GRENFELL OF LABRADOR.
«^> : ABOUT "THE DOCTOR WITH THE BIGGEST PRACTICE IN THE WOULD." - v When a great wind blows on the r coast of Labrador, which is the northeastern peninsula of North America, and lies almost due north of Newfoundland, the people say "This'U 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 \v,e!comed; visitor Labra- | dor ever has. ' ' The people of the peninsula', says ;-m English paper, are mostly Eskimos, and at onetime Dr. Grenfell was their only I medical man. He came to them " through storms that appal the hardiest mariaers, sledging across th<i interminable snows, bending over helpless invalids in squalid huts, building hospitals, judging the unruly from the magistrates' bench, And setting in order the cause of the oppressed wheivver h.e went." No wonder they regarded, and still do regard him, as a very wonderful man indeed. BEEN AT THE FRONT. For some time past Dr. GreutVll has 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 missionra*y alive is far more than a local one. ft was in 1892 that, as n young doctor and an Oxford University "Rugger" blue, h:s thoughts were first seriously turned to work in Labrador. Hearing that famous missioner ,sind cricketer, J. K. K. Studd, addressing a street meeting in the slums of Stepney gave him his original inmulsp to go abroad as a doctor and missionary. Some of Dr. Grenfelts experiences put the imaginative efforts of Baron Munchausen to shame. When he first appeared on the coast of Labrador the natives regarded him as « madman, I then as a person with some sinister motive behind Ins seeming kindness. Subsequently, however, they came to regard 'Mm as 'an understudy to Providence." A NEAR SHAVE. On one occasion h<> was carried awnv from the coast on a moving ice-iiold with some dogs. Having no provisions will him lie was forced to kill throe of the dogs as food for the rest. He ur:ftoxl for part of on.? day, .all the following night, and part of the next day. Then lie spliced the leg bones of th<> dead dogs into the somblsincw of a polo, tore a piece off Ins shirt, mid by waving this makeshift sort of fk'.g attracted "attention and was soon and rescued. His "parish" is 420,000 sou are miles in extent, or live t'mes the sira ~>i
Great Britain, the people being so scattere that the average is about one parson to forty miles. It has been claimed for Dr. Grenfell that h e has the biggest practice of any medical mall in tho world. -. '~ - • • . ■ .. , Dr..Grenfell. has, scares of good stbr'ies to irell of'his i'ork and those among whom he works. Some time ago h,o bought a ve4*y fine set of .caribou horns from a poor settler. An American bought them from Dr. Grenfell at a higher price, and the doctor forwarcVd the extra mon-cy to the settler. The latter wrote :— "Dear Doctor, —Tha.nk you for sending me more money for the horns. J am glad you are honest. I hope we shall see you agam soon." .
GRENFELL OF LABRADOR.
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXI, Issue 16690, 21 July 1916, Page 3
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