74 CUTANEOUS DISEASES AND BLINDNESS. [Cuapr. V. 
common to hear them asking each other whether 
such a one was a Mandarin, a Sien-sang, or an 
A-say. | 
Cutaneous diseases are less common amongst the 
natives here than amongst those in the south of 
China, probably owing to the more healthy nature 
of the climate. They are, however, dreadfully 
affected with diseases of the eye and ultimate 
blindness. This is, doubtless, caused in a great 
measure by the operations of the native barber, 
who, whenever he shaves the heads of his customers, 
also tickles their eyes and probes their ears, and 
the result is that they become both blind and deaf. 
The lashes of the eye, probably also from this cause, 
frequently grow inwards, and the hairs rubbing on 
the eyeball soon causes inflammation. Many of the 
poor natives were cured by my friend Dr. Maxwell, 
who, in the kindest and most philanthropic manner, 
set apart a portion of every day for the purpose. 
They flocked to him from all parts of the island, 
submitting cheerfully and without a murmur to 
operations of a most painful nature. Many most 
remarkable cures resulted from his skill, and his 
fame spread not only all over the island, but also 
to the main land —to Chinhae and Ningpo,— from 
whence numbers came and begged to be admitted 
on his lists of patients. One day, when I was 
out with the Doctor on a botanising expedition, 
as we were passing a small cottage at the foot of the 
hills a man and his wife rushed out, and begged us 
to enter their humble dwelling. We did so, chairs 
