INDIA. 335 



over India and that she was well known in the medical 

 circles of Europe. Naturally these statements excited 

 my interest. I was anxious to get some particulars 

 of the medical and surgical work of women in India 

 and to obtain additional information regarding the 

 status or" gynecology and obstetrics in this country. At 

 dinner she occupied a seat opposite me at the table. 

 She was a woman well beyond blooming youth with a 

 yellow, freckled face, coal black eyes and hair. She 

 was dressed in flowing silk of different colors, with 

 ruby red in the lead, and displayed a profusion of what 

 appeared to me cheap jewelry. She displayed a ner- 

 vous disposition. She brought a new book with her, 

 which she seemed not to read, but to glance over in a very 

 nervous manner during and between courses. The at- 

 tention paid to her by the waiters proved to me that 

 she was no stranger in the house. The proprietor of the 

 house was, like her, a Parsee, a fire worshiper. From 

 the appearance and behavior of the woman I became 

 satisfied that I had a colleague to deal with from whom 

 I had little to expect in the way of professional courtesy, 

 and yet a possible opportunity to increase my stock of 

 medical and surgical knowledge from such a rare source 

 was too tempting not to make an effort to obtain it. 

 With many misgivings I made the attempt very cau- 

 tiously. Nothing but an occasional timid, lightning 

 glance was exchanged during dinner. After dinner I 

 sent my servant to her room with my card. He re- 

 turned a few moments later with the discouraging in- 

 formation, "The lady is too tired." Disappointed as 

 T was in receiving this not entirely unexpected news, 

 I had the satisfaction of knowing that I had done what 

 I deemed my duty. The next day I was "too tired," 

 because in the meantime I had ascertained that the 

 much famed Parsee woman doctor knew more about 

 fire worship than medicine. A strict armed neutral- 

 ity was maintained on both sides during the remain- 

 ing time we were obliged to live under the same roof 



