Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/300

250 Great was the consternation of the Rhodian doctor, who had been sedulously withdrawing all nourish- ment but tisanes. "Dio mio," he said to me, "vino! e pernice! Milord will never bear all this strong food."

When, in the course of a few days, he saw Milord walking about quite well, he did what doctors have not always the candour to do, confessed that he was utterly mistaken, and that the constitution of an Englishman was to him a mystery.

I had written to Lord Stratford and Admiral Dundas to tell them of Lord Carlisle's illness. The consequence was that soon after Dr. McCraith's arrival came a steamer from the Admiral bringing Dr. Rees, the chief surgeon from the "Britannia." Nor was this all, for Dr. Sandwith, hearing at Constantinople of Lord Carlisle's illness, came at once to tend him; so that the Rhodian Turks began to wonder what manner of man my guest could be who had so many doctors at his beck and call.

Small-pox is very prevalent in this part of Turkey, particularly in Asia Minor, where whole villages are swept away by it, and where children covered with pustules may be seen playing about the streets uncared for. The native population, both Turks and Greeks, has a prejudice against vaccination, though the Doctors attached to the Quarantine establishments take every means to introduce it.

Dr. McCraith, who is equally skilful as a surgeon and as a physician, very kindly offered to give medical advice to the poor of Rhodes gratis during his stay here. The fame of the great Smyrna soon