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Show The year, 1935, was one of those years that must be called unusual for Lintsing Memorial Hospital. For many years past the course of events has been running smoothly, with constantly increasing numbers of patients seen, with nothing to interrupt the upward curve of care given the community at Lintsing. But this year, stark tragedy in the form of starvation has crept upon the people, and the Hospital has suffered with all other institutions. Until Spring the prospects for a good year economically were fairly bright but as the season advanced, the usual rains did not fall and the winter wheat grew drier and drier. Here and there were wells that could keep a few acres green, but as the bright sun of North China beat down unrelieved by even a tiny cloud, all the rest of the tender plants shriveled up; then the leaves on the trees dropped off, and by May the land became a dry, sandy, wind-swept desert with not a spear of green anywhere. Because of the lack of rain the usual summer crops of cotton and corn could not be planted. In a few places some millet and beans were put in and they slowly struggled up thru the parched earth, bringing a bit of hope to the people for some food for the winter. Great relief was felt in July when clouds began to gather and the long prayed-for rain began to fall, gently at first, but soon in great torrents. Hope was crushed again when these torrents continued to fall for three whole days; their houses (made of mud) began to melt and crash around them and the whole countryside was flooded. As this part of Shantung is a plain as level as a floor, there was no drainage for - 2 - |