Report to the subscribers to the Medical Education Scheme : supported by foreigners of all nationalities resident in China and elsewhere to prove the feasibility of educating and passing native surgeons in their own country in similar manner and up to the average standard required for medical qualifications in Western lands / presented by W. Wykeham Myers.

Myers, William Wykeham.

Date:: 1889

Credit: Report to the subscribers to the Medical Education Scheme : supported by foreigners of all nationalities resident in China and elsewhere to prove the feasibility of educating and passing native surgeons in their own country in similar manner and up to the average standard required for medical qualifications in Western lands / presented by W. Wykeham Myers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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Tseng have shown how keenly they appreciate the benefits of foreign science and how liberally willing they are to judge of all efforts made in this line. Under conditions so favourable the beginning now made may yet attract attention, and perchance be deemed worthy of that further expansion which State support could alone secure or render valuable. From a merely selfish point of view they could see the advantages which must accrue to their relations with the population of this great empire, when those whom they send amongst them as the first fruits of our training are charged with the mission of assuaging the importunate bodily ailments for which no effective means of relief has hitherto been available. He would now leave the Dean, Dr. Little, to tell the meeting something about the examination (Applause). Dr. Little, who was also in academic gown and hood, briefly thanked the Municipal Council for their kindness in placing the Council room at the disposal of the examiners, and for the assistance they had given. He also thanked Dr. Myers for what he had said about himself (Dr. Little) and his colleagues in Shanghai. As Dr. Myers had said, the examination was a very severe one, and it was with considerable misgivings they had undertaken it, as they considered the giving a certificate such as was to be given to-day no light or unimportant matter. More especially with regard to the subject of anatomy were the difficulties in the way of the student great, as no dissections of Chinese were allowed. The student had to learn from models and plates. He w’as glad to be able to say that Mr. Goh Kit Moh had been examined thoroughly here on actual dissections and had acquitted himself very well, and had quite surprised Dr. Milles and himself (Dr. Little). He was happy to tell the meeting that the examiners were all very well satisfied with the answering of Mr. Goh Kit Moh, whom he then introduced to the Chairman. [I he successful student is an intelligent looking young Chinaman from Penang.] Mr. Wood then presented Mr. Goh with the certificate, and in doing so said that he had great pleasure in handing it to him. The certificate had been signed by the several examiners; and the seal of the Municipality had also been affixed. He (Mr. Wood) trusted that Mr. Goh would persevere in his studies and succeed in his final examination as well. The Chairman then asked General Kennedy to address the meeting. General Kennedy said that he scarcely knew what exactly to say upon this occasion in response to the call which had been made upon him. He thanked the Chairman, on behalf of his colleagues who were present, for the kind invitation to come there and witness this most interesting ceremony. It was a ceremony which showed that the world moved not merely in a physical sense but intellectually (applause). Who would have supposed 50 years ago that here in Shanghai they would see this magnificent city to-day, and witness this ceremony; that China would have occupied the position that she now did amongst the family of nations, and have appreciated their powers and her own? And yet it was individual progress that guaranteed the progress of the nation (applause). It was to this principle China must look for j ermanent progress, and when it was fully recognised she would indeed awaken to the full capacity of her power. Her people had shown themselves possessed in a great degree of the power of abstract thought and her scholars were very gifted in classical lore, but they were deficient to a sad degree in scientific and practical attainments. Bat to-day it was shown that she was progressing in that direction. The ceremony of presenting the certificate to this young man was in this line, and met with the strongest approbation. There was no profession that would tend to put China in the line of progress as much as the medical profession. He said that advisedly. He would not speak of its dignity or rank amongst the learned professions. He would direct their attention for one moment to the importance of medicine and surgery. No country with an army and navy could do without experienced and skilful surgeons and physicians and China was seeing that. He trusted that they would soon have a medical college (hear, hear), and where could they get a better place for it than Shanghai with the great body of experienced medical gentlemen that he saw before him as a faculty (applause). This ceremony to-day reflected the highest credit upon the medical faculty of Shanghai, who had undertaken the examination of this young man, and especial praise was due to Dr. Myers for his painstaking and successful instructions to the candidate (applause). It is said that he is a benefactor who makes two blades of grass grow where there was formerly only one, but how much greater a benefactor was a man who aided a great nation’s enlighten- ment. (Applause.) Let this young man strive to follow the examples of the professional gentlemen that he saw around him, and endeavour by every means in his power to attain their standard of excellence, and his future was assured. He trusted the Shanghai medical faculty, and that Dr. Myers’ undertaking would go on succeeding till deep interest was taken in medical science by the Chinese authorities. (Applause). The Taotai, after a careful scrutiny of the certificate and a long conversation with Mr. Goh, said, through his interpreter, that forty years ago the Chinese thought the Japanese were the best doctors. But since then Li IIcng Chang had seen that Western surgery was far more successful, and learned to fully appreciate the ability of European doctors. Some years ago the wife of the Viceroy established a hospital in Tientsin upon Western lines, a fact that spoke for this appreciation. He congratulated this young man, Mr. Goh, upon his success and hoped that he would continue to persevere in the useful path before him. (Applause). The Chairman then said that if no other gentlemen wished to say anything the proceedings were finished. There being no response the meeting adjourned.

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