Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-05-17
CHINESE MEDICAL SCIENCE.
Tho Treatment - Disease-Qneer ideas
and Remedies.

surgeon George w. Wood. OF the
United States navy. has been investi-
| eating the study and science Of medi-
cine in China. lie finds that the pro
Eession has no scientific knowledge.
Medical literature consists largely az
elaborate records Of the effects of various
doses.
The study 81 anatomy in China is
something funny. This branch is taught
BY diagrams. The Chinese doctors
never dissect. According to the charts
which repreSen; the Chinese ideas of the
internal organs. which hayobeen handed
down from asees back, the trachea or
windpipe goes 10 tho heart, and from
there three tubes rayliate 10 the liver.
spleen and Kidneys. The csophagus or
food passage GOES to the stomach. Even
Chinaman could hardly miss the con-
nection.
The lungs are represented rs hanging
TO the spinal column and as boing white
in color, perforated with holes for let
ting in air. The kidneys arc likewise
hitched to the backbone. The small
intestines play tho part of connection
between the heart and the bladder, while
the large in'cstines are attached 10 the
lungs. The spleen connects with the
stomach as kind Of ell, and the liver.
according to the Chinese anatomy. Is
an immense organ with seven lobas.
Such u thing rs the nervous system is
not known. Chinese medical books
teach that the chest is tho vital center.
the seat of JOY, pleasure and health. In
the brain is located the principle of
perfection. Tho 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.
There are nine divisions OF diseases
recognized BIZ the Chinese profession.
They arc considered distinct. Separate
instruction il given on each class, and
specialists devote themselves to one OF
these divisions. These classes are as
follows: |. Those affecting the pulse
feebiy. 2. Those affecting The pulse
violently. 8. Those arising from cold.
4. Female diseases. B. Cutaneous dis
eases. 6. Diseases requiring acupunct-
ure. Z. Ophthalmic affections. s. Dis
eases of the mouth and adyacent pasts.
8. Diseases of the bones. The materia
medica of the Chinese profession Is
something stupendous The Pan-Tso.
their standard work, Is in thirtv-eight
volumes. 1t presents 1886 formula.
into the makeup of which over 900
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-iish, dragons teeth, fos-
sils, the hide, horn and bone Of the ele-
phant and rhinoceros, the scorpion.
snake-skins, SCOT and SO on.
A favorite remedy is known as .ahe
tincture of five poisOns,n made by steep
ing scorpions. snakes and other venom
Gus creatures in samshu. This is given
for fever, rheumatism and catarTh. In
some parts of China it is considered the
very highest degree Of philanthrophy
for the rich to place this tincturc at
their doors, to be used without cost by
the poor. Gunpowder, termed "fine
drug" is used as vermifuge. A SEN
sible remedy, which Is of comparatively
recent introduction among more en-
hghtened people, Is the gizzard Of the
common fowl, prescribed for dyspepsia.
But the great cure-all with the Chinese
is gingseng root The resemblance
which the roots often bear to the human
form, either as tho 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 root are
carefully preserved in embroidered
coverings and inclosed in cases of vary
ing sizes, the whole being locked I'M
brass-bound chests. An extraordinary
fine specimen Is worth $500. The hunt
ing of these roots is pursued with all the
ardor Of gold seeking.
The Chinese have little use for surge
~. They resort to cnpping and leech-
ing and lancing on small scale, and
that Is about as far as they 60. Morbid
growths arc removed with what Is
known as .'the five tigers specific. a
composition Of sulphate Of iron, alum,
nitrate and potash. metallic mercury
and verditef. In only one respect Is
this surgery heroic. They viii shove
needle into the body anywhere about
as far as twill 20.
The pulse is ALMOST entirely relied
upon ii making diagnosis and Is the
subject Of elaborate aching and study.
The physician in tho presence Of his pa
tent does Little more than examine the
pulse Ct both wrists. and. IN the case Of
q female, Is permitted 10 make this ex-
animation only, the arms being pro-
truded from behind i screen. Thcy are
played upon at three points, from each
of which the learned man gets twenty
four indications. These give positive