114 A SUMMER ON THE YENESEl 



was preventable — wounds which had become septic 

 through want of care, neglected ophthalmic affections, 

 and, especially among the natives, bronchial coughs and 

 phthisis. Sometimes the hut was turned into a regular 

 dispensary as patient after patient arrived for a poultice 

 or fresh boracic dressing ; and as each such invasion 

 meant a general scouring, not only of the utensils, but 

 also of the floor of the room, with Condy's fluid, we 

 found that an amateur dispensary entailed a good deal 

 of work. Three or four years previously the Govern- 

 ment became aware of the condition of things, and sent 

 a mission to Golchika, including two doctors and some 

 nurses. One of the latter was that Madame Nerotova, 

 whom we had met as a merchant's agent on the Oryol. 

 The mission stayed at Prokopchuk's house and spent 

 the days very agreeably in drinking and card playing 

 with Gerasim Androvitch, while the people were 

 uncared for as before. Some disinterested person 

 informed the authorities of the scandal, but the only 

 result was to make the Government withdraw the 

 subsidy, so that now the people of Golchika have no 

 medical service at all — not even a bad one. 



What is really required are a few devoted men, like 

 our own medical missionaries, who would minister to 

 the souls and bodies of Siberiaks and natives alike — 

 baptize, marry, heal the sick, and teach the people the 

 simple rules of hygiene. Such a medical mission ought 

 not to be difficult to establish. The first steamer 

 reaches Golchika, at the beginning of July ; the last 

 leaves at the end of August. For two months such 

 missionaries travelling on the river between Pustoy 



