Question

why did the father call the hollyman to treat the mother when he was a rationlist

Answer 1

The father called the holy-man to treat the mother though he was a rationalist because he wanted to leave no stone upturned in relieving his wife of pain. He had already tried every possible remedy and antidote against the scorpion bite but to no avail. So he also called the holy-man thinking he might cure the mother in pain.