Ida, aged 19,in 1890 went to visit her missionary parents in India.
Her life was changed when three men, a Brahmin, a Muslim and a Hindu asked her to look at their three wives in labour. Ida was a young female, with no medical knowledge,and suggested they spoke to her father - a mission doctor.
They refused, the Brahim said It is better that my wife should die than that another man should look at her face.
The next day she learned all three wives were dead.
She realised the importance the great need for female doctors in India. She told her parents *I am going to America to study to be a doctor, so I can come back here and help the women of India.
In 1895 she enrolled at the Women’s Medical College in Philadelphia and transferred to the Cornell Medical College for her final year. In 1899 she graduated and headed back to India to start a tiny medical dispensary and clinic at Vellore, 75 miles from Madras.
Her father died in 1900. In 2 years she treated 5,000 patients.
1902 opened the Mary Taber Schell Hospital. In the first year year, aided by Salomi, her native helper, she treated 12,359 patients.
With the gift of a motor car she began a regular programme of visiting villages.
1918, following the end of WW1, Ida opened a girls only medical school. 151 applied but many had to be turned away.
1928 a new medical campus opened at Bagayam, Vellore. Mahatma Gandhi visited.
Ida travelled a number of times to USA to raise money for the college and hospital.
1945 college opened to men as well as women.
23rd May 1960 Ida died aged 89, at her bungalow. A ‘great soul’ who was loved and respected by all her patients and students
A great lady, whose dedication and planned working are exemplary
Rajendra Prasad, President of India
2003 Vellore had largest Christian hospital in the world - 2000 beds - medical school one of the premier medical colleges in India.
2023 Vellore ranked No.3 by National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF)
Note
30 members of the Scudder family have given nearly 1000 years of missionary service. It started with her grandfather in 1819.
Sources
Wikipedia
70 Great Christians ( pages 285-289) by Geoffrey Hanks
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