218 
MOXA. 
pain. From his ignorance of anatomy I could not learn whether the 
moxa be used amongst the Chinese in any cases of enlarged viscus ; 
but I have no doubt, from his unqualified statement, “ that it is ap- 
plied in all cases of local pain,” that it is resorted to in liver or 
any other internal diseases, when expressed by external uneasiness. 
That it is applied in affections of the head I had sufficient evidence, 
in the number of Chinese whom I saw in different parts of the 
country, having on their foreheads small round escars, bearing every 
appearance of having been produced by the action of fire. My in- 
former took great pains to persuade me of the general success of the 
remedy. To act upon the imagination as well as the body, it is 
asserted that the part to which the moxa is to be applied is often 
first pricked with gold pins, and that itinerant practitioners in the 
north of China, fire it with much ceremony by the assistance of a 
convex mirror of ice.* 
The fibre of the artemesia is also used by the Chinese as tinder, 
after previously steeping it in a solution of nitre; and is carried by 
them in small pouches suspended from their girdles, by the side of 
their pipes. 
The small pox, which for centuries has at different periods made 
dreadful havock all over the empire, is likely soon to be extirpated 
by the benign influence of vaccination establishing under the auspices 
of Mr. Pierson, the principal surgeon of the British factory. The 
first attempts of that gentleman to introduce it were pertinaciously 
opposed; but through his active and persevering humanity, aided by 
a small publication in the Chinese language by Sir George Staunton 
and himself, pointing out its peculiar safety, and the security which 
it gives against the small pox, it has obtained the sanction of the local 
government of Canton, and the strenuous support of the Hong 
merchants. Native vaccinators have been appointed and educated 
under the eye of Mr. Pierson, and are taking from him the labour 
* On fait geler de l’eau dans un vase rond et convexe; la glace presentee au soleil en 
reunit les rayons et allume 1’armoise.” Memoires concernant les Chinois, tom v. p. 5 1 7. 
