He came to the Philippines as a health officer and he saw around him much suffering and he saw half the babies die before their first birthday and his job was to help. He thought long about where he should start.
Tuberculosis was rampant but what could he do? He could not cure poverty.
He knew that babies were often fed the milk of the water buffalo much diluted then thickened with rice. A poor diet indeed, and always contaminated. There was so much to teach these ignorant people.
In his lab he was analyzing milk of the carabella or water buffalo. He needed fresh milk to do a fat analyses. It was late afternoon and his assistant had left.
From out the window he could see a water buffalo and he thought he might go to the village across the field and see if he could buy some milk.
Half way across the field it became apparent that the water buffalo had no intention of allowing his trespass. The creature charged him and it was pure luck that he reached a small tree and scrambled his way to safety.
The carabella pawed and stomped like a bull and he cried out piteously for help, but none was forthcoming. Darkness fell. Carefully he descended the tree only to hear the animal's angry snort. Quickly he ascended again. Twice more he attempted escape and was thwarted.
It was dawn when the child appeared. Perhaps four years old. Small and not sturdy. She walked up to the buffalo and led it sweetly through the morning to the village.
At a careful distance he followed.