The Washington times., 1906-12-23
Hospital for Chinese
Part of Odd New York

are covered with inscriptions which
are the sayings Of these old physi-
eiaHs,
Their manner of treatment is based
urI ou tL" idea of the curative ur0p-
critics uf their Prescriptions So much
Hs co.'s uH-ir power of driving out The
evil spirits Oft sickness. The China
man looks upon ihr 'Chinee-Iize"
doctor HitH more respect Thau ne
does apan the "A-4aau-like- doctor
When he calls upon bis doctor FOR
"a 'yock don. or prescription. he gets
one which usually contains about
forty Ingredients Prominent among
taeu ere dried snake skins. frog
SKINS and powdered toad. upon .he
powers of which they Ilu great fiIh
btn-T Ingredients are herbs. When
tEe sick Chiuamau has succeeded in
getting the prescription nIed the
whole IL boiled and be drinks the re
sultiuB d-coctI0H. which is bitter a.
gall Immediately after drinking the
prescription Jhe patient takes dried
plum ln his mouth 90 xiii the tasLs.
Mater has 40 effect upon the bitter
ness.
The price usually charged by the Chi
nese physician e. Gu cents. The Chi
naman does not consider IL refined 10
hand his doctor the bare money. II
il always wrapped in red paper and
The physician never knows the size OF
hts fee until after the patient has de-
parted
But the Chinese have learned that
the New York Board Of Health has
many questions 10 ask about details.
As 9 consequence when u Is evident
that n sick ChinamHn is beyond aid
an American physician is called in.
This is a mere f0FmalIty, as the Am
ericau physician can give a death
certificate acceptable 10 the board.
while one from the "Chinee-like'
doctor would not be worth tie paper
II was written on
In the hospital the feeble or sick
Chinese lacks for nothing TO comfort
him Il II can be procured. Money or
no money, cousins OF no cousins. ne
is treated just the same.
Banquets are OF slulost nightly oo-
currencv .n t..e Chinese clubs, and the
yiands left over are always taken 10
the hospital. Whoever gives these
banquets considers II a duty 10 pro-
vide a sufficient quantity OF food, so
Fong may share the good things.
w. thA =LeE ChinAmRa has
reached mat stage where he can eat
no other food ne Is kept alive on
fue-juke. or cream of rice. the most
expensive food known TO the Oriental.
IL is imported from China and Is 50
delicate that hardly one case in i've
reaches New York without being
-
beaten into a pulp. pressed and dried,
then cut into slices and cooked with
cream
When a sick Chinaman has got 50
low that Il IS an assured fact he is
soon 10 see the light OF the other
world. rites are conducted around his
bedside by his cousins" szG friends.
In the wards OF the hospitals are Two
small altars, one to Joss and one 70
C0ufucius.
Three times q day me Bi Boy Sot,
OF prayer for the safe Journey OF the
departing one IS said before the
aItars At the same time incense IS
burned on the altars, while burning
sticks OF sweet smelling incense are
placed between the patients fingers
and toes. and even 10 his nose and
ears. Offerings are also taken up 10
the main Joss house at is Mott street.
where more prayers are chants5 and
more incense burned
Bat the b Boy Sot and incense
burning suddenly cease when there is
an assurance that the patient Is aut a
few hours from his end. Then he Is
bundled OF 10 the Chinese death room
al II Peu street 10 pass away. This Is
because the Oriental fears the spirits
Of the dead and wants none OF their
evil influence about hts hospital. When
the end comes ne is turned over 70 the
semi-0ffcial undertake. OF Chinatown
and finds a temporary resting place in
the Chinese enclosure IN Evergreen
Cemetery.