Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
A FEMALE DOCTOR IN CHINA.

A FEMALE DOCTOR In CHINA.
Inc GOOD work an American Woman Had Ae-
cOmpllshed In the Celestial Empire
The Indian Medical society did q rather
unusual thing at recent session, saws
the Indianapolis Journal. 1t elected q
woman TO honorary membership. The
lady so honored is Miss Kate Corev. NJ.
D., graduate of the University of Mich
igap, who for four years was principal
surgeon IN charge of hospital at Foo
chow. China, aud who has, as was stated
in the convention by E. S. Elder, "psr-
formed almost every surgical operation
known, from pulling a tooth to ogariot-
omy." The lady recently returned to ner
home at Van Buren,, Grant county, this
state, greatly broken in health, by reason
of arduous labors, and is DOW under
medical treatment. The hospital of
which she was in charge is for the treat
ment of native women and children. It
was established land is supported) by the
Woman's Foreign Missionary society of
the Methodist Episcopal church ten years
ago. Miss Cary was there three years,
and DR.. Mary Carleton of New York is
now at the head of the institution In her
absence.
each Year," inquired the reporter who
visited DR.. Corey recently.
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 of
this country. We have private rooms in
which the better class of Chiaese are
better cared for, and who pay for the
treatment they receive; the large wards
are for the common people. The dispen-
sary practice runs from fifty to eighty
persons daily. These, like those who are
patients in the wards, are women and
children; occasionally man.
81 made 800 TO 900 outside visits year,
going into bthe homes of the Chinese.
The better class of Chinese are now look
ing toward Christian lands for physicians
that is, women phYsicians-for their
wiz 30 and children. Last year / entered
the homes of more of the high-caste peO-
pie than ever before. Even the doors of
the palace of the governor of the city
we're opened to me, and had frequent
calls to the houses of other officials"
How do you do in surgical casesH If
death follows an operation are you not
blamed or threatened?"
1--WE undertake no case in surgery un-
til the utmost confidence is expressed and
the patient is willing to take the risk of
death. As indicating the confidence we
inspire, a mandarin came TO me sand
pleaded with me to amputate his wife's
leg. 1t would have to be amputated at
+ hi INT hnt no
far for surgery. Chinese women are
ready to take the chance of death. If a
Chinese woman feels that she is dying
with any perfection, a tumor or any
thing of the kind, she will insist that the
attempt be made to remove it before she
dies, even though the operation kill her,
for she believes that if she dies with tie
tumor unremoved her gods will not receive
her, and her only chance of hea- en- is that
she be received by the gods, SO that she
NAV be reborn into the soul of man.
The Chinese know nothing about surgery,
because they know nothing of the cada-
yer, for they believe it to be sacrllegeIto
cut or mar the human body after death.
They nave many remedies, few 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, incarnation and sacrifice TO
idols"
"What are some of the strange and
barbarous remedies they enjoy?"
"Ihey administer insects of various
kinds; tisger nails are sometimes given
and all sorts of foul decoctions. Tigers
teeth is one of their medicines. They
regard disease as being communicated by
evil spirits, and so the most outrageous
remedies. with sacrifice to idols, are en-
pioyed. Their knowledge of mercury In
its various forms is very complete, and
think they use it effectively. Often the
first thing zone with newborn babe Is
to give it dose of cinnabar (red sulphur
Ct of mercury 70 purge it of evil spirits
S Sometimes because of an overdose the
child may be poisoned. [ have few
such brought to me with almost every
Joint in the body displaced. Nothing
could be done for them and death follow
ed. fortunately such cases are few.
Cauteriz alton is universal IN cases or
pain or cram pc, the burning being GONE
by bot irons. Cauterization Is used for
Does the binding Of the feet of girls
and women give any hospital casesf"
81 have had to amputate toes, some
times the entire foot of child. The
bandaging begins when the girl is 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
he fields do not have their feet bound.
It is badge of birth and social dlotlnc-
ion. This idea of special distinction
hat the feet should be bound Is held by
mere children. One little girl about
years old was brought to me with gan
,renons toes. Before she was put under
he influence of chloroform she was very
anxious to know whether l would cut off
Ter foot or not. Her reason for not
Wishing 20 lose her foot was shat it might
% spared so that she could bind II, and
ret this child had suffered untold agony
With her feet"
DR.. Corey hopes to return TO China, If
Ter health is restored IL year.