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when the light of Christianity shall take the place of the dark cloud of Paganism, which now envelopes them, then will be fulfilled, in its spiritual sense, the prophecy of Isaiah :

"The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; the lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.'

China, Oct. 5, 1836.

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THOMAS R. COLLEDGE,
PETER PARKER,

E. C. BRIDGMAN.

An American missionary writing from China to a medical friend in the United States, thus remarks: "You might be employed here in Canton as usefully as ever a man was in the relief of temporal suffering. There are thousands of beggars in the streets, and hundreds of them are blind. The eyes of many of these might be opened, and a large portion of the rest might be cured of diseases brought upon them by exposure and the filthiness of their habits. I sometimes see in my morning walks poor wretches who have passed the night in the open streets, shivering with cold, and perhaps just ready to perish. Among these beggars alone a physician might find abundant employment. I doubt whether a more powerful argument, to the minds of the Chinese, could be furnished, than a physician would afford by giving his services to these and other sufferers here. I feel anxious to have something of this kind done, that the benevolent spirit of our religion may be exhibited in such a manner that the eye cannot fail to see it, nor the heart resist its

convincing power. Probably every other city in this part of the world presents an equal proportion of suffering, which might be removed by a well-educated physician and surgeon. What opportunities would be obtained by a physician to circulate tracts and do good to souls among this reading people, you cannot fail to observe."

In proof of the correctness of the general reasoning in this volume it is a pleasure to make the following quotation. It is from the pen of a resident in the Eastern world; a writer of much power.

"To furnish fruits is a proof of the excellency of the gospel, and an efficacious mode of convincing unbelievers. A missionary station ought to have a hospital, and a physician-this is apostolical. If the bodily misery which prevails throughout China is taken into consideration, this is perhaps a sine qua non of a station; and it might be well to commence soon at Canton. But it should not be deemed sufficient to afford medical help merely, for which there will be many applicants; a lively interest in the welfare of individuals, kind assistance in the hour of need, or a friendly word under sufferings, open the heart for the reception of truth. By imitating our Saviour and his apostles in well-doing, we shall prove our claim to be called his disciples. It is a matter of joy that some physicians are on the point of joining in the good work. But it should never be forgotten, that it is the most sacred duty of all to alleviate sufferings, and thus to show that the gospel is indeed a message of mercy. To do this, requires few directions; if we love the Chinese, and this is a prerequisite in a missionary to this people, we shall show the works of love, and be unwearied in convincing

them that we are actuated by the spirit of love. It is by the irresistible power of this noble quality that we hope to gain ground; if we have it not, Paul's remarks to the Corinthians (1 Cor. ch. 13) apply to us."

In concluding this chapter on China, it may be well to observe, that the native medical practitioners, although a numerous body, are exceedingly ignorant of their profession. They possess no knowledge of anatomy; which leads to serious results. Indeed, surgical operations are seldom resorted to, except those of the very simplest description. Their physiological theory is, that the body is composed of the five elements, wood, water, fire, metal, earth; and they suppose the cause of disease to be the loss of equilibrium of these in the system.

11

CHAPTER IX.

Facts and opinions continued, - from Ceylon,-Siam,-Orissa,Sumatra,-Java,-Society Islands,-Burmah,-The Deccan.

In answer to some interrogatories in relation to the general plan under notice, the Rev. M. Winslow for many years a missionary in Ceylon, addressed the following answers to the author, under date of July 6, 1835.

What is the state of the medical profession in Ceylon ?—There are, as you doubtless know, English surgeons connected with the army, and at English settlements in the East. They are generally respectable as surgeons and some of them as physicians. But your inquiries refer to the natives. There are native doctors, probably, in all parts of the country who have some knowledge of drugs, and of vegetable remedies; and succeed in the common fevers and other diseases of the country, pretty well. They, however, impose very much on the people in the price of their medicines, and give generally almost every kind for any one disease. They seem to suppose that the greater variety they give the greater will be the probability that some one will hit right! Asto surgery, most of them have no instruments at all, and no knowledge of the subject. Midwifery is attended to only by women, and there is great mismanagement, which is the occasion of many deaths. The missionaries in different places are often called to render such aid as they can on these occasions. They have also applica

tions frequently to set a broken limb, a broken arm, to bleed, etc. The native doctors give their prescriptions according to rules in their ancient books, written in poetry and wholly arbitrary.

2. Do the natives suffer greatly from diseases of body, that could be cured, under God, by skilful physicians?They do particularly, as may be inferred from the last answer, in surgical cases. I have seen several instances where a broken bone, not set, was healed, and either not united or badly joined. Great numbers die for want of a little timely aid in medicine or surgery. The missionaries doubtless save many lives by giving now and then a dose of medicine.

3. Would not pious physicians who should practise gratuitously find great favor in the eyes of the heathen?— There is no doubt they would, almost universally. We have always had in our mission a physician who could give his attentions to the natives gratuitously, and has, consequently, done great good, and has conciliated much favor for the mission.

4. Could not pious, unmarried physicians get a decent subsistence by occasional practice among the wealthy? I think not in Ceylon; though it is possible one or two might in the capital of the island; especially by attending to the descendants of Europeans occasionally. In larger towns on the Continent it might be done. At Calcutta, Madras, and probably Bombay a respectable physician could, I suppose, get practice without difficulty to occupy as much of his time as he should see fit to devote to it ;-the same would probably be the case at other large places.

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