The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-04-21
China and Japan AT the Uni
versal Exposition of 1867.

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versaI Exposition of 1867.
However ignorant the Chinese may be
they have little confidence in the abilitie
or science of such doctors, and are fond o
being their own physicians. They are
wont to apply indictments on the slightes
pretext, and make constant and injudi
cious use Of the drugs they carry abou
with them in medicine chest. If, in ex
traordinary cases, they call in physician
their first inquiry is concerning the fees he
will charge, and the unfortunate disciple o.
Esculapius has to enter into a long con.
troversg, and reduce his original charge
before he is allowed to exercise his pro,
fessiOn. As this, under ordinary circum-
stances, is far from being lucrative, the
physicians, who are, at the same time,
apothecaries and druggists, and sell their
own prescriptions, are too often prone to
become active auxiliaries to vice, and even
to crime. The streets of Pekin are full of
placards extolling the virtues of certain
aphrodisiacs, compounded by certain ply
sicians, whose talents are also recon-
mended for the manufacture of abortive
medicines.
There is, however, in the Emperor's
household, a sort of organization of med
ical service and no less than q score Of
physicians, who have rank in the Manda-
rim order, from the second to the lowest
class, are attached to the Palace. The
two first in rank-physicians entitled to
the blue button, and belonging to the
second class of Mandarins-are the only
ones allowed to visit the Emperor but
while in his presence they are forbidden to
utter single word, and if information be
required they ask it from the eunuchs on
duty. As far as the Emperor is concerned,
they are able to see his serene face, and
from the appearance of his august phys
iognomy, to draw some differences and form
some opinions, but such is not the case
when they have to attend on the Empress,
or one of the women of the harem. The
arm of the invalid is the only thing visible
to the profane gaze of the health officers;
that sacred arm is stretched out from
amidst the many folds of thick curtain,
and the physicians are not permitted to
feel the pulse of their unknown patient
except under the most pressing circum-
stances. There have been, nevertheless,
some marvellous cures effected, for which
the unconscious physicians were rewarded
with titles and lucrative employments.
Those Imperial doctors keep medical
college where students are admitted. What
do they teach? Neither anatomy, pathol- |
ogy, nor experimental therapeutics. The
student has to learn by heart an old book,
such as we have seen at the Exposition,
and when he can recite and transcribe it,
he is prepared for his examination, after
which he enjoys the invaluable distinction
of wearing the gold button, and becomes
q Mandarin of the lowest order; but no
special privilege, as physician, is attached
to his diploma. He might have exercised
that profession just as well before as after
his examination, and that without meeting
any impeachment, and with as much wis
dom. The effect of the gold button con-
sists in inspiring the public with little
more confidence in the knowledge of the
wearer therof, who, in return, does not fail
to increase his charges.
We have been somewhat prolix on this
subject, because it seems to us that En-
ropeans and Americans, uniting their eff
forts to dispel the general ignorance of the
people, can render them immense service,
for which they will gain trust and sympa-
thy. How many common diseases the
Chinese doctors are unable to deal with I
ophthalmy, cutaneous diseases, smallpox,
and many Others. All along the coast of
China, and at Pekin, English and French
physicians have established dispensaries,
where they gratuitously administer to the
lick, and they have lately introduced vac
.ination at Shanghai. People begin to
lock to their doors; the rich send for
hem; and large quantity of medicines,
which can not be prepared by the Chinese
Ipothecaries, is imported from abroad. We
you'd have liked to give some information
concerning Chinese hospitals, or what are
ermed such, but the limits of this brief j