The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-01-25
CHINA IS FIELD
FOR PHYSICIANS
Idols and Fireworks Used to
Cure Disease.
SURGERY RESEMBLES SORCERY

Let Out Hidden DeviIs-ons Thou
sand Doctors Ovsrworksd Attending
to Millions Of Celestial Empire-Mu-
nicipal Cleanliness Almost Unknown.
Personal hygiene is a matter of lit
tie importance in China az yet. His
excellency WI Ting Fang realized this
perhaps in his facetious remark that
"Chinese are much cleaner than Amer
leans because they have to take a bath
only nee a month or So" Physical
exercise for the sake Of better health
is never INDUCED in.
Municipal cleanliness up to the last
few years has been entirely neglected.
Sewers are found only in the cities &C.
cupied by foreigners. The wells are
generally surface wells, with possibili-
ties Of conta mination wholly unconsid-
cred.
As a result Of this lack Of knowledge
along the lines Of personal, household
and municipal hygiene sickness is
found everywhere. In certain cities
cholera is always present. Plague still
runs riot in some Of the centers Of
population. Tuberculosis is seen on
every hand. and smallpox is common.
Surgery Thwarted by Ignorance.
Because of his ignorance of human
anatomy the Chinese physician knows
nothing Of surgery, and he Is particu-
larry afraid Of the knife. Conditions
are seen every day in Chinese streets
that would be most easily remedied by
slight surgical attention.
Acupuncture needles and instruments
for sca%ri1cation largely constitute his
list Of instruments. But perhaps this
is fortunate. These needles are thrust,
regardless Of possible Infection, into
muscles, Joints and various organs Of
the body in order that the evil spirits
may escape.
The treatment Of the insane has in
all periods Of Chinese history been
most inhuman. Even today it Is not
uncommon to see people in chains or
imprisoned amid ~unspeakable condi.
lions who are or perhaps only have been
insane. Only ignorance and supersti'
ton can explain these conditions.
- The treatment Of the teeth Is crude.
" attended to-. In cases of intolerablc
pain and decay the pulling Of the teeth
is the only resort. Usually each vii
lage has one or more tooth pullers.
who, seated at some prominent corner.
for a few cash will pull any or all of
the teeth of whoever in desperation is
driven to them. Innumerable cases of
necrosis Of the Jaw and allied condi.
lions are found, due to this enforced
neglect.
The priesthood is universally gone to
may be found around the temples
which have gods within them that
are supposed to have various particu.
lar miraculous powers. Every city has
several gods. as the god Of mother
hood, of the eye and of general medi-
cal disorders, and they often have
splendid temples and are sacrificed to
with lavish expenditures.
Fireworks to Stop Epidemic.
In a recent epidemic Of dysentery at
Fuchau tens Of thousands Of dollars
were spent In fireworks. expensive
PROFESSIONS. ETC., leading to gaudily
decorated boats on the river, on which
it was hoped that the dreaded sick
ness giving spirits could be persuaded
to depart.
In the face of such ignorance il II
any wonder that the 1000 OF so for.
eign trained physicians are literally
"worked to death" as the Chinese are
realizing their efficiency in matters OF
life and death? 1t is no uncommon
sight to see large numbers Of sick
Chinese about the doors of hospitals
that are too crowded to receive anoth
er patient and about the feet of physl
clans for whom it Is a physical i'm
possibility to take another patient or
their hands. Imagine Boston with bu1
two physicians. New York with eigh'
and but 200 between the Atlantic ant
the Pacific!