas's carefully prepared Hindustani
speech was not finished before the Nawab replied graciously, "Take
it! It is yours! I give it to you with great pleasure for such a
purpose."
Mrs. Thomas naively wrote: "We were so amazed at the readiness and
graciousness of the gift that we nearly forgot to make our salaams
and express our thanks and gratitude. The Nawab replied that there
were two great merits in this gift--one for himself and one for
Mr. Thomas, for taking so great interest in the charitable work.
Mr. Thomas then asked permission to found the first hospital for
women in India in His Highness's name, to which he replied, 'As
you think proper, so do.' So His Highness Mahomed Kallub Ali Khan,
Bahadur, Nawab of Rampore, has the honor of making the first
generous contribution toward founding the _first woman's hospital
in India_. His Highness again expressed the satisfaction he felt
in bestowing this gift, and said he would send his general to
Bareilly on Monday to make out the papers and put us in formal
possession of the property."
Before the party left the Nawab's dominions, the ladies were asked
to see a sick woman in the Tahsildar's house, and they found her
very ill indeed. Dr. Swain prescribed for her and for several
others who asked for medicines; then they returned to the Rest
House to get their breakfast and talk over the interview, and to
thank God for his great bounty to the mission work.
Mrs. Thomas wrote: "We were bewildered and overwhelmed to think
that the possessions which we had longed and prayed for these many
years were ours. The gift came to us so freely and in such a way
that we could take no credit to ourselves for having obtained it.
Like all God's free gifts it was given before asked for; no
persuasions or arguments of ours would have made any difference.
God saw our need and supplied it."
The estate consisted of forty acres of land, a fine old kothi or
mansion, and an extensive garden. The house needed repairs which
were soon completed and Dr. Swain and Miss Sparkes, who had been
appointed to take charge of the orphanage, moved into their new
home January 1, 1872. A part of the house was used for a
dispensary until other arrangements could be made, and then
followed busy and often weary days, borne with patience, however,
for the work was for the Master.
The much-needed and well-planned dispensary building was completed
in May, 1873, and the hospital buildings connected with it
received the first indoor patients January 1, 1874. From that time
on there was no lack of occupants for the rooms. In the published
collection of her letters, entitled "A Glimpse of India," Dr.
Swain gives a graphic picture of the buildings, their occupants
and their mode of life.
Visits to homes in the city were continued, and Dr. Swain and her
assistants were fully occupied every day. Three of the graduates
of the medical class were employed by Dr. Swain as Bible women and
gave much assistance in the religious work connected with the
hospital.