SALVATION ARMY VISITOR

Southland Times, Issue 24057, 22 February 1940, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY VISITOR

Medical Officer In Bombay WORK UNDERTAKEN FOR INDIANS The almost god-like influence of Mahatma Gandhi, the breaking down of the caste system, and the agitation for complete Dominion status are things that have impressed Dr A. Bramwell Cook, formerly of Hastings, and now chief medical officer of the Emery Hospital conducted by the Salvation Army at Anand in the Bombay Presidency, India. Dr Cook, who is spending six months in the Dominion on furlough, is a son of Commander H. C. Cook, of Hastings. Dr Cook is accompanied by his wife who, like himself, holds the rank of captain. Dr Cook was educated at the Waitaki Boys’ High School and continued his studies at Auckland University College and Otago University. He holds the degrees of F.R.C.S. (Edin.) and M.R.C.P. (Lond.). In appreciation of his work he was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind medal in 1935 by the Indian Government. In referring to the Salvation Army’s work in India, Dr Cook mentioned in an interview that when he took charge of the Emery Hospital in 1931 the institution had 60 beds. Today it had 600 beds, operations totalled 4000 annually, and some 65,000 cases a year were dealt with. The Emery hospital catered for Indian patients only. There were five doctors on the staff, four European nurses and about 50 Indian nurses, X-ray operators and numerous dispensers. Out-patients numbered between 200 and 300. Tropical diseases were a big problem and a large proportion of the cases arose from cholera and malaria. Because of the financial burdens connected with the hospital, the authorities were unable to undertake research, but the Government was active in that direction.

In the Bombay Presidency, continued Dr Cook, two schools for boys and two for girls were maintained by the Salvation Army. The girls were taught sewing and the boys weaving. There were two training colleges for Indian officers on mission work, and also the Willingdon Boys’ Home, a reform institution accommodating about 120. The King Edward Home for stranded Europeans and Anglo-Indians and the Rescue Home for Women were also supported by the Salvation Army. Tire King George V infirmary in Bombay was controlled by the Salvation Army, nurses being supplied from Dr Cook’s hospital. In the country there was a large farm colony called Muktipur (Salvation Army) providing food for famine times. The Salvation Army was conducting evangelical work in between 200 and 300 Indian villages. A model dairy at Anand, which was the largest in India, was controlled by two young former Dominion residents, Mr Madsen, of Matamata, and Mr P. Foster, Palmerston North.