An appeal to the religious and benevolent public on behalf of a proposal to establish a medical school for the natives of China, in connection with the Chinese medical mission at Hong-Kong / [Benjamin Hobson].

  • Hobson, Benjamin, 1816-1873.
Date:
[1846]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An appeal to the religious and benevolent public on behalf of a proposal to establish a medical school for the natives of China, in connection with the Chinese medical mission at Hong-Kong / [Benjamin Hobson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    The intelligence, general education, ingenuity, and civilization of the Chinese are proverbial ; but facts and observation teach us, that they are infatuated idolaters, and require the knowledge and blessings of Christianity to raise them to that state of intellectual and moral improvement which they are capable of attaining. From their abject deference to the wisdom of their sages, their slavish adherence to ancient customs, added to an innate contempt and dislike of all innovation and influence from other nations, they have made no advance for ages, but rather retrograded. Hence, true science and religion have scarcely shed one genial ray to dissipate that dark superstition and ignorance, in which their philosophy and moral condi- tion are alike involved; and the free exercise of thought and intellect being checked and paralysed, by a principle of action so opposed to their develop- ment, there appears to be but little prospect of any change for the better, unless external influence and example can be made instrumental in dissolving this charm of antiquity, and inducing a spirit of independent thought and conduct, worthy of a nation so great in many other respects. Under this impression, what benevolent or Christian mind can contemplate the work of evangelizing so large and populous a portion of the Eastern hemisphere, without a deep sense of its own responsibility to help forward this happy consummation ? To obviate in a good measure the exclusiveness of this peculiar people, a modification in conducting Christian missions to China has of late years been adopted, by the employment of pious medical agency. The object of this paper is not to describe, commend, or plead for Medical Missions, except by stating that not far short of 100,000 Chinese have received medical aid from English and American physicians. At present, there are four hos- pitals and three dispensaries in active operation, and conducted at a small ex- pense, on the coast of China; and to which, from 30,000 to 40,000 sick persons resort in the course of a single year. All these pass under medical inspection, evince great confidence in, and thankfulness for, the benefits received; and from the religious and moral instruction imparted, return to their homes with many prejudices removed, and with impressions favourable to Chris- tianity produced. From which it will be apparent that jealous as they are of all innovation, they cannot exclude disease, and from the low state of the medical art in China, particularly of surgery, they gladly avail them- selves of the superior skill of foreigners ; hence a power is at once put into our hands which it becomes us to employ to the best advantage. The operations of foreign missionaries, necessary and useful as they are in many ways, are liable at any time to be suspended by disease or death. It is therefore an object of great importance, if any permanent advance is to be