All this time the medical work was confined to the treatment of out-patients, but in March 1891 a hospital adapted from a native house was opened.
Medical itineration now began to be undertaken at Mejdel and Ashdod. The fame of the hospital spread far and wide.
The Rev. Dr. Sterling (the author of _A Grammar of the Arabic Language_, and _Arabic and English Idiom--Conversational and Literary_) arrived in 1893, and his predecessor, the Rev. J. Huber, of German nationality, who built the ladies' house and church room, entered into rest on July 18, and his body was buried in the cemetery in the mission compound.
Other branches of the work have prospered. In 1902 the numbers in the girls' school rose from sixty-eight to three hundred, and have now increased to four hundred. The Sunday school has increased proportionately with the day school. It would be difficult to find more interesting schools in Palestine, so efficiently superintended by Miss Smithies, who is ably assisted by her own trained staff of native teachers.
In 1906 the Muslims presented Dr. Sterling, on behalf of the building fund of the hospital, with £100, which they had subscribed in token of their gratitude for his work among them.
The leavening influence of Christian teaching is unquestionably having far-reaching effects.
Dr. Percy W. Brigstocke was appointed, in 1907, to act as colleague with Dr. Sterling, but he was transferred to Es Salt at the end of 1911.
The old hospital and out-patient hall were insanitary, and much too small for the work, therefore it was with thankfulness that the Bishop in Jerusalem dedicated the new hospital, containing forty-six beds, on April 1, 1908.
The opening of the spacious out-patient block took place on February 22, 1911.
The patients are drawn from all classes, Muslims, Orthodox Syrians and Jews. They may be seen sitting side by side in the out-patient hall waiting for the doctor, who is an accomplished Arabic scholar.
During 1912 there were 29,581 attendances of out-patients, 701 in-patients, 452 visits in town, and 411 major operations.
The fees from the in-patients and out-patients during 1912 amounted to £326 18_s._ 10_d._, which goes to assist in the upkeep of the hospital.