260
Report of the Ophthalmic Hospital.
MAY,
discharged well. His certificate, exonerating the surgeon from all responsibility in the event of an unfavorable result, is here introduced as a specimen of the written indemnities given before serious cases are undertaken, and which are said to be valid in Chinese law.
"Agreement. I, Chung Ping, thirty-three years
of age,
of the district of Tsingyuen, in the department of Kwángchau, being afflicted with stone, have several times sought medical aid, yet without avail. Now, fortunately I am under obligation to Dr. Parker of America, for employing his knife, and extracting it, and when cured, not merely I, one person, will be bedewed with his favor, but a united family will be grateful for his great kindness. Should the mountain from its height, and the water from its depth, be impassable (i. e. should the result be fatal), it shall not concern the Doctor; all will acquiesce in the will of heaven. Lest oral evidence be invalid, I make this written agreement, and deliver it to the Doctor to hold as evidence.
“Táukwáng, 28th year, 6th moon, 5th day (5th July, 1848).
(signed) Chung Ping."
No. 26,802. February 28, 1848. Stone of the lithic acid formation. Chung Awei, æt. 27, is a laborer of the village of the White Lotus pond in the district of Poħlo and for several years has suffered from calcu- lus. After undergoing the usual preparation on the 31st of May, assisted by Dr. Marjoribanks, Rev. Mr. Speer, and Dr. Rowe, extract- ed the stone by the lateral operation, glistening with minute crystals. It resembled an almond in shape, measured 24 and 4 inches circum- ference, its diameters were 1 in. and 19; its weight 4oz. and 1sc. On examination after the operation, it was found that the rectum had been wounded; the sphincter muscle was consequently divided immediate- ly. No unusual hemorrhage attended the operation. The urine did not flow as soon as is common, but in an hour or two it found its way through the canula, and no unfavorable symptoms supervened. In eight days the water ceased to pass through the wound. June 16th, the patient left his bed for the first time, and walked across the room with assistance, and no water escaped by the wound though in the upright position. It healed rapidly and perfectly, and no permanent inconvenience attended the accident, as the patient recovered the na- tural power of the reunited sphincter muscles.
During his residence in the hospital, he was an attentive listener to the preaching of the gospel; previous to the operation he assured me that he worshiped Jesus, and consistently with this profession, he was heard to cry unto God, under the sufferings of extracting the calculus.