The second report of the London Missionary Society's Chinese Hospital, at Peking, under the care of W. Lockhart, F.R.C.S., for the year 1863.

  • Lockhart, Bill.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The second report of the London Missionary Society's Chinese Hospital, at Peking, under the care of W. Lockhart, F.R.C.S., for the year 1863. 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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    diigree compensates for the want of rettciy rtcf.ess to tlie coast, un- der such circuinS't'ances of liealLh iis i(^qiiiio cliaiigf of Tlie advanta(^es of having access to llio elevalcd plateau of Mongolia are very great. Tlie change (rora the climate of the extensive and low-lying valley of Pokinii:, to the lofty grass lands of that region, is one tiiat has a very powerful infJuence. the fine clear air blow- ing over the upland plains, being very exhilarating. All those who have gone into Mongolia on hiiniing excursions in the autumn, have been much charmed with the freshness of the climate, where they can remain on horsebucit almost all diiy with- out undue fatigue. The change of climate and the excitement of Luiiting the Hwang-yang or antelope which abounds there, have a powerful effect in reinvigorating the system, after the debilitat- ing influences of the tropical heat of the summer. It is very astonishing, in the bitterly cold weather of the winter months, to see l,he beggars go about the streets, almost, without any clothing. Very often they have only a single ragged jacket and a pair of shoes, and they are to be seen in the early morning just after sunrise, sleeping in open rooms or even in doorways, wit.h a few rags for covering, when the thermometer is but little above zero. Some of the beggars are sleek and fat, but great numbers of thera die every winter, and many lose their feet from frost-bite. One of thera came to the hospital last spring, having both feet black and gangrenous, with the tibia exposed as far as the middle of the leg. He shortly afterwards lost both his feet, which separated at the ancles. He came to the hospital many times, where he was,carefully attended to. Money was given iiim to buy food, and he improved in general health,- the tibia mean- while was separating at the point where it was covered with liv- ing flesh. He probably found, however, that he could obtain more money from begging, as he had an investment for exciting sympathy in the state of his legs. He ceased to attend, or his friends whom he hired to bring him in a basket, tired of their la- bour. He was afterwards seen at one of the city gates, exposing his limbs as an incentive to charity. I have never seen so many beggars in any city as in Peking, nor 80 low and degraded a class as exists here. I had rather a large experience of beggars, at the rice kitchen attached to tha