Dr. Wu Lien-teh's Interesting Address on Western Contribution to China An address of considerable interest on the "Early Days of Western was delivered by joe and the National Quar-_ lan tine Service, on December before the Royal Asiatic, Society, there being " large number of mem bers and their friends in attendance.
Dr. F, L, Hawks Pott presided.
Dr. Wa said that Chinese medicine thad a long and glorious history of its own, extending hack to the days of Emperor Shen Nung (B.C. 2737- 2705), patron diety of agriculture and medical defence in this country, but the speaker merely wished trace the early connection of ancient Cathay with western (or modern) methods of treating sickness. So far as was known, it was during the reign of Wu Ti (B.C: 140-87), great-fest of the Han sovereigns, when the Chinese Empire first extended its domains westward, that the earliest Cute-Asiatic contact took place.
he. first' European physicians working in China were " probably scattered among the learned foreigners on the staff of the Mongol ce queyers. There was reason to beeve that some medical activity was Aisplayed by the Nestorian Christ-ans, whose first churches were built in Honan in A.D. 636.
The scientific' knowledge of the Renan Catholics soon won them the favour and esteem of the Chinese. Western practitioners had_ probably been working in Mucao since the colony's foundation and it was definitely known that in A.D. 1569 the "Mise¢icordia Hospital was founded. The ranks of the Jesuit East India Company at Canton and Macao.
Referring to the Chinese law. the period that anyone responsible for the death of another was guilty Jof murder and liable to execution, Dr. Wu said that the desire to i troduce Jenner's method of acci tion for smallpox into China finally' bridged this chasm, the earliest at~ tempts in this direction dating back Dr: Alexander Pearson, from 1806 onwards, employed Chinese assist-fants, the most prominent of whom iwas "Yao Ho-chun, called A. Heque by foreigners ard nicknamed Dr. Longhead on account of the extraordinary length of his head. It is said that in 30 years he vaccinated a million people.
Dealing with the second stage, Dr. Wu mentioned the foundation of dispensary at Canton by Dr. John Livingstone and the Rev. Robert Mor-prison, the latter being best. knowe as the first Protestant missionary, in China. Dr. Bradford, an American physician, in 1828 opened a free dispensary in Canton, where big crowds of sufferers were relieved.
This institution was closed preced: ing the first Anglo-Chinese Wat missionaries, the Rev. D: the first and greatest arrived in Canton in 1834 and proceeded to describe his life and work.
In 1887, he bogan to give theoretical instruction to three students, the best of whom was Kwan Ato," who soon became most proficient in sur-[gory so that many operations were entrusted to his skilful hands. Dr.
Fathers' were joined by a great Scholar and physician, Fr. Joan Tervens, who found time to practise medicine and to convert patients cured by his skill, A small treatise his, though dealt with harshly aver orities, should not be under ted because it was of historical importance, being the first attempt! to bring western medical knowledge to Chinese schota Teauit, Fathers also had an oppo tunity to prove to the Court at Peking the superior qualities of certain western medicines. Emperor Kang-hsi (1095-1723) was attacked in 1602 by a malignant fever which was relieved by the administering of some medicinal lozenges prepared! for Louis XIV of France. Later, when recurring symptoms of Tertian ague appeared and defied the skill of imperial physicians, " proclamations were ismed that anyone knowing of a remedy against ailment should at once impart the Court where a special Commis-Bon would tet It. The Wa also mentioned the fine work of Dr, John Kerr and Dr. Colledge, Jatter which he stated that the fatefal year of 1839, when the troubles leading to the first Anglo-Chinese war became threatening, saw the of two more medical missionaries destined to play most important parts in the introduction of western medicine, Dr. William Lockhart, who arrived in 1839, and Dr. Benjamin Hobson, both Englishmen.
Discussing activities after the war, the lecturer said that one favourable point of the treaties the insertion of the so-called Tole tion Clause, which allowed forcignfers the right to build hospitals and schools as well as places of wor in treaty ports. Thus, in this period, not only was the work in Canton safely continued, but medical missionaries seamed a firm footing in other cities formerly not aceessible to them.
Dr. Lockhart commenced regular work in Shanghai in February, 1844. This was first carried on in Possessed a pound of cinchona bark which had been received from Indi and they offered this, Three pal ents were speedily cured by its action and the Emperor took the remedy with the same result, Later, the Emperor said to the missionaries, "You Europeans have always served me with aeal and affection and have not the least thing for which to reproach you. Many Chinese mistrust you but who have carefully watched your movements, am s0 convinced of your honesty and probity that T openly and publicly say You, shall be be-Hieved and trusted! The Emperor then told the people how ill he had Joeeni and how the foreign guests had restored him to health again, Reviewing these early medical activities of the Jesuits, Dr. Wul said that, though full of early promise, they left but few permanent traces. It would seem that the Superiors of the Onder did not Tealize the servet importance which work might play in. proing the faith or, because they' possessed a strong foothold in Peing through their mathematical and astronomical skill, they paid in Sofficient heed to medical matters.
Most of the regular missions despatched from Russia possessed medical man on their staff, the frst being Pulart, who arrived in 1716, and a British surgeon who arrived in the same year. The Portuguese doctors in Macao were gradually, Joined by Dutch physicians and later on by British medical officers, the first of the former arriving in 1735. and a Mr. Abraham Leslie, a junior British surgeon, in 1779. Since Leslie's time, one or two doctors were permanently employed by the Chinese house and was a great Tu 1846 angler modation for the Chinese Hospital, as the establish. ment was called.' No footing could found within the city ieee Chi of ground situated more thi mile outside the north gate hed to be chosen. A building with a large hall for out-patients and commodi ous wards was erected, the total leost_ with land being $3,200,000. This later became the Shantung Road Hospital.
Dr. Hobson established a hospital in Canton in 1848 and thus carried fon the work of Dr. Robert Morrison.
Successful as Hobson's hospital practice was, its importance was surpassed by another undertaking which he started, namely, the compiling of Chinese textbooks on medi. cal subjects, being translations of well-known English texts.
The Shanghai Hospital, French Hospital and Genexal Hospital were octablished in Shanghai soon after the Shantung Road Hospital and, in 1866, another important undertaking, was; started. With a capital of $84 in a rented house, a dispensary [was opened by Archdeacon Thomson id the Rev. H. N. Woo, this being known as the Hongkew Hospital, later St. Luke's Hospital. Dr. Macgowan undertook medical ser-ith several foreign doctors ings their assistance, free.
'The hospitals of former' days formed just a rough shelter for in-ints, who were expected to pro-their own food, clothing, and letten bedding.
No trained nurses were available, thocare of the sick being usually left in the hands of relatives and friends
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.