Alma Fossum
Letter from Nurse Alma Fossum January 1924
A call comes to go into the city to see a Moslem mother. We hurriedly get ready and arrive in a large, well kept garden, and are seated on the balcony for a brief rest. Lemon sherbet is served in which is floating some dirty ice; we drink some.
Then the 'Foreign Hanum' is taken to the Woman's Department. We go through several narrow halls and down into another courtyard full of flowers and running water. The room in this yard is spacious, has all open front. We are ushered into the presence of the patient, who reclines on velvet cushions (green), beautiful Persian carpets cover the floor. In the center is a
flowing fountain. Persians love water.
All along the walls are pillows, all colors of velvet or satin. There is also a bed in the room. But the lady is preferably on the floor.
Around her are important women of the household, relatives and friends, also many women servants.
About the room are many pictures of men, but none of the women. Many lamps are a great ornament, also clocks in a Persian home. The patient wears two rings of her husbands, half way on the right hand, also two of his handkerchiefs tied around her knees, in there are fastened prayers tied in a blue cloth.
Great excitement begins at the sight of our preparations, and complaint is carried to the Sahib (mullah) of the house, protesting against the use of our materials, etc. However, we have time to converse a bit, and out of the din get a few questions in and answered.
Tea is served all around. Time goes on. The Koran is brought in and held over the head of the patient, turning the leaves quietly and praying, also everybody else in the room, frantically rushing around, calling on the prophets.
