Opinions of over 100 physicians on the use of opium in China.

  • Park, William Hector.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Opinions of over 100 physicians on the use of opium in China. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    6/118 (page iv)
    We wish answers from every practitioner iu China, whether for or against. Please send replies at your earliest convenience to Dr. W. H. Park, Soochow. The answers soon came ponring in. At first we thought we would do well to get sixty (the doctors all being busy and many of them being away), but the sixty mark was reached and passed, and then we began to long for the hundred, and now one hundred it is and more. Dr. DuBose, the honored president of the League, was most indefatigable in soliciting replies, and but for his assistance the one hundred mark wonld never have been reached. As was to be expected, most of the replies are from missionary physicians, but the other physicians in China did not all stand aloof, and we return thanks to Drs. Burge, Rennie and Snvoong for join- ing in to help swell the grand total. I also call attention to the letter from Dr. Blanc, in Part Second of the pamphlet. As to the missionary physicians, they all speak the Chinese language, or are learning to do so, and their practice is mostly ■ among the Chinese people, with whom they mingle every day. As to years of service in this country, they run from one to forty-four, with an average for the whole of nine years, and for the oldest twenty-five of eighteen years. As to opportunities for observation 750,000 visits are recorded in their hospitals and dispensaries every year, and if we go back to the time when our veteran Di% Kerr be- gan, and come on down, the record will run into many, many millions. They are, therefore, qualified to speak, and having spoken, they are entitled to be heard. Before the answers were half in Mr. Ten* and Mr. Mason decided to leave the editing of this pamphlet entirely to me so I am alone responsible for the manner of its compilation, thou°-h not for the opinions of its various contributors other than myself. In the light of all these answers, essays and letters there is only one side to the opium question in China. If anything on the other side had been sent in it would have been printed. W. H. Pake, M.D. Soochow, China, November 17th, 1898. * Shortly after turning this matter over to me, Mr. Yen was called to his home *bove. On his dying bed be said: My part is finished; tell Dr. DuLSose Dr. Park and the rest to go on with the wort and never stop.