New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-22
medicine in Japan, considering it less based upon
natural truths than upon supposed


ihose islands IN great measure regulated by the
suI ersttous faacies Of the people, but the results OF
this evenings Investigations prove beyond question
that in this in many other respects injustice has
been done to the intelligence and mental progress Of
this sagacious nation. IL to have been settled,
that, in their practice these physicians Of Japan pro-
coed uron the sane theories as those which form the
foundations Of our own medical science; and that
although much restricted in development, their system
ia by 10 means contemplate, even when fully com
pared with that Of distinguished practitioners
Uron tie meeting Of these gentlemen, after the
ntroductions by Mr. Portman, Dr. Evans aid that he
was pleased to express the qualification felt by the
medical profession that this new tie had been formed
with the Empire Of Japan; that be hoped for mutual
advantages to of science from an interchange
of pathological knowledge, and thar any attentions
that might be deemed agreeable aud useful would be
Qlafly bestowed upon the doctors by their brethren IN
Washington. This was translated by MIR. Portman
and the Interpreter Ta,aies Tokuisuro, and similar
compliments were offered by the japanese. Dr.
Holston then began series Of inquiries, which had
been 70 prepared test in the strongest manner the
amount Of knowledge possessed by the foreigners and
to gain clear evidence their methods in the art OF
healing. In view of its importance, give the whole
of tie eolloquy which ensued. The questions were
mostly asked by DR. Holsion, and mostly answered by
Neasak the chief japanese physician, though in some
cases the latter sought consultation with bis associates
before responding
@. What constitutes n doctor in Japan and what is
the course Of preparation necessary to tho practice Of
medicine!
,. TIE training begins at a very carly age. The
science Il studied in books at school, and when the stu
dent reaches sufficient advancement he takes place in
one Of the great hospitals for the poor sick which are
sustained well by the Government, and there Is given
opportunities for practice and observation. The super
intendent of this institution il instructed TO give him
Lis care and tuition, and finally, if his course is well
fulfilled, to give him diploma, whereuponhe becomesa
doctor in fact, and may pursue the profession.
THE cOurse of English instruction in the science Of
medicine was then briefly explained 10 the japanese,
who listened with extreme attention, of them tax
ing notes the while.
O. Is dissection understood and practiced in Japan
A. Formerly it was not; but now, under system
recently inaugurated, ii is employed and studied
O. Do the doctors in Japan understand the circula
ton of the blood and the action Of the heart
A. We understand these.
O. Do you perform amputations!
A. We never do, and do not understand them One
Of us has read book upon the subject.
O. Is bleeding common in Japan!
A. Formerly we only used leeches for this purpose;
but recently this has been changed and bleeding is
now part of our regular system.
Q. Do the doctors in japan take charge of cases Of
midwifery
A. There is a branch of the profession exclusively
devoted to this practice. The others have nothing
do with it, excepting in dangerous cases.
Q. In of difficulty what is the treatment
adopted
A. Incisions are made with instruments, enlargng
the natural opening and with other instruments the
child is removed.
Q. Do the patients often die under this treatment
A. Sometimes the mother dies, but only in rare
The child never dice. The doctor, Measaki then
said that their great in using these instruments
was to avoid njuring the bone; and that if American
instruments used for this purpose superior to the
japanese, as he had no doubt they were, he would
feel obliged if be could be provided with some.
Q. Are secret dseases Of women treated by male
female doctorsi
A. BY females.
q. What virtue or influence in japan is ascribed to
the influence Of God Of spirits Of the stars, in the
treatment Of diseases7
A. The higher and educated classes in JdpdR-eces
those IN uhom there any degree of cultiratioR-dO
not Jeiere that stars spirits haze any such influence.
But in the lower classes such superstition prevails.
II was here remarked TO the doctors that the case
was very similar in America.
Q. Whence are the japanese medicines derived!
A. The medicines chiefly used are of vegetable ORR
gin, mostly decoctisns of barks.
q. Are compound medicines used
A. Not often.
Q. Are minerals ever usedl
A. scarcely ever.
g. Are any of your medicines taken from animals ?
A. None at all
q. Do you make use of quinine
A. Yes; We obtained il from the Dutch.
Q. For what diseasesl
A. For fever.
Q. In how large doses do you administer il
A. From TO three grains.
Q. What would you think of . dose of thirty grains
A. In extraordinary cases we would give ten grains,
but never more.
DIR. HoIston remarked to the Japanese that he
agreed with them and that in excessive doses such as
be had spoken Of he had no faith, though they were
sometimes applied.
Q. by heasaki, the japanese doctor. What kind !
Of plant produces worneeed! Can we rec it,
A. by DR.. Evans. We will enable you to see
either the plant itself or plates of it.
q. by DIR. Hoston Are the japanese doctors IA
niliar with quicksilver
A. We are.
@. IL syphilis known in Japan!
A. 1t is very common. Mr.. Portman here ex- |
planned that it might be considered common according
10 the idea Of the japanese, who have no means of |
with other countries, but that it certainly
was not, according to ours.
Q. Did this disease originate in Japan, or was it