IOO THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



ing what science and art may have existed among them at any time, hut 

 it is possible that more might have been added to the credit side of their 

 account. It is known that the Chinese have long had some knowledge of 

 the circulation of the blood, although their anatomy of the circulation is 

 very imperfect. It is said that the Chinese inoculated for small pox in 

 the ninth century; yet it is known that they have goddesses of small pox and 

 measles that are extremely popular divinities. '•Should it thunder after 

 the pustules of small pox have appeared, a drum is beaten to prevent them 

 breaking. On the fourteenth day ceremonies are performed before the 

 goddess, to induce her to cause the pustules to dry up." 8 



Acupuncture is largely practiced, and this is supplemented by the use 

 of the hot iron. Many varieties of the pulse are given, each having its 

 own significance. The wily physician will impress his patient by sitting 

 an hour with his fingers moving in a rythmic way over the region of the 

 pulsating artery, and then pretend to make his diagnosis and prognosis 

 from what he has discovered. But this practice is as good and worthy as 

 some procedures accepted and allowed in the light of English and American 

 civilization of the present day, where persons who ought to be better edu- 

 cated have been known to send a lock of hair to a distant quack, or to sub- 

 mit to the laying-on of hands and other so-called "faith-cure" performances. 



A recent writer (Dr. Park) sums up concerning Chinese medicine and 

 surgery as follows: "It is related that one of the ancient Chinese emperors 

 directed the dead bodies of criminals to be opened; but this is questionable, 

 since they have the most profound ignorance of rudimentary anatomy, and 

 glaring errors abound in their system. Being thus replete with errors, and 

 possessing no anatomical knowledge, their surgery was of the most bar- 

 barous type, No one dared attempt a bloody operation; the reduction of 

 hernia was unknown; a cataract was regarded as beyond their resources, and 

 even venesection was never practiced. On the other hand, they employed 

 cups, and acupuncture, fomentations, plasters of all kinds, lotions and 

 baths. The moxa, or red-hot button, was in constant use, and they had 

 their magnetizers, who appear to have been convulsionists. For a long 

 time there existed at Pekin an Imperial School of Medicine; but now there 

 is no such organization, nor any regulation for the privilege of practicing 

 medicine or surgery since 1792. At least until lately the country and the 

 cities were infested with quacks, who dealt out poison and death with 

 impunity. They practiced most murderous methods in the place of the 

 principles of midwifery. Only since the civilized missionaries have pene- 

 trated their country has there been any improvement in this condition of 

 affairs." 



8Berdo \ from "Doolittle's Social Life of the Chinese." 



