CHAPTER XII 



THE HERBALIST AND HIS SUGGESTIONS 

 REGARDING DRINKING AND EATING 



THE FONG WAN HERBALIST 



Fong Wan, who is now middle aged, has long been recognized as 

 the most successful herbalist in the Western Hemisphere. Thousands 

 of persons on the Pacific Coast give him credit for their restoration to 

 health. He is perhaps the most widely recommended Chinese herbalist 

 in the United States. In fact, approximately ninety-five per cent of 

 those who come to him for healing do so upon the recommendation of 

 former patrons. He works from early in the morning until long after 

 dark, and although he has many assistants, he gives his personal atten- 

 tion to every case. In addition to being a learned Chinese scholar with 

 an extensive knowledge of Chinese Materia Medica, Fong Wan both 

 reads and speaks English with great facility. He is straightforward 

 and courteous in his business dealings. He combines up-to-date meth- 

 ods with those of the ancients, thus assuring the quickest possible re- 

 lief, and he supplies his patrons with fresh herbs of first quality at 

 moderate prices. Personally, Fong Wan is a man of excellent health, 

 remarkable vigor, and energy. Never for even a day has he been kept 

 from his work by illness. His main purpose in life is to relieve suffer- 

 ing, and to that end he devotes himself almost exclusively. He neither 

 smokes, drinks, plays cards, nor takes a hand in any gambling or lot- 

 tery game. He keeps himself 100 per cent efficient. When confronted 

 with an especially difficult or unusual case, he pores over the ancient 

 books far into the night. He loves his profession and gives himself to 

 it unstintingly. 



The foundation of Fong Wan's remarkable success was laid years 

 ago, when, while yet a school-boy, he lived and worked with his uncle, 

 Dr. Wan, otherwise known as Wan See Mon. Dr. Wan was one of 

 those who successfully passed the old Imperial Chinese literary exami- 

 nations of the first degree of Medicine. Later, he passed other exami- 



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