University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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16 THE LINGUIST feels the right pulse. The pulse must be palpated with each finger at weak, moderate. and strong pressures for a period of nine in- spirations. Each finger of the physician reveals information con- cerning the condition of a specific part of the body. There are twenty four main types of pulses and twenty seven which prog- nosticate death. Occasionally, the tongue is examined if the pulse does not give sufficient information. From its appearance some thirty six conditions can be diagnosed. All organs have their appropriate elements, colors. times, and seasons. For instance. the- heart has red as its color, fire as its element, summer as its season. and noon as its hour. Therefore, heart troubles would be apt to manifest themselves in a flushed, feverish patient who became ill at noon on a summer day. The remedies used by the Chinese doctor uncontaminated by' VVestern medicine are many in number and various in source. They range from bones of the tiger. much prized for relieving nervous debility, to kaolin, arsenic, andthe mereurials which are used for some of the same conditions in which they have been found of value in Occidental medicine. Rice wine is used to prepare tinctures and extracts of herbs, barks, seeds, and roots. Plasters are favorite remedies. In some districts acupuncture is extensively usedl for treating disease. there being three hundred and eighty recognized sites where the body may be punctured by the needle used. THE INADEQUACY OF CHINESE MEDICINE. The basic conceptions underlying Chinese medicine renders it impossible that this system can be adequately developed to meet the needs of the people. Without definite knowledge of the structure- of the human body, with misconceptions of the functions of the various organs, with vague, erroneous ideas of the causation of disease. there has been no opportunity to build up a rational. science. The ,higher ideals that should underly the relation of physician to the- social order have been lacking. There is no knowledge of pre- ventitive medicine and hygiene. Except in isolated instances, com- municable diseases are not recognized as such. Yet, until the advent of Western medicine, one fourth of the world's population depended on this system for its medical needs. Even under present conditions, it is estimated that over ninetynine per cent of the sick of China receive no other treatment than that administered by the native- trained doctor, the neighbor, or the temple priest. 4 1-.. , . 0, f-IVA. it

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CHINESE MEDICINE 15 of the people having any greater regard for the skill of the doctor than they did for the soothsayer or the temple priest. In fact, because of the supposed supernatural origin of bodily ills, the temple priest was consulted as frequently as the doctor and his copy of magic rites secured and burned to the sound of throbbing drum and low toned bell. Even the ignorant coolie of the street who had secured a prescription of a remedy with occult powers was deemed worthy of a trial, The men of worth and knowledge and reputation with lines of treatment of dehnite value had to combine their few helpful facts with rites of magic and superstition to satisfy a clientele haunted by a fear of the supernatural. 1 '-JWVV ' ni A fipi ,229 J . iff 4 'ai 0 xi t.yt H ?,v: VV? V AAF The Yang and Yin CONCEPTIONS UNDERLYING CHINESE 'MEDICINE 3 The teachings of Chinese medicine are a weird mixture of facts. misconceptions, and superstitions. They rest on the fundamental -belief that life is based on the perfect equilibrium of two principles the Yang and the Yin. These two principles are supposed to underly the universe and their expression in the human body is but one manifestation of universal life. The Yang is the warm, active principle and is symbolized by the sun. The Yin is the moist passive principle and is symbolized ,by shadow. If the 'Yang is in excess, there is a condition of excitation. If the Yin is in excess, there is a condition of depression. The action of these two principles is manifested in twelve organs. The six organs in which the Yang is found are located inthe abdomen. The six in which the Yin resides are the brain, spleen, right kidney, and the organs found in the chest. These twelve organs are connected to each other and to the hands and feet by twelve channels, six for the Yang and six forthe Yin. The Yang tends to arise in the body and the Yin tends to descend. METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. The practitioner of Chinese medicine considers the pulse as the most important diagnostic element and, frequently, its palpitation is the only examination made. The right hand of the physician is :used to feel the left pulse of the patient and, with the left hand, he

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WESTERN MEDICINE IN CHINA 17 WESTERN MEDICINE IN CHINA EARLY BEGINNINGS. One of the first records of the use of foreign remedies in China was the administration of quinine for the relief of a fever to the emperor Kang Hsi in 1692 by Jesuit missionaries. The results were successful and aided in maintaining cordial relations between the imperial court and the Jesuits. The next work was done by doctors associated with the East India Company. Pearson vaccinated some Chinese against smallpox in 1805, Morrison and Livingston opened a dispensary for the poor in Canton in 1820 and Colledge opened the Macao Ophthalmic Hospital in 1827. The work of these men among the Chinese supplemented their work among the representatives and employees of the East India Company. The lirst medical missionary appointed as such was Parker of Yale who came to Canton in 1835 and opened a hospital there. This institution with its glorious tradition of service is still carried on in better equipped surroundings but with the same lofty aims and ideals that characteriied the original enterprise. The high purpose dominating the aim of the early missionaries, is well stated in the terms they used to define their aim. This aim they stated was to bring the Gospel of jesus Christ to the Chinese, to work in conjunction with other mis- sionary forces, to aid in the winning of conlidence and allaying of suspicion, to relieve physical suffering, and to train Chinese youths to help their own people. One of the large modern Mission Hospitals in China