Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-05-24
surging sea Of bad feeling is running in between
Medical Education in Japan.

Medical Education in Japan.
DIR. Holston. Professor of Surgery in tho Ma
tional Medical College, gives the subjoned fur
thcr particulars oi the interview of himself Doctors
Evans. Lincoln and Stempson, had with the phys.
clans attached 10 the Japanese Embassy. Tho
communication of DIR. Hoston. which wo and in
the National lntelligencer of Tuesday, is as fol.
lows
will first say few words of tho pers,nal APP
pearance of the Doctors Popular notions assin-
iate the Japanese to the Chinese. but they differ
from the latter almost rs much ns they do from
Caucasinns aud uro evidently superior race
They have not the singular almond shaped eye,
with narrow opening and turned up at the outer
corner. that gives such u popularity to the Chi
nese face. Their language differs ~ toto, although
written in somewhat similar mnnntr.
The three Doctors with whom we eonversed mp.
rear to be actwcen thirty and forty years OF age.
rather low stature. good muscular Development,
but not obese. They have prominent cheek bones,
slightly depressed noses, standing of ears. mod
cratoy large. well se and lively black eyes,
swurthy compexlon, medium slxc heads and
cenntennnce expressive Of thought, cnndor. and
benevolence. Their department is grave, dignifcd,
and truthful combined with real politeness, and
in most striking contrast to the orngng and
smirking Chinese OF high or low degree. Their
heads aro closely shaven, aud they have NJ ycstige
of heard hence their appearance is somewhat
cneminate Their outer garments consist OF wide
flowing trowscrs and loose snoks, with wide sleeves
ut Quaker colors. Those OF us who were eonver.
saut with various tribes Of our Indian aborigines
were struck by their resemblance to some OF cur
Northwestern tribes, which citizens oi Washing.
ton realize by reference to our picture gal
leries.
Tho conversation was carried on by means of
twointerprcters. Tho first interpreted our Eng.
l..l, L. al, la
ted into Japanese, but from the great skill ind
rapidity Of those gentlemen but little delay WAS
experienced
After mutual introdnctions and ,alutations our
fashion, we stated the object OF our visit To he
desire I, communicate with our professional broth
ron from tho tar East to interchange knowledge.
and MD aud be nldcl in promoting tho benevolent
objects OF Incidence wheroupon VIC received tho
following informaIion:
Medical education commence in Japan rs early
rs the eighth or ninth yenr Tho young student
for several years engages in reading books on
medicine aud surgery and acquires some acqualn-
tan e with medicines. At n moro mature age hs
j. transferred to ono of the hospitals that every.
where abound in ne Empire and are erected iUr
the special benefit Of the poor and there, by tho
bedside the student is tnught the signs and rynp-
toms Of disease and its appropriate trcntment.--
Having thus been sufficiently taught. and having
PASSED Il successful examination, tho young doctor
receives a diploma f,om his teachers, and is
thencelorth physician in good standing, author
lied to practice in every part Of the Empire. Till
within the last three years practical anatomy (dis
sccions) formed no part of medical education hut
its necessity il now fully acknowledged. They
| had, however, long been acquainted with the m-
mortal discovery Gt Harvey tho circulation Of
the blood Surgery is behind medicine no ope
rations Of any magnitude, not even nmpuaiop
have been prncriced in Jnpan, though one Of tbe
! Ina m hs nd
thought he shoHld resort to it in proper case
Midwifery and the treatment oi female pracii-
oncrs, the doctor being called only in extraprdina
ry cases To afford instrumental relief From this
cause want Of experience their knowledge in this
branch is very limitol. their mcthois rude, yet
generally attended with marked success. hc.
couchcur doctors form II special branch If the
medical profession As medicines they employ
principally vegetables. and # them chiefly bark,
few minerals and no animal substances. Silu-
pie dncortihn IL the usIill mode dt preparing the
vegetables. They are also acquainted with Peru.
yian bark and qninine. employing en- IN the
treatment ui fever. Culomel and other mercuri,ls
arr also used those latter substances nre pur.
chnsed from the Datch, who likewise furnish them
with wornseed the plant lr III which this Is pro-
uurcl they are very anxious TO obtain. They do
not employ general blood-ctting tas from u vein
in thc arm ia any disease. but abstract blood on
" lp means Of lcechcs. The vulgar have many
supcr-titious notions in regard to disease and its
treatment, the Influence Of spirts OF the stars, o.
chantment, &o., but the emil shtened physician de-
pends on the lnws Of nature under an oyerruling
Providence. That disease that no civilized nation
hitherto has \ nme1 as its own, but called after
some other people !; that, in connexion with the
great social evil, much abounds in Christian
countries, and has almost exterminated whole
tribes Of sayages and barharians after being
brought into contact with civilization has long
been known in ,Japnn and is suDposeh to be in