Chap. VI. 



CUKE FOR FEVER. 



105 



instant relief. Before taking his leave the doctor 

 informed me he would repeat his visit on the third 

 day following about ten in the morning, this being 

 about an hour before the fever was likely to re- 

 turn. He told me not to be at all afraid, and 

 gave me the welcome news that the next attack, 

 if indeed I had any more, would be slight, and 

 that then I would get rid of it altogether. 



True to his promise, the old man was with me 

 on the third day, about ten o'clock in the morning. 

 " Has the fever come on ? " " No," I replied ; " it 

 is scarcely the time yet. I suppose 1 shall have 

 it in another hour." He now desired me to lie 

 down in bed, and the pinching process was re- 

 peated in the same way as it had been done before, 

 but if anything it was more painful. I had then 

 to swallow another large dose of pills, and lastly 

 the hot decoction from the teapot. Ere I had 

 drunk the last cupful my skin became moist, and 

 I was soon covered with jDi'^f^se perspiration. 

 The fever had left me, and I was cured. I was 

 probably the first Hong-mou-jin the doctor had 

 treated, and he was evidently much pleased with 

 the results of his treatment. 



Medical men at home will probably smile as 

 they read these statements, but there was no mis- 

 taking the results. Indeed, from an intimate 

 knowledge of the Chinese, I am inclined to think 

 more highly of their skill than people generally 

 give them credit for. I remember well, when I 

 came first to China in 1843, a celebrated prac- 



