AlA^ustj9(M.rm'}    Drug  Trade  in  Japan  and  the  Orient.  379 
different  aspects.  There  is  no  law  regulating  the  practice  of  phar- 
macy or  medicine  in  China,  and  the  history  of  China  furnishes  very 
unsatisfactory  knowledge  as  to  the  native  practices  of  these  arts ; 
but  the  foreign  representation  in  China  is  second  to  none  in  the  Far 
East.  The  foreign  stores  are  among  the  finest  in  the  East,  and  they 
all  have  very  large  capital  and  interests. 
The  spirit  of  democracy  which  prevails  in  China  has  its  influence 
on  all  business,  and  while  there  are  no  restrictions  as  to  the  quality 
of  drugs  sold  in  China,  the  privilege  is  anything  but  abused.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  this  condition  is  due  to  the  high  character  of  the 
men  engaged  in  the  business  of  pharmacy.  The  English,  as  well  as 
the  other  foreign  chemists,  are  invariably  graduated  from  home  col- 
leges. The  foreign  medical  men  in  China,  many  of  whom  have 
served  their  time  as  steamer  doctors,  and  settled  down  in  the  settle- 
ments to  pursue  their  profession,  are  as  thoroughly  progressive,  and 
have  their  local  organizations  and  institute  sanitariums  and  hos- 
pitals as  complete  and  modern  as  any  to  be  found  elsewhere,  either 
in  America  or  Europe. 
Chinese  pharmacy  is  rather  obscure  in  its  scope.  The  Chinese 
have  very  peculiar  customs  and  methods  in  the  use  of  medicines,  and 
it  is  very  difficult  for  the  foreigner  to  satisfy  their  tastes.  The  native 
prejudice,  of  course,  has  much  to  do  with  this,  but  the  Chinese  who 
have  come  in  contact  with  the  foreigners  and  live  near  the  settle- 
ments or  foreign  concessions,  in  time  learn  to  adopt  the  use  of  for- 
eign-made medicines;  it  is  necessary,  however,  to  cater  to  their 
fancies  in  the  many  little  ways  so  peculiar  to  the  Chinese.  They 
have  a  marked  preference,  as  well  as  antipathy  to  certain  colors, 
and  in  medicine  these  customs  particularly  prevail.  An  orthodox 
Chinaman  would  never  think  of  taking  medicine  out  of  a  blue 
bottle,  nor  drugs  wrapped  in  white  with  black  printing.  Red  is 
happy  joss,  and  it  is  always  to  be  found  as  the  predominating  color 
in  everything  of  a  medical  nature.  Blue  and  black  are  mourning 
colors,  and  always  are  in  evidence  at  funerals,  and  if  there  is  one 
thing  above  all  others  that  the  average  Chinaman  desires,  it  is  to 
avoid  getting  under  the  sod. 
There  are  several  very  progressive  and  up-to-date  pharmacies 
managed  and  owned  by  Chinese.  There  are  three  such  in  Shanghai, 
who  have  numerous  branches  throughout  China,  and  there  is  also  a 
very  large  Chinese  drug  store  in  Pekin.    These  Chinese  in  most  in- 
