5. What is the native opinion as to the medical skill of Europeans?-In general it is high-especially as to knowledge of surgery, and acute diseases, and diseases of the blood.

In general it would be better for a medical man to attach himself to a mission, and if qualified to act as a physician both to the bodies and the souls of men, he would be capable of conferring on those around him a double benefit. Should any think it well to go out on their own account, they could doubtless do much good, and in some places would be able to support themselves. I think there is now a loud call on young physicians in America to come forward and act a most important part in the conversion of the world."

In Monthly paper No. 10 published by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign missions, the editor says, concerning efforts in Bankok: "Imitating their divine Lord, and the first missionaries of the Christian church, Messrs. Tomlin and Abeel encouraged the diseased of all classes to resort to them, and exercised upon them such gifts of healing as they possessed; using the opportunities afforded them by the numerous persons who applied for a cure of their diseased bodies, to impart a knowledge of divine truth to the still more diseased and endangered soul. While they dealt out their medicines, they also distributed the books they had brought for the purpose."

Of Mr. Gutzlaff's labors in the same place he further remarks: "Mr. G's knowledge of medicine and fluent use of the native tongue, gained him easy access to the palace, etc."

In concluding the Quarterly Paper whence the above extracts are made, the editor remarks: "Nor does the field commend itself only to the preachers of the gospel ; it has strong claims on the numerous class of physicians in our country, whose gifts of healing, though by no means miraculous, like those possessed by the first christian missionaries, yet in their effects, would be an important substitute for them throughout the eastern world." Extract of a letter from Rev. Messrs. Johnson and Robinson, dated Bankok, Sept. 3, 1834. "Numbers call almost daily for books, many of whom are priests. Our medicines too, are in great demand, and a considerable portion of our time is daily occupied in administering to the wants of the afflicted. We, however, by this means have many opportunities to point them to the great physician of souls, by tracts and otherwise; and we are often cheered in this part of our work by witnessing the gratitude of these poor pagans. They not unfrequently bring small presents of eggs, fruits, sweetmeats, etc., though they know the books and medicines are gratuitous.

From the Missionary Herald, June, 1836.

Extracts from a letter of Doct. Bradley, dated at Bankok, Oct. 23, 1835.

Manner of Conducting the Dispensary. — Probably scarcely any thing awakens more surprise, or is more likely to impress the heathen favorably respecting Christianity, than the sympathy which missionaries manifest for them in their distresses, and the pains. which they take to relieve them. They are so accustomed to neglect and cruel desertion in times of sickness

and want, that kind words and compassionate treatment in their sufferings seem to them something more than human.

"I arrived here on the 18th of July. After fitting up a room for the purpose, a dispensary was opened on the 5th of August. I was soon an object of sufficient notoriety. Patients came from all parts of the city, and multiplied exceedingly, till quickly they numbered more than a hundred daily. My plan of managing them was this :

"The patients were received in the morning between the hours of six and nine o'clock. Their names, with all the most important particulars concerning each, were entered on a book in the order in which they came. Then, instead of giving each a card, as was done at Singapore, slips of paper were given, having on them the number of each individual, and the appropriate prescription. These having been presented to the apothecary, and having secured the treatment directed, they were enjoined to keep carefully and present on their next appearance, as their passport to further attention. If any one presented himself without his slip, who had previously received attention, he was rejected, at least for one day. The cause of such rejection was always understood by the bystanders, and thus secured much carefulness of the little papers. Thus it was not necessary to lose any time in calling to mind what course of practice had been taken on the previous visit of the patient. At a glance of the eye it could all be seen, and in a moment some tolerably correct estimate could be formed of the effects. of the treatment that had been adopted. When covered on one side these papers-nung sues as the Siamese call them, are put away in order and preserved, so that at

any time the whole treatment of a case may be gathered up by a reference to the numbers. In order to give the earliest patient arrived, the earliest attention, and thus encourage punctuality in coming, a long verandah was fixed with permanent seats, which were so arranged that the patients must almost of necessity seat themselves in the order they came. Having my seat at one end of the line, the end next to the door of the dispensary, and leaving between me and the patients a passage only wide enough to admit of but one person, none were allowed to pass but such as had come under my direct cognizancenone were treated at the dispensary but such as came there by the narrow way. When treated, the patients retired by another way than that they entered. Thinking that but a small object would be gained if only the temporal diseases of the patients were healed, a plan was devised by which it was hoped their precious souls might be savingly benefited. The plan was to employ natives in reading christian tracts and portions of the Scriptures in the hearing of those patients that were waiting for 'the moving of the waters ;' also to have the attending physician give to each new patient, as he passed, a tract. It required much less effort than was anticipated to maintain good order and silence while all the multiplied operations were going forward. The plan worked well. Many a time there were large audiences of attentive hearers, which, on the part of the missionaries, was a powerful excitement to prayer, hope, and effort."

We will now present some extracts from the pen of the Rev. Mr. Abeel, of the Reformed Dutch Church; and recently a missionary to the East.

"SIAM, July 25. Since our arrival, the medical depository has been a scene of much activity, from the numerous calls for aid. The diseases of the natives are various; many of them brought upon themselves by their iniquities, and some of a deep and desperate malignity. Our want of extensive science and practice, more especially my own, proves rather inconvenient in cases of a complicated nature; but generally, and at times strikingly, our prescriptions are made to answer the desired

end.

"31st. To day, a number of calls, principally for medicine. One of the applicants was a Siamese of considerable distinction. Another did not come himself, but sent his servant with a very polite letter. The former evinced much confidence in our prescriptions, and could scarcely be prevented from giving us a recompense. The utmost caution is necessary, to secure the confidence of the natives, and we know of no better means by which our motives and object may be known and commended, than by proving that we act upon such principles of disinterestedness, as they have never seen exemplified before.

し

"The medical department," he continues, " commenced with the mission is well adapted to the place, and if filled with qualified men might lead to the most desirable consequences. It is calculated to give influence to the person if successful in his practice. It attracts many from different and distant parts, to whom we could otherwise have no possible access. It affords an opportunity of instructing those who come, and lays them under such obligations as can be employed in securing both their atten