Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16

among his people. even without the con-
sulate, set about at once to enlist the in
terest of the Six Companies A petition was
circulated among the rich Chinese mer-
chants, with the gratifying return of over
$4,000. The board of health at last recog
nized the need of such an institution and
wondered at their former stupidity. The
$4,000 raised was invested in pay ng real
estate. from which the income at present
just supports the hospital. with no surplus
In the Oriental Free Dispensary there is
a daily clinic held, and resident white
physician and surgeon is ready to answer
all urgent calls. There is a Chinese depart
ment with a Chinese doctor The patients,
upon entering, are given their choice of
doctors. and about one-half of them choose
the European treatment.
Sometimes as many as 400 cases a month
treated. the grand total of over 5000
being duly registered and treated since the
founding of the hospital two years ago
Out of the 400 monthly patients an aver
age of only about fifteen succumb to their
ailments; the others are entirely cured or
are we'll enough to leave the hospital and
proceed with their work. About forty beds
are in readiness, the surgical and medical
treatment being free of charge
Chinese come from all portions of the
United States to this hospital, many of
them from eastern states, for. as was stated
before, 1t is the only institution of its kind
in America. Besides Ho Vow and the Six
Companies, Hoo Hong Yuen, director gen
eral of the hospital, is doing splendid work
Yuen is also cousin of Ho Vow the con-
sui. The oriental dispensary physician Is
DR.. Tom Wal Tong. BY his countrymen he
is accredited with great wisdom and many
Caucasian physicians say that some Of his
cures are far beyond the ordinary
There are few places more interesting in
Chinatown than the oriental laboratories
and drug stores. Quaint and curious are
many of the prescribed remedies although
many of the herbs used are excellent for
some maladies, and this fact is pretty gen.
orally recognized. for the average Chinese
doctor who can speak English counts among
MS patients Americans as well as orient
ais
One of the largest drug stores in China
town is that of Wong Woo. who has over
1900 different barkS, roots and berries all
imported from his own country. Some few
OF the herbs grow here. but they have not
the strength of the Chinese plants For
instance. ginseng grown in Pennsylvania
nom which state large quantities are eX-
ported, brings only so cents a pound, while
Chinese ginseng sells for SO and 81
A certain bark which upon being broken
into pieces discloses slvery-colored silken
fiber. is much used as a tonic; it is the bark
or the tree called toy chung. Orange skin,
betei nut, licorce, sweet tasting red her
ries. bamboo shavings and all sorts of roots
and herbs are used. The Chinese herb med
icines have an indescribable sweetish-bitter
entirely unappetzing taste. They are served
steaming hot in tea cups a dainty Iittle
dish piled high with preserved prunes being
given with each dose to take away the
taste.
Dr. Wong is a very busy man: he issues
all the orders and writes out the nrescrin
tlons Although he handles none of the med
icihe hlmselr, he generally stands by to see
that each order is properly executed II Is
curious enough to see the native druggist
siIi prescription. cutting off a piece of
snake, clipping bit of horn, few shaw
lngs or betei nut, herb or two and Ia tly
couple Of lizards