A Study On The Medical Treatment Of Civil Officials In Song Dynasty

As an important force to maintain the normal operation of the state machinery in Song Dynasty,the way they used to treat diseases were more different from others classes.In correspondence,official documents and epitaphs,it can be seen that the common diseases of officials include eye disease,stroke and foot disease,and infrequent diseases include tumors and other diseases.In the writing of the civil official’s illness,personal life experience is also shown.Because the personal body of the civil officials is closely related to the state affairs operation,the imperial court took various measures to manage sick officials.Sick officials also made decisions which is based on their career development and treatment.Lower-ranking officials often hid their illness to maintain their existence.In order to ensure the efficiency of government affairs and the metabolism of the bureaucratic team,the imperial court ordered relevant institutions to punish the officials who were old and the sick.In addition,they set up a sick leave system to regulate the behavior of officials applying for seeking medical advice.Officials who always on long-term sick leave,would be considered as absenteeism.it can only be used as a temporary and contingency measure.They also can obtain long time to treat there diseases by leisure position,local employment or retirement.At the same time,with the purpose of avoid some officials used illness as a pretext to escape,applicants must be checked by designated person.The civil officials were diffident from ordinary people.They had more ways and resources to cure their diseases.Some officials had official medical services.At the same time,the emperor sent the medicine to treat the diseases of officials.In addition to this,officials also can use some unofficial doctors,religious means and witchcraft to cure the disease.Officials’ personal understanding and views on diseases also have a profound impact on their medical treatment.In the Song Dynasty,the identity of the civil officials had a great influence on their medical treatment.Due to the political identity between different officials,they had different characteristics in the process of disease treatment.The central officials located in the capital city.It is not complicated for them to find doctors and medicine.The civil officials in other places were mainly relied on doctors or religious means and witchcraft to fight diseases.Due to the special political circumstances of disgraced officials,they often treat diseases by themselves.Behind the differences between the civil officials of different identities in medical activities,it also show us that the official’s game and compromise between personal illness and politics.