‘Abdu’l-Bahá believed in using medicine as well as spiritual healing. As there was no hospital in ‘Akká, He hired a doctor by the name of Nikolaki Bey. He gave the doctor a regular salary to look after the very poor, and He asked the doctor not to tell who paid for the service. But always, the poor turned to ‘Abdul-Bahá for help.
For instance, there was a poor, crippled woman named Na’úm who used to come to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá every week for a gift of money. One day a man came running: “Oh Master!” he said, “Poor Na’um has the measles, and everybody is keeping away from her. What can be done?” “Abdu’l-Bahá immediately sent a woman to take care of her; He rented a room, put His own bedding in it, called the doctor, sent food and everything she needed. He went to see that she had every attention. And when she died in peace and comfort, He arranged a simple funeral and paid all the expenses Himself.