Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-03-30
CHINESE MEDICAL SCIENCE.


United States navy, has been investi-
eating the study and science Of medi-
cine in China. He finds that the pro-
fession has no scientific knowledge
Medical literature consists largely of
elaborate records Of the elects Of various
doses
The study of anatomy in China is
something funny This branch is taught
by diagrams. The Chinese doctors
never dissect According to the charts
which represent the Chinese ideas of the
internal organs. which have been handed
down from ages back, the traehea or
windpipe goes to the heart, and from
there three tubes radiate to the liver,
spleen and kidneys. The esophagus. or
food passage goes to the stomach. Even
a Chinaman could hardly miss the con-
nection.
The lungs are represented as hanging
to the spinal column and Us being white
in color, perforated with holes for let
ting in air. The kidneys are likewise
hitched to the backbone The small
intestines play the part of connection
between the heart and the bladder, while
the large intestines are attached to 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 lobes.
Such thing as the nervous system is
not known. Chinese medical books
teach that the chest Ii the vital center,
the seat Of joy, pleasure and health. In
the brain is located the principle of
perfection. The 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 by the Chinese profession.
They are considered distinct Separate
instruction is given on each class, and
specialists devote themselves to one of
these divisions These classes are as
follows: l. Those affecting the pulse
feebly. 2. Those affecting the pulse
violently. 5. Those arising from cold.
| 4. Female diseases. 5. CutaneouS dis
eases. 6. Diseases requiring acupunct-
ure. z. Ophthalnlic affections. 8. Dis
eases of the mouth and adyacent parts.
o. Diseases of the bones. The materia
medica of the Chinese profession is
something stupendous. The Pan-Tso,
their standard work, is in thirty-eight
volumes. 1t presents 1896 formuIse,
| into the makeup of which over 1000
substances enter. While there is almost
no end to Chinese drugs, there are some
| substances which are fayorites in the
| practice. Among these are claws aud
bones of the tiger and other wild ami
mails, the cuttlc-fish, dragons teeth. fos-
sils, the hide, horn and bone of the cle-
phant and rhinOccros, the scorpion,
! snake-skins, SCOT and so on.
A favorite remedy Is known as '.the
tincture of five poisons, made by steep
| ing scorpions, snakes and other venOnl-
Gus creatures in sanlshu. This is given
| for fever, rheumatism and catarrh. In
some parts of China it is considered the
very highest degree of philanthrophy
| for the rich to place this fincture at
their doors, to be used without cost by
the poor. Gunpowder, termed '.fine
drug is used as a vermifuge. A sem
sible remedy, which is of comparatively
recent introduction among more en-
lightened 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 the result Of natural
| growth or skillful trimming, is given as
| the reason for the Chinese faith i'm 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 in
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
ry. They resort to cupping and Ieech-
ing and lancing on small scale, and
that is about as far as they 60. Morbid
growths are removed with what ID
known rs ''tho five tigers specific, q
composition Of sulphate Of iron, alum,
nitrate and potash. metallic mercury
and verditer. In only one respect i
this surgery heroic. Tlley will shove
needle into the body anywhere about
rs far as twill 60.
The pulse Is almost entirely relied
upon in making diagnosis and ii tl1t
subject Of elaborate teaching and study
The physician in the presence Of his pa.
tient does little more than examine ths
| pulse Of bOth wrists. and. In the case 81
female, i permitted 10 make this ex
animation only, the arms being pro
truded from behind 4 screen. They an
played upon at three points, from each
Of which the learned man gets twcnfx.
four indications These give positive
information Of the organ involved, and
lts exact condition, enable him 10 givt