The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-07-28
rom 10 cents 70 several dollars for

doctor with roast pigs and wooden
certificate, two or more feet long and
correspondence wide. bearing appro-
plate inscriptions. The doctor is
thereon 1iksned by the Chinese Es-
culapins. Wah Fob. or to some almost
equally potent healing divinity. These
board certificates ndorn the front en-
trance Of doctors house. and are the
best kind of advertisement known in
the far east On the other hand. the
physician whose stupidity is supposed
to have killed patient may have
signs and certificates broken to pieces
by the latter's angry friends. In that
ease it is better for him to leave town
If he has any regard for his safety.
The Chinese are no better pre-
pared to perform surgical operations
than they are to deal with Internal all
ments. STILL they pull teeth with
great success and little pain; under
stand how to open tumor or to reduce
fractures by pressure and the appliea-
ton of bandages. Acupuncture was
practiced by them in remote ages and
is still in vogue. In A. d. 1927 the,
figures of men were made to show
where the needle could be inserted
without touching the vital parts. A
Dutch surgeon introduced this practice.
into Europe in the seventeenth century.
They have also tried their hand at
making artificial teeth. which are fast,
ened to the natural teeth. Ivory has
been employed in their manufacture.
Massage, or kneading of the muscles
of the upper part of the back. is also
quite ancient BARRIERS combine it with
the business of shaving aud cue-braid-
ing. It is good in certain cases of neu-
ralgc headaches.
Phlebotomy, or hlood-lotting is per-,
formed by means of cupping and
leeching. but never resorted to in
fevers. for fever is likened to pot
boiling. The thing is to reduce the
fire, and not the water. Hence, ice
that has turned into water, no matter
how long ago is deemed sovereign
remedy for fevers.
The American patent medicine man
has his prototype in China, generally
to be found in front of temples and in
public squares Though not so auda-
cious as the American, he is equally
mendacious in proclaiming the unap-
proachable virtues of his nostrums.
A Chinese lady had mole removed
after this fashion: BY means of brush.
little caustic was laid on the mole.
where it remained for an hour.
The skin about the mole turned
black after day or two. and in
week came of. dragging the
mole along with it and leaving a hard.
ly percepttble scar behind. The fee
charged was 10 cash-equivalent to l
cent in American money. have
hitherto described the methods of the
Irregular school," The fath-cure men
remain to be treated. They are MOST
ly Troist priests, who fatten on the
supersttious fears of the ignorant.
They do not tell patient that his dis
ease is only matter OF imagination.
but make him believe that h0 Is
troubled with evil spirits. Then they
proceed to exercise him and force the
spirits to abandon their prey by vari-
Gus nominations or by tire use OF
charms, which are merely pieces
of yellow paper bearing ca
balistic characters. One copy is
put on the bed curtain,
another is worn next the skin. third
is burned and its ashes dissolved In
water drunk by the patient Some
times medium prescribes while in
trance.
Then. again. an angry deity is sup
posed TO inflict bodily pain on those
who have offended him. Priests are
hired to propitiate him by the singing
of chants, the burning of incense, and the
Offering of food. If the patient gets well
the idol gets the credit and thank Of
fering. If he becomes worse it is be-
cause he lacks faith or has not spent
money enough. If he dies, cit is the
will of heaven" The idol is fixed"
in any case. The sick man usually
drinks the ashes of the incense dis
solved in tea. Again, an idol may, be
asked to prescribe directly. in the fol-
lowing manner:
One hundred different prescriptions
are printed. and one hundred bamboo
slips numbered to correspond to them
are put into holder, which is shaken
until one slip drops out. The prescrip-
ton similarly numbered is picked out
and prepared at the drug store like any
other. and the resulting decoction Is
then swallowed as any ordinary COM
pound. The chances are ten to one in
favor of recovery unless the disease is
incurable or the medicine too strong.
Does not faith work wonders-for some
peoplep
If nothing else will dc. priest is
hired to climb a ladder whose rungs
are made of swords with the edge turn
ed upward Qle is barefoot minD while
al attendant beats gong. The swords
are enough to scare away evil spirits.
but when the priest repeats powerful
spell they are obliged to seek war;
mer CLINE. Then. too, the gods may
be induced to pity a sick man who
takes so much trouble Ito expose other
peoples fees) in order to propitiate
them.
Such are some of the means by which
the superstitious and ignorant strive
to regain their health. They are gen.
orally harmless and only make havoc
on ones pocket-book. They will 60
out of use with the triumph of Christi
anity and the d illusion of knowledge
in the Chinese empire.
Daughters That Mako Good
Wives.