Ir is not necessary for us to say very much about the excellent institution which was inaugurated on Wednesday afternoon. At the same time we do not like to let the occasion pass without offering a few words of congratulation and the expression of our good wishes for its prosperity. Hitherto the best known Chinese hospital in China has been that in Tientsin, in which the Viceroy and Lady Li have taken such cordial interest, 'o Dr. Mackenzie and Duetress, or Miss Dr., Howard—to ugo the name by which Mre. King has been so long and justly celebrated—belongs the credit of having done perhaps more than any other missionary physicians to popalarise medical science among the Chinese, and the example of His Excellency Li Hang-chang lias rendered it impossible that foreign practitioners in China can be regarded by the natives with any other feelings than those of confidence and respect. The other day we published an interest.
ig letter from Archdeacon Moule de. scribing the inauguration of Dr, Main's new hospital in Hangchow; and here again we have the satisfaction of know. ing that the high authorities of Che-have testified their full apprecia. tion of the work both by the expression of their sympathy and by money coutribatious to the expenses which it entails, On Wednesday a new and handsome structure was opened here for the exclusive benefit of Chiaese women, and this is to be under the charge of a lady who by all accounts is a most eminent and successful sargeou. One operation of exceptional difficulty, performed by her, was described by us some months ago, and received attention in the home press, besides being made known to thousands of Chinese by means of @ very realistic picture in the Hua Pao. The confidence of the Chinese in foreign surgery, and rheic increasing willingness to under. go surgical operations, is an even more significant step in the direction of progress than their confidence in foreign medicine simply; for if there one thing that a Chinese mau or woman dreads it is anything approaching the mutilation of the body. We have known instances, indeed, in which a woman has preferred death to being Landled or even examined by a surgeon; and while this reluctance no doubt sprang in a certain measure from the fact that the practitioner was mau—an objection which can no longer prevail in these days of lady doctors—it also sprang from considera. tions of a more or less superstitious natare, These are now being gradually but surely dispelled; and while the women of China evince an increasing willingness to place themselves in the hands of @ surgeon of their own sex for the relief of their bodily ailments, they will in all probability be led to think more deferentially of the spiritual truths held and taught by their foreign benefactors, From a missionary stand. point we take the value of median! mis. sions to be this: they show to the peo ple, in tangible form, one of the best re ite of the Christian re-that produces works of active and unselfish benevolence oan-not, even in Chit eyes, be a bad religion; its professors cannot be bad people; while the publicity with whick the work is carried on must be ackuowledged as w proof thnt all the silly rumours that ignorant or malignant people have set afloat to the prejudice vf missionary medical work are as false as they are foolish, Wo do not know a better or more practical method of ivilising and evangolising the Chinese than this one of medical missions, and every effort put forward in this direc. tiou claims the Learty support and yw. pathy of us all.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.