454
Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.
AUG.
dicine would be given for the relief of their ailments, if they applied for it, some few were induced to attend; and shortly afterwards great numbers came daily at all hours, desiring that medicines might be given to them. At some times as many as 200 old and new cases presented themselves in one day, but this large number was unusual; from 80 to 120 being the common amount on fine days during the latter weeks the hospital was open.
Besides attendance on such persons as resorted to the hospital, several were attended at their own homes; by which an opportunity was given to observe the management of families in that part of the country, and freer intercourse maintained with the people, than might otherwise have been practicable. Occasionally, when parties were sent to various parts of the island, visits were made to distaut villages, and medicines afforded to many afflicted with disease; and where the cases could not, for various reasons, be attended to at the moment, cards of direction were given, to enable them to come to the city, where they could receive the required aid.--Papers stating the nature of the hospital were also sent to the villages, in various vallies; and in a short time patients came from all parts of the island, seeking relief; also from Ningpo, Hangchow foo, (the capital of the pro- vince), and other neighboring towns on the main, as well as from Pooto, Lowang, and other islands: many Fuhkeen men from the trading junks at Sing-keä-mun (a large seaport town at the S. E. point of the island) were applicants. Indeed, the number of patients from the city itself was very small, compared with those who came from a distance. During the last six weeks of residence, the number of individuals who came from Lowang, a large island about 30 miles south of Chusan, was sometimes 40 or 50 in one day. Of these, some, who required frequent attention, remained in the city; others came and went as their medicine was expended, or according to the time prescribed to them.
In respect to the climate, it may be observed that during the south monsoon, the weather was hot, and sometimes very oppressive-the thermometer in the shade frequently standing at 90° during the day: the average for the night being about 72°. During the north mon- soon, the weather was generally very cold, with fine clear days. Towards the latter end of December, 1840, and during the whole of January and February, 1841, the thermometer was as low as 25° or 26° during the night; and occasionally, when the wind was high, it stood at 28° during the day. Of course, at this time, there was much ice on all the ponds, though the duration of this low temperature was
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