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Medical Missionary Society.
JUNE.
acquiescence to the rules of the hospital. The number of beds at present does not exceed fifty-five: and these, for the last three months have been usually occupied, so that from this and other causes many applicants have been necessarily refused admission. It is upon the in-patients that the twofold benefits, both of moral and physical improvement, are mainly exerted; and it must be evident to all, that it is by and through these that the chief and the more important objects of the Medical Missionary Society will be secured, both as it regards the patients themselves, and the young men who are being educated for future medical practice among the Chinese.
The chief expense of the hospitals in Europe is the support of the patients; but in China there is this peculiarity, that all persons of inuch respectability who enter onr hospitals provide entirely for their own maintenance, and find their bedding and attendants; and even the poorer classes are allowed only 30 cash a day to find their fuel and rice—a sum equal in value to rather less than three cents or one penny per diem.
Our limits will not allow us to add more. Full particulars will doubtless be detailed in the report at the general meeting, to be held on the 29th of Sept. next, when we hope there will be an attendance commensurate to the claims of this institution. We are happy to notice that the visit of Dr. Parker to England and the United States, has not been in vain. An interest has been excited, and provisional committees have been formed in different places, to respond to the appeals made on the Society's behalf. The following are the reasons assigned by the provisional committee, consisting of some of the most distinguished men in Edinburgh, for recommending this cause to the consideration and support of their fellow citizens.
1. The plans of the Medical Missionary Society in China seem well calculated to introduce amongst the millions of Eastern Asia an acquaint- ance with those improvements in medicine and surgery which have been made in Europe within the last century, such as cannot but prove a great benefit to these nations.
2. There are presented by these missionary institutions adinirable fields for the exercise of the highest inedical acquirements which this country can produce, in such a manner as is likely to lead to an extension of our know- ledge of disease, and of the use of remedies hitherto unknown to us.
3. The more intimate intercourse with the Chinese of all ranks which the hospitals naturally give occasion to, seems likely to lessen those petty jealousies on the part of that people, which have so long impeded the opera- tions of commercial enterprise.
1. It has been plainly proved by the past success of the mission, that the