CHINESE MEDICINE 



By James M. Flint 



The Chinese trace the origin of medicine to an emperor named 

 Shen-nung, who is said to have reigned about 2700 B. C. He first 

 experimented on the medicinal qualities of herbs and their applica- 

 tion in the treatment of disease, and to him are ascribed the earliest 

 writings on the subject. The principal one of his medical works is 

 entitled Shcn-nnng Pen ts'ao king. The statements in regard to 

 the origin of this work, both as to authorship and to time, are ex- 

 ceedingly doubtful, the probability being that its precepts were 

 traditional until, after a long period, they became incorporated in the 

 writings of a more modern author. It can hardly be doubted, 

 however, that a system of medical practice was established in China 

 long before any now known to have existed among western nations. 



Concerning the theories of disease held by the Chinese, and the 

 rationale of their modes of treatment, the information at hand is 

 indefinite and perplexing. According to Cleyer,^ their theory of 

 disease is based on the existence of two radical principles, Yin and 

 Yang, translated as " heat " and " moisture," which give life and 

 movement to all things. Health depends on the maintenance of an 

 exact balance of these two elementary principles, any disturbance 

 of the proper relations between them producing all the phenomena 

 of disease. Others interpret Yin and Yang to be two principles 

 or powers in nature, male and female, ever active in producing the 

 physical, chemical, and vital phenomena which appear within and 

 round us. When these principles are equalized there is repose or a 

 state of health. If the male principle is in the ascendant there is 

 disease and it is inflammatory ; if the female principle predominates 

 the disease is of a typhoid character. 



In addition to the rationalistic theories of disease and its treat- 

 ment, superstitious and religious notions concerning them prevail 

 very widely. Magical rites and charms occupy a large place in both 

 preventive and remedial medicine, and temples devoted to the 

 worship of medical divinities are numerous and much frequented. 



' Specimen Medicincc Sinicce. 



