PART IX - Medicine, Public Health, &c

• Author: Chamberlam, Austen
• Pages: 127

PART IX - MEDICIhE, PUBLIC HEALTH, &c

It is universallv admitted that the avoidable suffering and misers caused in China by lack of sound medical knowledge ignorance of surgeli, neglect of hvgiene and sanitation are mcalculablh great Fe- of those possessing an adequate knowledge of the facts will complain that the 17 per cent of available income set apart foi the alleviatlon of that suffering and misery is too great a proportion It is more probable, indeed, that many will find fault with the decision of the delegation on the ground that the amount is too small In answer to such critlicsm it mak be pointed out that some of the other objects which will benefit from the Indemnity fund, especially scientific research and general education, are directly connected with medical and public health problems In Febluary 1928 a group of twenty-nine British medical missionaries m China prepared a forcible appeal on behalf of medical education and medical work in China This appeal has been referred to with approval by many of the medical witnesses who gave evidence before the delegation A ' Memorandum on the Appeal ' by Dr Henry Fowler and Dr James Maxwell is worthy of perusal The object of the appeal was to present a case for setting apart as much of the Indemnity fund as could be spared for the promotion of medical education and medical work m China in accordance with British traditions and ideals By this means, sav the signatones, 'the Indemnity fund will bestow on China one of the greatest and most far-reaching blessings possible, extending to all classes of the people, just where they require help, an object lesson for permanent good which cannot be gainsaid, and the most charitable expression that could be selected ' Brntlsh medical work ' has been and always will be the most potent influence working to draw East and West together ' Hence, the necessity for hospitals and medical schools, working hand in hand 'where the future doctors and nurses of China can be trained according to British ideals and methods ' The miscellaneous recommendations submitted to the delegation with regard to medical work, medical education, industrial hygiene and other public health problems m China were numerous and varied They included applications from, or on behalf of, many existng medical insttutions, appeals m connection with proposed new medical colleges, the translation of the British Pharmacopoeia into Chinese the development of hospital technologp the work of the Antl-Opium Association, &c Among the many medical workers m China, who were good enough to offer valuable suggestions and to supply needed information, was Dr George Hadden of St James's Hospital, Anking who appealed for support for the Institute of Hospital Technologp especially with a view to the training of Chinese m the work of hospital administration The scheme, which he advocated aimed at brnging Chinese and European medical workers together on the professional field A memorandum on this subject was subsequently

prepared by Dr Hadden, and will...