One hears the perpetual statement: "Great numbers were attacked, but they were all pricked (cha-ed) through it." Tt is impossible for the most sceptical to refuse to believe in the efficacy of the needle (cha-chen). Tt does let: out some blood (all of which is supposed to be "poisonous,") but its main value seems to be an occult adaptation to the Chinese nature, by which they thirst for it, demand it, and upon its execution have a constitutional reaction of every part of the system, responding to the jabbing. Many probably never had anything in particular the matter with them, many others have other ordinary complaints, while some true cholera' cases are pricked into vitality, and all alike swell the long list of indisputable triumphs of the invaluable needle (or brass pin in emergencies).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.