In March, 1885, Dr. Swain received a call to a native state to
attend the wife of the Rajah, and after two weeks of successful
treatment she was formally requested to remain as physician to the
Rani and the ladies of the palace. After much thought and prayer
it seemed to her that it was the Lord's will that she should
remain and do what she could for him in this place where there
were no Christian influences; so she consented to the proposal on
condition that she and her companion be allowed to carry on the
work as Christians should. To this the Rajah agreed, and Dr. Swain
signed a contract to remain two years.
In the Blue Book, or Administration Report, of the Khetri State,
1886, the Rajah wrote: "I cannot look back with greater pleasure
or satisfaction on anything I have done than on the facilities
introduced by me for rendering medical aid to the female portion
of my subjects. It is a patent fact that the Indian woman,
secluded as she is within the four walls of the zenana, cannot
fully benefit by any system of medicine; and it was not till the
generous efforts of Lady Dufferin were turned in this direction
that the wives and daughters of the richest and most enlightened
Indians enjoyed a better position than the lowest and meanest of
their fellows. It therefore gives me genuine pleasure to bring
prominently to your notice the existence of a regular institution
in this benighted portion of India, for the treatment of females
of all classes. I have employed a very competent European lady
doctor, Miss Swain, M.D., to attend on Her Highness, the Rani
Sahiba, and, feeling it my duty to place her advice and assistance
within the reach of all my subjects, have established a regular
dispensary for women. It was opened June 1, 1885, at the expense
of the state, and a room in the palace building appropriated to it
until a more convenient and suitable one could be provided. An
allowance of Rs. 100 per mensem is fixed for medicines, and is
found for the present to be sufficient. The average daily
attendance at the dispensary is five."
Under Section 12, Schools, this report is given:--"I am glad to
say that the people of my state are beginning to evince greater
interest in the education of their children than they have done
before. The greatest desire of Her Highness, the Rani Sahiba, was
that I should make suitable provision for the education of girls.
I, accordingly, engaged a competent European lady, Miss P.E.
Pannell, as mistress, and the Khetri Girls' School was opened by
Her Highness in April, 1885, in the teeth of opposition from the
orthodox portion of the community. As was expected, at first every
effort to teach these girls was frowned upon and considered absurd
by their relatives and friends. This feeling, however, gradually
gave place to trust and confidence, and the school is now showing
some return for all the time and patience spent upon it. The
number of pupils on the roll is twenty, of which three have gone
to their _susval_ (husband's home) and three attend only
occasionally. The average attendance of fourteen girls has,
however, been regular. Great pains has been taken to teach
truthfulness, honesty and love for one another. Instruction is
also given in needlework of various kinds, and other things, the
knowledge of which is necessary for good housekeeping. The
improvement made by some of the girls in this direction may at
once be noticed by a change in the manner of doing nicely the
little things which go to make up their lives. The school owes its
existence to the care of Her Highness, who is much interested in
it."
In addition to her school, Miss Pannell was engaged to teach the
Rani and some of the court ladies. Dr. Swain and Miss Pannell were
the only Christians in the state, but their little Sunday service
conducted for their servants gained attention, and others asked to
be allowed to attend, some becoming so much interested that they
procured Bibles and Testaments that they might read the "wonderful
words" themselves. A supply of tracts and portions of Scripture
was always on hand, to distribute whenever and wherever the ladies
felt they would be appreciated.