An epitome of the reports of the medical officers to the Chinese imperial maritime customs service, from 1871 to 1882 : with chapters on the history of medicine in China; materia medica; epidemics; famine; ethnology; and chronology in relation to medicine and public health / compiled and arranged by C.A. Gordon.

China. Hai guan zong shui wu si shu.

Date:: 1884

Credit: An epitome of the reports of the medical officers to the Chinese imperial maritime customs service, from 1871 to 1882 : with chapters on the history of medicine in China; materia medica; epidemics; famine; ethnology; and chronology in relation to medicine and public health / compiled and arranged by C.A. Gordon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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Moats. Wells. and channels extend in different directions. Before the advent of winter the west and south moats are flooded from the same source, with a view of affording a sufficient supply of ice. The east, north, and north-east moats contained a considerable quantity of water, but, except in very wet seasons, the other moats were either dry, or contained filthy streams of sewage and surface-water. Ice-houses stand along the banks. Much ice is consumed during summer by the Chinese, to whom it is sold at the rate of eight pounds for a penny ■ they also use it for cooling their rooms. In respect to wells, Peking is probably unsurpassed by any city in the world. They exist in almost every lane ; and in the great thoroughfares, four, five, or more may be met with within a mile. They are never exhausted. They are usually situated on alternate sides of the streets, and are for the most part surrounded by willows. Almost every house of any consequence also contains one or two wells.—(II. 74.) The wells in the eastern part of the city are mostly brackish, except in the neighbourhood of canals or running streams. The hard water on boiling deposits a large quantity of lime. On the western side the water is softer. The wells are usually about 30 feet deep; water drawn from them in summer is quite cold, and meat suspended in them remains fresh. In winter they never freeze. The Chinese use the sweet water for infusing tea; they wash, or rather wipe, their hands and faces in warm water, and seldom drink that which is cold. Brackish water is used for all cooking purposes. At the wells in the streets man and beast may slake their thirst at any time during day or night. The attention of the Governors of Peking, and of the Ancient water- ] Emperors of China, from the days of Ivublai Khan, a.d. 1280, to Ivienlung, who supply, died in 1796, was much occupied with the water-supply; hence the elaborate system of water- courses throughout the city. Since the latter date, however, these have been neglected, and are out of repair; the whole system of water-courses being (in 1871) in ruins and choked up with earth.—(II. 75.) In the Report for the half-year ending March, 1874, the excellence of the water-supply is again adverted to. For infusing tea and for drinking, water is brought from certain famous wells, and sold at a cheap rate. Here, as elsewhere, the Chinese use, almost exclusively, boiled water; and though the water contains a considerable deposit of lime, ac111155^10- calculus is not known in Peking’, nor do other bad effects arise from its use.—(VIII. 34.) The food of the Chinese in Peking is mixed, but vegetable diet, from its cheapness, prevails. The cow or ox being regarded semi-sacred, because used by the Emperor in sacrifice to the Supreme Being at the Temple of Heaven, little beef is eaten, and the slaughter of ^ ^ cattle is forbidden. Buddhists refrain from eating flesh meat of any kind. The chief animal meat used is mutton and pork; and with regard to the latter, it is observed that, ‘ If filthy feeding of pigs induced trichinae, the most disastrous effects would be seen in China, for pig life here (Peking), as elsewhere, is simply revolting.5 The Pekingese usually eat two meals daily, composed chiefly or solely of rice, or flour and a little vegetable. The hours are regular and early. They study their health well in relation to food, clothing, season, climate, etc. Heavy dinners, with copious vinous potations, are unknown among them. Raw and salted or vinegared vegetables, unripe fruit, hot water, tea, confections, etc., are freely partaken of by all classes. As a rule, the Chinese are sober and temperate; yet those of Peking consume no inconsider- able quantity of spirits. In winter especially, a small quantity of whisky is drunk at each meal. This samshu is very coarse, and contains a large quantity of fusel oil. Beveiages. It is believed to give rise to an inveterate form of dyspepsia, named by them ye lco, r)^’sPePsia- a form of disease in which the oesophagus becomes constricted just below the larynx, all food, 1—2

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