The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-12
DRIVE OUT DEMONS
Koreans Use Only Primitive
Methods of Healing.
AMERICAN DOCTORS NEEDED
Medical Missionary Returns and
Points Out Needs of Millions of
stitiOR-How Illness Is Treated.
Life of the Kings son saved.

New York. Feb u.-Dr. William II.
Forsythe is here sounding the praises
of Korea as field for young physicians.
especially young physicians who are COM
planning that there is a striking lack of
any great demand for their services In
these parts. Dr. Forsythe can take any
young physician or surgeon by the hand
and in tTenty-three days can lead him
TO a district where he can have quar-
ter Of a million patients
At least this young physician whom
Dr. Forsythe would take by the hand
and lead to Korea would be the only
physician among "a quarter Of million
Koreans, and il all the Koreans had
something the matter with them, besides
centuries of gross darkness and Ignorance
and besotted superstition, and would all
call on this young physician for treat
ment then he would have quarter of a
million patients.
1t is 20 be feared though that NJ first
the young physicians practice would not
reach these limits. The trouble is that
throughout Korea there has been for
many years, In fact, considerably beyond
the memory Of oldest inhabitants, dis
position TO believe that sickness is the
work of demons.
BE Polite tO Demons.
You have to be pretty careful If you're
a Korean not TO speak mpolitely Of any
influential demon, for those demon fell
lows are sensitive race, They are very
touchy about any criticisms of their poll
cies, and will often sick malaria or lep-
rosy onto the critics.
When this happens il goes as severe
warning to others not to say anything but
nice things about these powerful demons.
1t is even better not to think any rude
ness about them, for some Of them have
the gift Of mind-reading, and get Just as
hot about rude thoughts as about unkind
speeches.
And If you have been SO needless as 20
offend some demon person, and he sends
YOU a disease in punishment, you must
not pretend to be too sorry about it, The
Korean word for smallpox. for example
Is something that, literally translated,
means "honored guest If You should
call it a plague. or pest, or anything
Objectionable like that, the demon would
see that il annoyed you, and ne wouldn't
take it away for long time. Whereas if
YOU call il "honored guest" and offer up
rice and incense in token of thankfulncss,
the demon person will probably think
that you ike il and will take il away
before very long.
How To Deal with Them.
This is the most approved method Of
dealing with the demons.
These methods Of dealing with disease
have been in vogue in Korea for so many
years that il is strange that the medical
science of the West has made such great
inroads In the quarter of a century during
which it has been az work. If there had
not been row over the post-office ques-
ton the doctors of this country wouldn't
have got the fine opening that presented
itself It seems that about twenty-five
years ago a progressive Korean party
sprung up. It's members wanted a post
Office system. The conservatives said no.
But the progressives were insistent, and
il finally came to blows
In the lighting one Of the Kings sons
WAS injured, and was bleeding 10 death.
The native physicians We're called in, but
they could not do anything AS a last
resort the King sent for DR.. Allen. the
first of the medical missionaries, and he
came and tied up the severed artery
and saved the princes life. After that
the King was strong for the doctors OF
the West. The native talent made much
resistance, however.
Easy tn BE Doctor.
If you're a Korean you can be a doc
tor merely by hanging out your single
no tiresome studies at medical school
no wearisOme apprenticeship riding on
the tailboards of ambulances-just a good
stout. big stick with which TO beat the
demon persons. A few of the specialists
have additional equipments. One of them
with whom Or. FoTsythe is acquainted
with was called TO attend boy who