University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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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

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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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18 THE LINGUIST GRONVTH. By 1850, nine medical missionaries had arrived for work in China. By 1887, more than one hundred and. fifty had worked in China. In, 1902, after the Boxer' uprising, there were one hundred men and women engaged in medical work. The great impetus given missionary work following the Boxer trouble was especially noted among the medical forces. By 1917, there were fourhundred medical missionaries in China and, at present,,there are over five hundred medical represen- tatives of the various missionary societies in the field. ' . This force of doctors is working in two hundred and seventy five hospitals. A number of these'hospitals have been built, organized, and staffed by the women members of the profession. invaluable service is rendered by foreign nurses without whose help the high grade, efficient work set as an ideal would be impossible of fulfillment. Pharmacists, dentists, and laboratory teclmicians fill essential places toward rounding out service that the medical profession is giving the Chinese people. ' . MEDICAL EDUCATION IN CHINA The greater part of medical education in China has been carried on in schools founded, manned and supported by missionary forces. The present medical schools have grown from humble beginnings to magnificent institutions because of the vision held by those great spirits who founded them and the strong men who still carry on. Efforts are being concentrated in building up the present institutions to a high plane where they can turn out graduates with higher grade scientific training and backed by the worthy traditions and high ideals of the medical professions of Europe and America. Themedical schools supported by foreign agencies cannot hope to provide an adequate medical personnel for the four hundred million people of China but they can blaze the way by furnishing China with model schools and hospitals and by training men forleadership in building up the Chinese medical profession. THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE. Weamissionaries of a later day will, in all probability, never ap- preciate the difficulties and discouragements that were endured by these resolute predecessors of ours. Faced with antagonism, privation, lack of companionship, meager equipment, and little funds, they succeeded through great faith. They gave their all, some through years of service in the great cities, others through work in the far frontier stations. They gave health to millions of the sick of body and through the love and confidence thus won pointed their patients on to the Great Ideal. Day after day, week after week, year after year, they worked -on. Overcoming great obstacles that they might fulfill their great purpose. The memory of those who have given their lives that the millions of China mighthave more abundant physical and spiritual life is a wonderful inspiration to us who follow on. The great traditions of their love and sacrifice, the records that they left in the hearts of those whom they loved and served, and the great works that live after them testify to their wholehearted service to the Master. They have left us a noble heritage to carry on to high fulfillment and we can do no less than accept this sacred trust.