426 Voyage of the Novara. 



careful that no written paper shall chance to fall into impro- 

 per hands, that might make a wrong use of it. For this 

 reason the society pays for every pound of old waste paper 

 which the poor of Shanghai pick up in the street and bring 

 to the Institution three copper cash, and when the pile has 

 attained a sufficient height it is set on fire at a particular 

 season. 



Built in close proximity to this '' Hall of United Benevo- 

 lence " is the sanctuary of the medical profession, or, as Mr. 

 Muirhead translated for our benefit the gigantic Chinese in- 

 scription over the portal, "the sacrificial hall of the medical 

 faculty." This is a temple erected at the expense of the 

 nation to a celebrated Chinese physician, whose stature, in 

 an easy, erect attitude, cut in wood the size of life and richly 

 gilt, is erected upon a platform somewhat resembling an altar. 

 Part of the drapery consists of gigantic leaves, while his fold- 

 ed hands clasp a lotos-flower. In front of the image is placed 

 the inscription : '' The shrine of the spirit of \hQ King of 

 Medicine." Above the idol are the following words in 

 Chinese, cut in the stone and gilt, " The divine husband- 

 man and sacred ruler ! " and thereafter, " For all ages the in- 

 structive teacher." 



This renowned physician had, it seems, instituted many 

 experiments on himself with new healing remedies, and ac- 

 cording to popular belief had attained to an exact knowledge 

 of all that was going on in the human frame, so that he 

 could point out the seat of the malady by simply placing a 



