News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-09-19
A WOMAN DOCTOR IN CHINA.
Something About the Methods Chi
nese Use to Cure Diseases.

ICSO oSS W SNAS
The Miss Kate Corey, M. D., a gradu.
ate of the University of Michigan, who
for four years was principal surgeon IL
charge of a hospital at Foochow, China,
has returned to this country, greatly
broken in health, and has submitted tc
an interview by an Indianapolis Journal
reporter.
GLOW many persons are treated there
each year," inquired the newspaper
man.
"From 5000 to 5000 yearly. There
would have been more, but with only
one physician that was all that could
be done. There are from seventy to
eighty patients in the wards, and the
hospital is equipped in every way with
drugs and instruments, quite as well as
most of the hospitals i'll this country.
We have private rooms III which the
better class of Chinese are cared for and
who pay for the treatment they receive
the large wards are for the common peo-
pie. The ~dispensary practice runs from
fifty to eighty persons daily. These,
like those who are patients, Ill h wards
are women and children-Occaslonally Il
man"
Tell him about your outdoor prac-
ticc,' said DR.. Ford, who was present Mt
the interview.
81 had two relays of coolies to carry
me in d chair from house to house; the
lady resumed. at takes three MEN to
carry The chair that is, two to carry
and one to steady it. / made 800 to
800 of these outside visits q year,, going
into the homes of the Chinese. The
better class of Chinese are now looking
toward Christian lands for physicians
that is, m physicians for their
wives and children. Lastyear L entered
the homes of more of the high-class geo
pie than ever before. Even the doors
of the palace Of tho Governor of the
city were opened to me, and [ had fire.
quent calls to the houses OF other Of
ficia s."
Chow do YOU do in surgical cases?
If death follows an operation, are You
not blamed or threatened!
1--WE undertake no case In surgery
until the utmost confidence is expressed
and the patient is willing to take the
risk of death. AS indicating the CON
fdence we inspire, n mandarin came to
me and pleaded with me to amputate
his wife's leg. 1t would have to be am
plb lUCu tb blC mp JOlhO, DuO OAS ONSO
had gone too far for surgery. Chinese
women are ready to take the chance OF
death. If n Chinese m feels that
she is dying with any lmperfect1on, a
tumor or ANYTHING of the kind, she will
insist that the attempt be made to re-
move it before she dies, ever though the
operation kill her, for she believes that
if she dies with the tumor unremoved
- Ill - ,@A@H.-A Inr. n1H nor
only chance of heaven is that she be re-
ceived by the gods SO that she may be
reborn into the soul of a man. The CI1-
nese know nothing about surgery, be-
cause they know nothing of the cadaver
for they believe it to be sacrilege to cut
or mar the human body after death.
They have many remedies, a lew OF
which are efficiently and wisely used IN
some cases, but there is no such thing
as science in Chinese medicine. The
larger part of Chinese medicine consists
of sorcery, incubation and sacrifice to
idols"
What are some of the strange and
barberOus remedies they employ z"
"They administer insects of various
kinds; finger ma Is arc sometimes given,
and all sorts of fouldecoctions. Tigers
teeth is one of their medicines. They
disease as being communicated
by evil spirits, and so the most outra-
geous remedies, with sacrifices to
idols, are employed. Their know
of mercury i'll its various
forms is very complete, and | think
use it effectively. Often the first
thing done to newborn babe is to give
it a dose of cinnabar (red sulphuret of
mercury to purge it of evil spirits.
because of an overdose the
child may be poisoned. l have had a
such brought to me with almost
every Joint in the body displaced.
could be done for them and
death followed. Fortunately such cases
n e few. Cauterization is universal in
being done with hot irons. Cauteriza-
ton is used for cholera.
"Does the binding of tho feet OF the
Gir's and women give any hospital
cases2"
II have had to ampu'ate toes, some
times the entire foot of a child. The
Eanda9ing begins when q girl is 4 or .
years old. If scientifically done no bad
result follows; if not so done gangrene
is the result. The low caste women
the burden bearers and those who work
in the fields, do not have their feet
bound. 1t is a badge of birth and so
cial distinction. This idea of social
distinction hat the feet should be
bound is held by mere children. One
girl about 7 years old was brought
to me with gangrenous toes. Before
she was put under the influence Of
chloroform she was very anxious to
know whether | would cat off her foot
or not. Her reason for not wishing to
lose her foot was that it might be spared
so that she could bind il, and yet this
poor child had suffered untold agony
with her feet.
81 had as assistants in the hospital
five Chinese gir's, medical students.
They were taking a curse under me
and / gave clinical and didatic lectures
each day. At the end of two years
study | think these girls could compare
favorably with any students at home
here who had studied the same length
of time. My object here is TO raise
funds to build an o~rphanage for Chi
nese girls, waits cast OF by their par
cnts. Girls are often sold by PARENTS
into slavery or lives of shame. TIE
girls We educate become our most eff
Gent workers"
DR.. Corey hopes to return to China,
if her health is restored, in about q
year.