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Abstract
The history of medical work in India would not be complete without the mention of a young American lady who blazed a pathway of pioneering medical service and education in south India in the early 20th century. Born to Dr. John Scudder the second and his wife Sophia, Ida Scudder was a third generation medical missionary of the Reformed Church in America. Her grandfather Dr. John Scudder was the first American medical missionary in India and his son (her father) continued the medical work in Ranipet (in the state of Tamilnadu). Ida Scudder, his youngest child was born on December 9th 1870. The only girl among five brothers, young Ida watched her parents battle against sickness and famine in their medical ministry and learnt to face the grim facts of life and death even at a very early age.