The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-01
49, 49, ssssss s's ''........
METHODS OF CHINESE DOC.
TORS.
They Have Many Odd Notions and
Prescribe Queer Medicines.


Chinese doctors seem to delight in
heroic measures. Judged by our
standards, the limits of their mental
horizon seem very curious. In some
respects, however, they have wonder
full knowledge, while in others they
are SO ignorant as to arouse pity.
AS rule, the Chinese doctor is a mas
ter of puncture and can trust needle
into almost any part of the body with
cut doing harm. He knows what the
Chinese call safe points, the danger
GUS points and the dead points. He
has learned these from practicing up
on manikin covered with opaque
wax, concealing the apertures with
every good Chinese must know. But
he seems to have little idea why one
point is safe and another is not
The Chinese. doctor also knows that
there are veins and arteries in the
body, but Of their location or relation
he is ignorant He knows no more
about .sse osseous system then the
average .cioolboy, but he has good
knowledge of the Joints and how to
treat dislocations. OF hygiene and
sanitation he knows nothing, and is
not interested in the subjects.
The medical men of the east, as
rule, do not try to hide their interest
in western medicine, though they de-
spise its theory and are more puzzled
than pleased by its surgery.
They believe in the theory of germs,
but deny that they are microscopic
creatures, holding the opinion vehe-
mently that they are rather creatures
intermediate between worms and
snakes and that they are the causes
of all kinds of fevers. They lay many
eggs. according to the Chinese, which
PASS from the patients body through
the bowels, the pores of the skin and
even the lungs, and settle in other
bodies, where they attack the new sur
roundfngs. In several diseases, nota-
bly, rheumatism, neuralgia, govt,
eczema, ulcers, carbuncles and diar-
rhoeal complaints, the Chinese are
very successful.
The method in treating these trou-
bles seems to be a liberal use of hot
teas and broths and REIMBURSEMENT
of all other foods. In most of the
foods there is the simple tonic, gin
seng; in others here are aperients,
which are apparently impure EPSON
salts. One broth contained PEPPERMINT
leaves, chopped almonds, bay leaves,
honey, blood and wine.
The idea seems to be to drench the
entire system with hot water, wash
ing out the body in that way and rely
ing upon the elements added to the
water for medicinal action as we'll as
nOurishment.
The treatment of most forms of dy-
spepsia is truly heroic. The patient
is laid at full length and the doctor
with his muscular hands pinches the
body. The pinching is done with the
thumb and forefinger. The method,
though cruel, has excellent results,
end there is immediate relief and
speedy cure. For catarrhal troubles
they use warm solutions of astrin-
gents, rendered asceptic by pepper
mint and similar oils, and where there
is pain, as In nasal catarrh, they use
oil In which is put tincture of opium.
For some forms of dyspepsia they
burn paper. The paper burned leaves
fluffy black ash which is probably
one-half carbon and the rest silica
and mineral salts. Occasionally they
write talismanic characters with COL
ored pencils on the paper. Different
pencils are used and each is made of
different substance, which, when
turned, exercises chemical or me-
Cicinal influence. The vermillion pen
ellis consist of red mercury; the white
pencils contain carbonates of mag
nesium and calcium; another pencil
contains some salts of sodium. The
PENCILS have blue points, and in writ
ing talisman ten or twelve grains
OF material are transferred to the pa
per- When it is burned and diffused
in a cup of tea the ingredients pass
into the stomach along with the car
bon of the paper.-Chicago Chronicle