The Soochow Medical Association held its regular monthly meeting on Saturday last. The discussion which followed the reading of the paper was both interesting and_ instructive, as was the paper also. While this Association is only an organisation of a year's standing, its work is already being felt.
Communication.
Soochow is constantly extending her communications with the outside world. The three regular lines of launches between Shanghai and this place, the two to Hangchow, and the two to Wusieh are doing a good' business both as to passengers and cargo. A visit to the Custom House shows what is being done along these lines. Four or five launches, each with its string of oats laden with passengers and cargo, present a sight very different from that which was seen here four or five years ago. The Chinese are'anxious to know when the railroad is to be built, but we are unable to give them any light on the subject. Can any one? We hear from the city of Changshu that there is a daily line of launches running between Shanghai and Bangkajau—a place about twelve miles from Changshu. The trip can thus be made in less than twelve hours, while formerly it took anywhere from thirty-six hours toa week to do this distance.
The Chinese Imperial Postal service is reaching out to all the surrounding cities. The Chinese are more and more pleased with the prompt work done by our local offices—which could not be otherwise, owing to the carefully attention given by Mr. Shields, our obliging Post Master.
Mr. Olsen, who for a number of years has had charge of the affairs of our "foreign concession, has been granted a short leave of absence. He has discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of all, and we are glad to know that his absence from us will be only for a few months.
29th October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.