65
the subject, and the Chinese who had
-placed the It.zee fasting
-ow
it's present improved
and had been most active in
"getting up subscriptions for the New
Native Hospital became alarmed, suspended
their proceedings and forwarded to
me a
very remarkable petition on the subject through Mr. Stewart. Enclosed Copy of this petition, which I call remarkable, not
merely because it is
clearly and well reasoned,
a quality common to almost all Chinese
Official documents, but because it explains
more
directly than
any modern document
which I have seen, the feelings and practice of the Chinese in their treatment
of the dying.
In this petition Your Lordship will observe that
I do not oppose, under certain limitations, the Chinese prejudice against allowing a
person to die in a room with other patients, provided such Moribund patients
be removed with care to
an adjoining apartment furnished with adequate comforts and appliances. To refuse this,
which seems to
me a very reasonable request, would have completely checked the movement for building a new Hospital.
I therefore trust Your Lordship will be able to approve the course which I have adopted.
10.
Mr. Lister having caused a translation of the substance of my Memo to be published amongst the