96 SUEGEON-GENEEAL SIK C. A. GOEDONj M.D., K.C.B., ON 



" men suffered from without by the rigour of the seasons, and 

 from within by the passions which (hsturl) their minds ; they 

 died bef(H'e their time." Hwant^ti dn-ected that " t'iie five 

 elements," namely, air, earth, fire, wood and water, should be 

 examined, no doubt in accordance with the " science " of that 

 day; also that "seasons of the year, and the nature 

 of man should be investigated." Three experts* were 

 charged with what would now be called physiological in- 

 vestigation with reference to the circulatio7i of the blood, 

 namely, " to examine the blood." For the better adminis- 

 tration of his kingdom he divided the people into families 

 and communities, to each of which a definite system of ]-ules 

 and orders was applied. A system of therapeutics was 

 devised, in accordance with Avhich proper remedies for every 

 distemper were detailed, the general result of the several re- 

 forms and advances pertaining to his era being tliat " men lived 

 out their time according to the due course of nature." 



The personal characters and more important events con- 

 nected with the reigns of the four succeeding monarchs 

 may be epitomised thus : — The first,t governing with equity, 

 carrying on improvements previously begun, and initiating 

 others ; reconciling the two classes high and low, patrician 

 and plebeian classes, into which the people had already 

 become divided ; at a later period, voluptuous, superstitious, 

 neglecting the duties of his high position, his death unre- 

 gretted by his people. The second,^ energetic, extending 

 the confines of his possessions ; autocratic in his " religion," 

 declaring that he alone possessed the right to offer sacrifices 

 in the I'emple of Heaven. The third, § the institution of 

 'State schools and professors; a lover of music; appointed 

 masters to teach his people virtue ; loving his subjects, and 

 by them beloved. A man of devout sentiments, he wor- 

 shipped the Sovereign Lord of Heaven, and " reformed 

 himself." His grand and august air drew veneration; his 

 virtue was eminent ; he did nothing amiss, and kept a just 

 medium in all things. With all the virtues so recorded of 

 him, history relates that he became the husband of four 



* Named respectively Kype, Yeufou, and Leyking. "With reference to 

 this point it is important to notice the record B.C. 4366, that Teta, a 

 monarch of the 1st Egyptian dynasty, wrote a book on anatomy ; that is 

 1666 years prior to the Chinese reign just mentioned. 



t Chao-how, B.C. 2577. 



X Chwen Hio or Hu, B.C. 2457. 



ii Tico or Caosin, b.c. 2397. 



