early in the story, later the same morning
Doctor Refuses Treatment
At the doctor's gate, the servant asks for payment. Kino offers his only wealth: eight small, valueless seed pearls. The servant takes them inside, but the doctor, disdainful of poor Indians, refuses to treat the baby. The servant returns the pearls and claims the doctor is out. Kino, humiliated and enraged, strikes the iron gate with his fist, splitting his knuckles. The crowd disperses in shame.