INTRODUCTION. xix 



I may here, I think, quote an extract from a letter which 

 bears upon the subject of medical practice and shows the spirit 

 in which Emin carries on his work as a physician : — " Well I 

 remember the day when I received the magic title of Doctor 

 of Medicine, and thought that then the whole world was my 

 own. May far happier days and greater successes be granted 

 you than have been granted me ! But may I give you a word 

 of warning ? Keep yourself well in hand, and do not follow 

 without very just cause the too modern developments of 

 medicine. A sick man is no subject, but a feeling and suffer- 

 ing being, whose sensibility is greatly heightened. Be to your 

 patients in the first place friend — then doctor. Our mission 

 is a high and holy one, and the murmured thanks of a poor 

 man is of far higher value than a few guineas, and the know- 

 ledge that one has saved a sick child for its mother is a far 

 more beautiful reward than can ever follow a brilliant but risky 

 operation or the humbug of the so-called c scientific medicine.' 

 Do not laugh at my words. I have grown old and grey in 

 the battle of life, but it is just this Idealism which has helped 

 me over many a bitter hour. My strife and work draw near 

 to their close." 



It must be remembered, in this connexion, that it is now 

 many years since Emin visited Europe, and that he has, there- 

 fore, not been able to keep abreast with all the advances which 

 medicine has undoubtedly made. This is not his own fault. 

 In almost every letter he asks for medical journals, as well as 

 for information on new methods of treatment, and he has always 

 shown great appreciation of the few papers he received from me. 

 Unfortunately, the means of communication with him is so 

 uncertain that many of the books I sent have never reached 

 him. 



I remember, too, with gratitude, the pains he took to teach 

 me how to construct a map and how to make many an observa- 

 tion, which subsequently proved of great value to me. After re- 

 turning from Uganda, he plotted out with me my first attempt 



