New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
CHINA'S CHIEF PHYSICIAN.
CHEN LIEN FANG'S ATTENDANCE ON
THE EMPEROR AT PEKING.

t<tvsician in China returning to his home in
this province from attendance on the Emperor
II Peking did me the honor of calling on me
some days ago. A brief account of his expert
cnces at the capital may not be without interest
to readers in England. 49, -,
When the edict was issued calling upon thc
provincial Viceroys and Governors to send ma
tive doctors Of distinction to Picking to advise
in regard to the Emperors illness Chen Lien
Fang received orders from the Governor at Su-
Chau TO leave for the north without delay;
This in itself. apart from the uncongeniai ana
unremunerativc nature OF the duty tot which
Chen was well alvarez. was no light Undertaking
for a man of delicate physique. whose age is
over threescore years and ten; but there was no
possibility of evading the task. He accordingly
left his large practice in the charge of two con-
fidential assistants. pupils and. having re-
ceived from the Governor sum of OOOO taels
for travelling expenses and remuneration in al,
vance. made his way to Picking ana reported
for duty to the Grand Council.
When he arrived there he found three other
native physicians of considerable repute already
in attendance. summoned in Obedience to the
imperial commands. DIR. Detheve, OF the French
Legation. had already paid his historical Visit
to the Emperor, and his remarkable diagnosis
of the Son of Heavens symptoms was still al
fordng amusement to the legations. The aged
native physician spoke in terms of undisguised
contempt both Of the French doctors comments
on the and of his suggestions for its treat
Tent. His own description of the Emperors
malady cOuched in language not unlike that
which writer's of historical novels attribute to
the physicians OF Europe in the Middle Ages: he
spoke reverently of influences and vapors at
work in the august person Of his sovereign,
learnedly of heat-nuskings and their occult
causes. and plainly Of things which are more
suited to Chinese readers than to those OF The
Times"
Nevertheless, his description pointed clearly
to disease of the respiratory organs-which he
said had existed for over twelve years-to gen
eral debility and to a feversh condition which
he aScrbed TO mental anxiety combined with
physical weakness Before he left Picking (abOut
the middle of November) the fever had abated.
ard the patients symptoms had decidedly i'm
proved: the was, however, in his opinion.
Of so serious a nature that he decided to leave
it, il possible, in the hands Of his younger con-
freres-an object which by dint OF bribng
tain Court officials he eventually achieved
Asked if he considered the Emperors condition
critical. he replied. oracuarly. that If ne lived
to see the Chinese New Year his strength would
thereafter return gradually with the spring. and
the complete restoration Of his health might be
expected
CHEN'S CONSULTATION
Some few days after his arrival in Peking
Chen was summoned to audience by orders con-
veyed through a member of the Grand Council
the Emperor and the Dowager Empress
awaiting his visit in a hall on the south side of
the palace. The consultation was curiously in
dcative of the divinity which hedges about the
ruler of the Middle Kingdom suggestive too.
of the solidity of that conservatism which die
fates the inner policy Of China. Chen entered
the presence of his sovereign on his knees.
crossing the apartment in that position. after
the customary kowtows. The Emperor and the
Dowager Empress were seated at opposite sides
faced each other in that position during the
greater part Of the interview.
The Emperor appeared pale and listless, had
a troublesome irritation of the throat. and
evidently feverish; the thin oval Of his face
clearly defined features and aquiline gave
him, in the physicians eyes Ito use his own
words. the appearance Of a foreigner. The
Empress. who struck him as an extremely we'll
preserved and intelligent-ooking woman. seemed
to be extremely socitOus as TO the patients
health. and careful for his comfort. AS it
"A 0f
for the physician to ask any questions of His
Majesty. the Empress proceeded to describe his
symptoms, the invalid occasionally signifying
confirmation Of what was said by word or
rod. During this monologue the physician,
following the customary procedure at imperial
audiences. kept his gaze concentrated upon the
floor until. at the command Of the Empress. and
still kneeling. he permitted to place
hand upon the EmperOr's wrist. There
feeling OF the pulse, simply contact with the flat
or the hand. first to one side OF the wrist, and
then the other. This done. the Empress
tinued her narrative Of the patients sufferings:
She described the state of his tongue and the
symptoms of liberation in the mouth and
throat. but az it not permissible for the
doctor to examine these he was obliged to make
the best of a somewhat unprofessonal descrip-
ton. AS he wisely observed it is difficult to
look at a patients tongue when his exalted rank
compels you to keep your eyes fixed rigidiy on
the floor.
The EmItess having concluded her remarks
on the Chen permitted to withdraw
and to present to the Grand Council his dag
HoSiS. together WIN ADVICE az 10 future treat
ment. which WAS subsequently communicated
officially to the Throne. The gist of his advice
was to prescribe certain tonics Of the orthodox
native type, and to suggest the greatest possible
amount of mental and physical rest.
In reply to my inquiries to the Emperors
diet Chen observed that 1t would. of course. he
highly beneficial were he given a moderate
amount OF meat food; this however he could
not have suggested since il contrary to the
Confucian doctrine He had been given to
derstand by one Of the Court officials that the
Emperor's daily fare consisted almost entirely
OF rice seasoned with the usual rne L. Inn