RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r TRANSACTIONS OF THE CHINA MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY, 1845-6 H. A. RYDINGS* The connection between the China Medico-Chirurgical Society and the original China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society has been related elsewhere in the Journal (1). Until recently, however, it was not possible to learn much in Hong Kong about this predecessor to our own Society. Now the University of Hong Kong Library has obtained a Xerox copy of the Transactions of the China Medico-Chirurgical Society, from the original volume in the Library of the Royal Society of Medicine, one of only two copies recorded in the British Isles (2). This Xerox copy will be kept in the University's Hong Kong Collection. The volume runs to 80 pages, slightly smaller than those of this Journal, and the title page, here reproduced, gives the names of the officers and committee. Two names appear as Secretary because the first, Dr. B. Hobson, had to return to Europe for family reasons during his term of office (3). Not a great deal has come to light about most of these leaders of the medical profession in the early days of the Colony, though it has been possible to find out what each of them was doing in Hong Kong. Dr. Tucker, the first President, was Surgeon on H.M. Hospital Ship Minden, which arrived in Hong Kong on 7th June, 1843 from Chusan. He died on board the Minden on 10th Sept. 1845, whilst still holding the office of President, in which he was succeeded by Dr. Dill. Francis Dill was Hong Kong's second Colonial Surgeon, appointed to succeed Dr. A. Anderson in 1844 on a date so far unknown, but probably between 7th May and 25th June. He may also possibly be identified with the "Mr. Dill, surgeon of the 'Atlas'" mentioned in a letter of Dr. Robert Morrison dated March 19th, 1822 from Canton (4). The Society's first Secretary, Dr. Benjamin Hobson, was in charge of the Medical Missionary Society's Hospital, first in Macao, * Mr. Rydings is Librarian of the University of Hong Kong and has been Councillor and Hon. Librarian of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society since 1965. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r 14 H. A. RYDINGS but moved with it to Morrison Hill where it reopened on 1st June, 1843. As already mentioned, he went home in June, 1845. This was because of the illness of his wife, who died on the journey (5). More details of Dr. Hobson's career may be found in a biographical sketch by Dr. K. C. Wong (6). It is interesting to note that prior to his return to China in 1847, Hobson married Mary, daughter of Dr. Robert Morrison, at Bath. Hobson's successor as Secretary, George K. Barton, was a partner with Thomas Hunter in the Victoria Dispensary. This also had premises in Macao, where Hunter was located. James H. Young was the junior partner in the Hongkong Dispensary in Queen's Road, the others being Peter Young (afterwards Colonial Surgeon in succession to Francis Dill on the latter's death in 1846), Samuel Marjoribanks (who was at Canton) and K. M. Kennedy. Dr. Young resigned as Treasurer and from membership in November 1845. Lastly Henry Holgate, according to Eitel, was appointed Colonial Surgeon in August 1841 by Sir Henry Pottinger, but his appointment was subsequently disallowed by the home Government, and his name does not appear in the official list of holders of that office. He presumably remained in Hong Kong in private practice (8). These, then, were the men who guided the China Medico-Chirurgical Society during its brief existence. Of the six, Drs. Tucker and Dill died before the end of 1846, and Dr. Hobson had gone back to England, whilst Dr. J. H. Young had resigned. The China Medico-Chirurgical Society came into existence at a meeting held at the residence of Dr. Dill on 13th May 1845, attended by eleven "Medical Gentlemen of Hongkong." The objects of the Society were set out as "1st—The bringing into more intimate intercourse [of the] Medical brethren in China, for the sake of giving and receiving information on Medical and Surgical subjects; "2nd—The formation of a Library, where all the best periodicals and the most valuable standard medical works of the day can be had; “3rd—The discussion of topics relating more particularly to the diseases prevalent in China, and to the Native Materia Medica." The annual subscription was $12. The Committee consisting of the three officers and three other members was to be elected half ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r CHINA MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY 15 yearly. It was also resolved that "This Society do communicate with similar Societies in India and at home, requesting them to send us Reports of their proceedings, this Society promising to act in the same manner towards them" (9). The importance of India, and the establishing of a system of exchange of publications, are matters to which further reference will be made. Three days after the inaugural meeting the Committee of management met, again at Dr. Dill's house, and recorded the names of seventeen doctors as members. A list of ten British medical periodicals was approved, and the Secretary was asked to order them through "Mr. William's the Bookseller" (10), but a decision on other titles "from America, India and other countries was referred to a subsequent meeting." At the first general meeting of the Society an introductory address was given by Alfred Tucker, the newly elected President, on "The advantages to be gained by a Medical Association, and a cursory review of diseases incidental to Europeans in China.” The latter part included a "synoptical table of the first 1,000 patients sent on board the Minden's Hospital for treatment" (Transactions, p. 8-10), from which it is seen that dysentery (359 cases) was the most prevalent disease, followed by remittent fever (165 cases). The overall mortality rate was 31.5%. Nearly half of Tucker's address was concerned with the efficacy of the various remedies available for different diseases. It is interesting to note that he hoped "one day to see a Medical School established at Victoria. . . It is only by education that we can expect to remove the old deep-rooted prejudices of ages, and in what better manner could the pupils educated at the Schools instituted for the Chinese be made useful instruments for introducing the Scriptures among their deluded countrymen.” To this theme we shall revert later. Apart from Dr. Tucker's introductory address, the Transactions contain four full-length papers. As these do not appear to have been indexed in the Royal Society's Catalogue (11) and are not easily identified in the Surgeon-General's Index-catalogue (12), they are here listed in the order in which they appear in the Transactions, together with the date when they were delivered, and the pages on which they appear: 1st July 1845. LITTLE, Archibald "On dysentery as it affects Europeans in China” p. 18-26. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r 20 H. A. RYDINGS other pests took their toll, the collection of the Medico-Chirurgical Society gradually became unwanted and unusable. Some remarks should be made on the incorporation of the Society into "the Asiatic Society of China" which soon became the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (21). First, why was such a step necessary, and second, to what extent did members of the former Society opt for membership of the new? In the account of the origin of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (1) it is stated that the Medico-Chirurgical Society "in accord with the contemporary spirit of inquiry and the enthusiasm for better knowledge of Asia in general and China in particular, had contemplated setting up a Philosophical Society." Part of this story is recorded in the Transactions, p. 62-63. Dr. McGowan of Ningpo wrote a letter which was read at a meeting of the Society on 6th January 1846, "suggesting the addition of a scientific branch of this Society; or the formation of a Philosophical Society having a Medical Section. The matter having been briefly discussed it was the unanimous opinion of the members present... that the discussion of other scientific subjects should be left to other Bodies, of which members could avail themselves. ** However, this resolve to go it alone was not to be achieved. It is stated in the "Journal of Proceedings" regarding the setting up of the "Philosophical Society of China" (afterwards the China Branch of the R.A.S.) that "the number of members of a scientific body called the 'China Medico-Chirurgical Society' had been gradually diminishing, so as to render it difficult to obtain any meetings except at irregular and frequently long intervals" (22). At the preliminary meeting held on 5th January 1847 there were eight doctors present, namely Drs. Balfour, Young, Barton, Dill, Harland, Bankier, Grant and Fletcher. Only four of these can be positively identified on the membership list of the Medico-Chirurgical Society (Transactions, p. 78), which includes 38 names—though of course others may have joined in the intervening year—but it appears that these four and possibly others had formed a splinter group sympathetic to those who favoured the formation of a "Philosophical Society", in the older meaning of the phrase. There seems little doubt that the activities of the Medico-Chirurgical Society were on the wane, probably due to the death or departure of some of the more active members. Drs. Tucker, ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1979 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2801w5938 252 ORDINARY LOCAL MEMBERS THOMAS, Mr. Reginald, Rose Villa, Lot 369, 12 Miles Tai Po Road, Tai Po, NEW TERRITORIES. THOMAS, Mrs. S. E., Rose Villa, Lot 369, 12 Miles Tai Po Road, Tai Po, NEW TERRITORIES. THOMSON, Mr. J. Marsh, Spencer Stuart & Associates, St. George's Building, 2 Ice House Street, HONG KONG. TISDALL, Mr. Brian, 7 Stanley Mound Road, Stanley, HONG KONG. TOCHRANE, Miss Vera, 410 The Hermitage, 75 Macdonnell Road, HONG KONG. TOH, Miss Esther, 1903 Hang Chong Building, 5 Queen's Road C., HONG KONG. TOMLIN, Mrs. Sarah, 12A Broadwood Road, 1/F, HONG KONG. TRETIAK, Prof. Daniel, Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG. TSANG, Mr. Hin Sum, 11B Princess Margaret Road, 5/F, KOWLOON. TSO, Mrs. Priscilla, Dept. of Extra-Mural Studies, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG. TUCKER, Mrs. A., 21 Coombe Road, HONG KONG TURNER, Mr. H. David, Dept. of History, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG. TWITCHETT, Miss Yvonne, c/o Island School, Bowen Road, HONG KONG TYLER, Mrs. M. R., P.O. Box 9423, HONG KONG. VEEVERS, Miss Kathleen Joyce. c/o Medical & Health Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, HONG KONG. VINE, Mr. P. A. L., Room 304, Chartered Bank Building, HONG KONG. VISICK, Mrs. Mary, Dept. of English, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG. WALDEN, Mr. John, I The Homestead, The Peak, HONG KONG, WALKER, Mr. A. P., 4 Felix Villas, 61 Mount Davis Road, HONG KONG. WALKER, Ms. Prudence, 4 Felix Villas, 61 Mount Davis Road, HONG KONG. WALTERS, Dr. Richard P., 2C London Court, 41 Conduit Road, HONG KONG. WALTERS, Mrs. Sandra L., 2C London Court, 41 Conduit Road, HONG KONG. WARD, Miss Barbara E., New Asia College, Chinese University of H.K., Shatin, NEW TERRITORIES. WATERS, Mr. D. D., c/o Education Department, Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, HONG KONG. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1987 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/rx919b522 110 REDFERN, Adelaide 9.1.1960 REDFERN, Angelica 25.2.1951 Marcaide REDFERN, Edward 31.8.1938 REDRERN, James R 5.11.1948 Knight RICHARDS, James 27.8.1906 RICHTER, Else 9.11.1903 RICHTER, Erich 18.5.1941 ROBERTS, Stewart 16.11.1908 ROBERTSON, John 24.12.1879 ROENSCH, Anna Albina 29.2.1873 ROHLSON, H W RUEBE, Adolf Not known ROUGHTON, Henry 21.4.1892 2.8.1902 SALOMON, Emil Not known SANGER, Julius SCHADENBERG, Dr Alexander SCHEIN, B 21.4.1886 SAWYER, Mary 4.7.1884 Dolores Camion 15.1.1896 SCHAELLIBAUM, Max 28.6.197[sic] 21.12.1914 SCHIPPERS, Tamer SCHLEINITZ, Robert 3.8.1903 SCHNEER, Edward SCHNEER, Simon 25.10.1920 SCHULTZ, Ernst SCHULTZ, Franz Cesar 12.4.1892 SCHWANER, E J 1.1.1968 31.12.1900 16.6.1922 30.1.1887 SCHWURCH, Hermann 24.1.1891 SCOTT, James 6.8.1897 SECKER, Elisabeth 7.5.1890 SETH, John E 23.10.188? SIEVERS, Otto 28.5.1889 SIMPSON, George 23.2.1899 Frederick SINCLAIR, Robert 15.8.1869 SINTERN, George van ?.12.1901 SLAFKIN, Lena 14.5.1911 SMITH 15.3.1883 SMITH, Adeliza 14.2.1880 SMITH, Andrew 25.2.1888 SMITH, Mrs John 7.11.1882 SMITH, William L 26.8.1916 SMOLL, John Barton 31.5.1909 SPECTOR, Rashe 25.2.1899 SPURING, Herbert 21.10.1929 STANLEY, Walter 5.6.1942 STAUBE, Carl 21.9.1882 STECK, Frederick Ludwig Philip 1.4.1869 STEIGER, Theodor 2.6.1872 STEPHEN, Thomas H 12.11.1926 STERNBERG, Wilhelm 18.12.1900 STERNBERG, Mrs Mathilde 22.12.1913 STEVENSON, William 10.4.1883 STEWART, Kenneth George 14.7.1936 STEWART, NR 24.2.1914 STOLL, Albert (infant son of) 1890 STOLL, Emil 16.7.1891 STONE, Charles Edward 26.3.1955 STRUCKMANN, (1st infant) ?,2,1876 STRUCKMANN, (2nd infant) 15.4.1876 STRUCKMANN, Maria 26.9.1879 SURTEES, Alfred 13.5.1924 SUTCLIFFE, Margaret 30.6.1895 SWAP, William H 25.10.1882 Helen SWEENEY, Patrick 9.4.1912 TAIL, James 31.8.1917 TAYLOR, Frans. THIESSEN, Johann 5.6.1903 14.10.1889 TELFORD, William 3.5.1942 THOMPSON, Gerald Philippe 20.2.1949 THOMPSON, Katherine 14.12.1942 TOMKINS, John Frederick 9.2.1945 TOUGH, William 1.7.1916 TOWER, Edward 7.3.1894 TOWNSEND, Cecilia Edith 20.9.1964 TOZER, Susan Harriet 13.8.1930 TUCKER, Capt George TURNBULL, Arthur 1891 TUCKER, Percy 23.8.1898 16.2.1928 TYLER, Joseph C 28.5.1890 Page 135 Page 136 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2003 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390 222 and (from Needham) a “Summary on the Transmission of Mechanical and other techniques from China to the West'. There is an index, and an extensive bibliography. Tucker acknowledges the assistance of experts in many cities along the Silk Road, and also his wife, Antonia Tozer, who accompanied him on several of the journeys that he undertook while writing the book and whose photographs comprise the majority of those included. Other sources of photographs include the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London, Tucker's alma mater. No book is perfect, and although my background does not qualify me to comment on the content and arguments of this one, I have one major reservation about the way Tucker argues his thesis, and several reservations about the book's presentation. My first point relates to Tucker's failure to compare the relative significance of the overland Silk Road with that of the maritime Silk Road. An excellent, though very different and far briefer, companion to Tucker's book is a volume produced in 1996 by the Hong Kong Museum of History, edited by Royal Asiatic Society (Hong Kong) member Dr. Joseph Ting.2 Contributors to this edited volume make it clear that the cultural exchange between China and countries to the west was just as significant by sea as by land. Admittedly, Tucker notes a contemporary account in around 800 that describes Chinese junks in Baghdad, and several maps indicate the maritime routes, but his single-minded focus on the overland route detracts from a more balanced picture of the relative significance of the two routes. In fact, Patricia Ebrey comments that the trade along the sea routes in the Tang Dynasty was higher in volume than that by land. Tucker's concluding chapter implies that it was European voyages of discovery in the fifteenth century that led to the development of the sea routes between China and the west. His emphasis on Chang'an, which is appropriate as it was a major destination for travellers along the overland Silk Road, might lead readers to overlook the significance of Guangzhou, a city which dominated the maritime Silk Road for centuries, and in which the cultural mix in the Tang dynasty was as great as in Chang'an. This leads me to wonder whether the extant art and history of the Chinese influence in the ports used by Chinese vessels on route for India, the Middle East and East Africa have been investigated, and whether this would be a worthy subject for a book. I note a tantalising Page 270 Page 271 ================================================================================