February 5, 1896.]
sufficient compensation for the existing privileges they will be called upon to surrender. From an international point of view the new arrangement may be con- sidered on the whole a favourable one, but the foreign residents now in Japan cannot be expected to regard with approbation the surrender of the privileges they have hitherto enjoyed. They are in the position of a favoured class about to have their privileges withdrawn, and persons in that position always consider themselves the victims of a hardship if not of absolute in- justice.
PROPOSED REGISTRATION OF NATIVE DOCTORS AND
MIDWIVES.
The fearful infantile mortality prevailing in Hongkong has attracted the attention of the new Medical Officer of Health, who proposes as a remedy the registration of native doctors and midwives in order to
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT:
THE OPENING OF THE WEST KIVER
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THE GUNBOAT POLICY.
107
free sale of his cargo, and, provided the Consul were satisfied there had been no irregularity in Mr. ANDREW's proceedings, such action would have been very prop g and salutory. We have had sufficient ex- perience of the futility of sending every small matter up to Peking for settlement, a course which encourages the local authorities to indulge further in their high-handed pro-
dings, for they know, or have known under recent régimes, that when matters were once ut up to the capital there was a very good hare of in more being heard of them. Sone of the Foreign Ministers have recently shaken this idea somewhat, and we look forward to a more lively protection of British interests when Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD arrives than was accorded them when Sir JOHN WALSHAM and Sir NICHOLAS O'ConOR pcupied the legation at Peking. But what- ever the character of the Minister at Peking, the best way of disposing of small disputes is to insist on a prompt settlement on the spot, as in the case of the interference at Pakhoi and Hoihow with the steamers of the Compagnie Tonkinoise.
advice possibly of a consulting Medical "Board, may think fit to require." But neither the Government nor a Medical The action taken by the French Govern- Board could in any way recognise as doctors ment in relation to the illegal interference men who know nothing whatever of medical with the trade of the steamers of the Com- science. In short, before a native medical pagnie Tonkinoise at Hoihow and Pakhoi register can be established we must have affords a very good illustration of the men whose training entitles them to registra-utility of the gunboat policy. If the Com- tion, and as yet only those who have studied pany had been a British one it would under European doctors can be so classed, probably have had to grin and bear its The first step, which we have repeatedly urged, grievance as best it could, but being French should be to establish a register for these men a gunboat was promptly despatched to and give them a recognised legal status. As Pakhi to support the Consul in his claim their number increases and European niedi- for redress. And redress was promptly eine grows in repute amongst the native obtained in so far as regards the cessation population it may become possible to legis of the opposition, though the claim late against quackery, but we have not for damages has been left over for settle- arrived at that stage yet. To estab- ment at Peking. Our French friends lish such a register as Dr. CLARK sugare at present bent on an active policy gests would be to give legal recognition with regard to China and are not to charlatanism pure and simple. It is one likely to let any opportunity slip of thing to abstain from interference with giving effect to it. Had Mr. JOHN ANDREW native medical practitioners, as has hitherto been a French subject very possibly a been done; it would be quite another thing French gunboat would have been sent up to to legally recognise them and give them a Wuchowfu to demand the restoration and preclude the practice of these professions by certificate of the Government's approval. incompetent persons. The proposal, how-The regulation of midwives, however, would ever, is attended with great practical he a simpler matter than the regulation of difficulties. To begin with, every person the practice of medicine generally, and practising at the time of the compilation that branch of the subject might perhaps he would be admitted to the register, only the dealt with at once. The Very high subsequent addition of other names being, mortality amongst newly born infants calls made dependent upon proof of education and for the most serious attention and Dr. training. The improvement in the status CLARK is to be congratulated on having and character of the native practitioners brought the matter forward. I has been would, therefore, only be gradual and it discussed before, but this is the first time, would be many years before it had any we believe, that any definite sagjestion has visible effect. When medical registration been made with a view to iniafing about was introduced in England the great an improventent. majority of practitioners were duly qualified and the public recognised the value of their diplomas, so that the law was aimed only at the occasional intrusion of quacks who preyed upon the credulity and folly of the ignorant. The law, moreover, had the support of public opinion. In Hongkong From the telegram we reproduce to-day the conditions are entirely different. There from the Rangoon Gazette it would seem that are practically no qualified native medical
rumours have been current at home that practitioners and the proposed law would be England had presented an ultimatum to entirely foreign to Chinese public opinion. China demanding the opening of the West Dr. CLARK says that "no doubt there are River. The report is denied by the For- many honourable, intelligent, and conscien-eign Office and it is stated that the repre- tious Chinese doctors practising in Hong-sentations made by the British Minister are kong," which seems to us rather higher absolutely of a friendly character. It is praise for the profession than it deserves, satisfactory to be assured that representa- for with the exception of the graduates of the tions really have been made on the subject, A great deal has recently been made in Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese and, although they have not been made in the Shanghai papers, especially the N. C. and possibly one or two men who have had the form of an ultimatum, it is to be hoped Daily News, of the Chinese Reform Associa experience in missionary hospitals there are they were of a sufficiently urgent character tion. The Association was formed at Peking no Chinese doctors who could pass an ex- to secure compliance with them. It is and was said to have been joined by about amination that would be recognised by singular that Reuter should not have wired fifty Hanlius, or about one eighth of the a board of European doctors as a reason. to Hongkong either the original report or total number of scholars bearing that degree, able test of the most elementary knowledge its correction. Rumours have for some time the highest in China. A brauch was after- of medical science. There are some more past been in circulation here as to the wards formed at Shanghai and a newspaper intelligent and better educated than others; imminent opening of the river, but they established to serve as its organ. The object they range from the common coolie quack came chiefly from Chinese sources of the Association was to make China to the men of education who have been and possessed no guarantee of authenticity. "powerful," which apparently was to be specially trained, but the best are very The Hongkong, Canton, and Macao Ste- accomplished by the adoption of European indifferent. The doctors of the Tung Wah boat Company, however, which may possibly ideas. The journal of the Shanghai branch Hospital stand, we believe, at the head of have been in possession of more definite in-haul a preface by CHANG CHIH-TUNG, Who their profession in Hongkong and what formation than has yet been made public, had applied five thousand taels of the funds estimation they are held in by European has deemed the prospect of the opening of at his disposal to aid the objects of the As- doctors has recently been shown in the this new trade route sufficiently bright sociation. The Viceroy, however, soon found discussion 011 the management of that to justify it in ordering new steamers or made an occasion for stopping the journal. institution. So great is their ignorance that suitable for the traffic. The opening
The Western men name their years the Government has deemed it necessary in of the West River will add materi- "from the birth of JESUS. The new order to obtain a correct registration of the ally to the trade of Hongkong. It is "Reform Association dates its years from causes of deaths occurring in the hospital possible, probable indeed, that it may lead the death of CONFUCIUS. This has not to appoint a doctor trained in European to the formation of a settlement at Lappa or been done before, but patriotically the medicine to conduct the registration. Dr. in the neighbourhood, which at first sight "members struggle to defend the great- CLARK proposes that after the first compila- might be regarded as a rival to Hongkong, ness of their race by exalting their tion of the register of native medical practi- but in reality it would be commercial "gre test sage to this position." The Chinese tioners the addition of other names should dependency of this colony. Whether the method of numbering the years is by the be made dependent upon "such proof of new settlement will be Chinese, or Por-reigns of the respective Emperors, and education and training as the Registrar-tuguese, or unler the aegis of some other CHANG CHU-TUNG Cmsiders the change "General or the Sanitary Board, with th, power remains to be seen.
made by the Reform Association to be
"C
"
"
(3rd February.)
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COLLAPSE OF THE CHINESE RE- FORM ASSOCIATION.
I