Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-02-04
CHINESE MEDICAL LORE.
SOME STRANGELY ABSURD IDEAS
ABOUT HUMAN ANATOMY.
How the Lungs Are Represented-What
the Chinese Medical Books reach-Nine
Divisions Of Disease-favorite Remedieo
Celestial surgery-Ginseng.


Surgeon George W. Wood, Of the United
States navy, has been investigating the
study and science OF medicine in China
He finds that the profession has no scien
rife knowledge. Medical literature con
sists largely Of elaborate records Of the ef
fects of various doses.
The study of anatomy in China Is some
thing funny. This branch is taught y
diagrams. The Chinese doctors neyel
dissect. Accor ling to the charts viii b
represent the Chinese ideas of tbs internal
organs which have been handed down
from ages back, the trachea or wind pipe
goes TO the heart, and from there three
tubes radiate to the liver, spleen AMI Kid
neys. The esophagus or food passage
goes to the stomach. Even Chnaman
could hardly miss thar connection.
The lungs are represented as hanging to
the spinal column ana as being white in
color, perforated with holes for letting in
air. The kidneys are likewise hitched tc
the backbone The small intestines play
the part OF a connection between the heart
and the bladder. while the large mites
tines are attached TO the lungs The
spleen connects with the stomach ms a
kind Of ell, and the liver, according TO
Chinese anatomy, is an immense organ
with seven lobes. Such n thing as The
nervous system Is not known.
WHAT THE MEDICAL BOOKS TEACH.
Chinese medical books teach that the
chest is the vital center, the seat of joy.
pleasure and health. In the brain u
al he. ,.rfp,f,,la ~ tarfa.ffan nhn
liver is the abode Of the soul. and controls
the formation of schemes and enterprises
The gall bladder Is the region whence
comes the supply Of courage. q
There are nine divisions Of diseases rec.
ognized by the Chinese profession. They
are considered distinct. Separate instruc-
ton is given on each class. and specialists
devote themsel, es to one Of these divis-
ions. These classe areas follows
Those affecting the pnlse feebly: those
affecting the Julse violently; those arts
ing from cold; female diseases; cutaneousj
diseases; diseases requiring acupuncture;
ophthalmic affections: diseases of the
mouth and adjacent parts; diseases of tho
bones. The materia medica Of the
Chinese profession is something stipend:
GUS
The Pan-Tso, their standard work,
is in thirty-eight volumes. II presents
IL $50 formula, into the makeup of which
over 800 substances enter. While there
is almost no end to Chinese drugs. there
are some substances which are favorites
in the practice. Among these are claws
and bones Of the tiger and other wild ami
mails, the cuttle-fsh, dragons teeth, fos-
sils, the hide. horn and bones OF the ele-
plant and rhinoceros, the scorpion. snake
skins, SCOT and 50 ON.
A favorite remedy is known as 1.-THE
tincture Of five poisons." made by sleeping
scorpions. snake, and other venomnui
creatures ia samshu. This Is given for
fever. rheumatism, AMI cararrii IN some
parts of China Il Is considered the very
highest degree Of philanthropy for tho
rich TO place this tinctare al their door
to be used without cost by the poor
Gunpowder, termed fine drug is useu
rs a vermifuge A sensible remedy. which
is Of comparatively recent introduction
among more enlightened people. is The
gizzard Of the common fGwl, prescribed
for dyspepsia. But the great cure-all
with the Chinese is ginseng root. The re-
semblance which the roots often bear to
the human form. either as the result of
natural growth or skillful trimming. is
given as the reason for the Chinese faith
in the universal efficacy Of this drug.
Large and choice specimens Of the rrst
are carefully preserved in cmbro i
cred coverings and inclospd in cases #
varying sizes. the whole belug locked in
chests. An extraordinary
fine specimen Is worth $500 The hunting
of these roots is pursued with all the arlor
Of gold-seeking
CUPPING. LEECHING ANDLANCGNG.
The Chinese have little use for surgery.
They resort 10 cuppiny and le"ching aud
lanciug on a small scale. and that j. about
as far as they 90. Morbid growths are re-
moved with what is known rs the "iive
tigers specific" n composition Of sulphato
Of iron, alum, nitrate Of potash, metallic
mercury, and yerditer. In only one re-
spect is their surgery heroic They will
shove needle into the body anywhere
about as far as IL will go.
The pulse is almost entirely relied upon
in making diagnosis and is the subject
NJ elaborate teaching and study. The
in the presence III his patient,
does little more than examine the pulse of
both wrists, and in the case of female,
is permitted to make this examination
only, tine arms being protruded from be-
hind screen. They are played upon at
three points, from each Of which the
learned man gets twenty-four indications.
These give positive Information of the or
gan involved, and its exact condition, en-
able him to give prognosis. This exam
nation is made with great solemnity.
The ~three pulses" commencing at the
hand are designated as inch, bar and
cubit, and the sympathy existing between
the pulse and the internal organs enables
the doctor to reach his conclusions.
The Chinese are great consumers OF
medicine, and drug stores abound. The
city walls are thickly placarded with adj
vertisements OF remedies. A doctor is
generally selected by lot, and this settled,
q contract is entered into for medicine and
advice until a cure Is effected. The
larger the fee the greater the doses ex-
pected. Medicine Is furnished in great
boiuses of herbs and roots, and is admin
istered by the quart.-washingto Cor.
Globe Democrat.