Fish Liver Oil In China(1912-1949)

Fish liver oil was originally a daily food for the people of northern Europe,but was later discovered by European doctors in the 19 th century to have a good therapeutic effect on tuberculosis.As a result,cod-liver oil spread in Europe under the name of "tuberculosis specific drug" and became a new favorite in the pharmaceutical industry.At the same time,with the development of urbanization and industrialization in China,the population density has increased,accelerating the spread of tuberculosis.At that time,it was known as "ten people and nine tuberculosis".Traditional medicine has not performed satisfactorily in the face of this situation.With the rise of the wave of Western medicine spreading eastward,some people began to place their hopes on Western medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis,and cod liver oil was brought into China by missionaries along this wave.At the beginning of the 20 th century,China was undergoing innovation in all aspects,and these innovations just provided a favorable way for the rapid spread of cod liver oil in China.For example,the emergence of emerging social media-newspapers and periodicals-can timely convey information about the scientific and technological basis,research progress,and latest products of cod liver oil to the public.The successful foothold and promotion of Western medicine have also accelerated the popularity of cod liver oil.Chinese people’s understanding of cod liver oil has gone through a process from questioning to approving and then to superstition.At first,people didn’t know the medical principle of cod liver oil,but they were just following traditional experience,which has been widely criticized by traditional Chinese medicine.Later,with the deepening of research on cod liver oil,people found that it contains a large amount of vitamins and fatty acids.This discovery laid a scientific theoretical foundation for the efficacy of cod liver oil,blocking the lingering doubts.Fish liver oil has also been used to treat other diseases,such as rickets,rickets,night blindness,burns,and so on.In daily life,it is essential to have a bottle of cod liver oil at home.Many celebrities at that time,such as Chen Guofu,Lu Xun,and others,praised cod liver oil and actively recommended it to others.By the 1930 s,cod-liver oil had undergone two national campaigns,namely the National Products Campaign and the Anti Tuberculosis and National Salvation Campaign.With the spread of the trend of strengthening the country and strengthening the nation,it had become more and more well-known to the public,and its image had gradually changed,transforming from a "specific medicine for tuberculosis" to a "universal panacea.".At that time,cod liver oil was mostly imported.After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression,the National Government gradually lost control of coastal cities,and the import source of cod liver oil was blocked.The scarce supply quantity could not meet the vast demand that had already formed,leading to a soaring price of cod liver oil,which was nicknamed "Golden Stem Jade Dew" by contemporary people.In order to meet the needs of Chinese people for cod liver oil,the National Government has launched two self made movements for cod liver oil in China,but the results have been very limited.After the end of the War of Resistance Against Japan,the National Government set up cod liver oil dispensing stations throughout the country to improve the health of the people.Until the development of the BCG vaccine in 1949,cod liver oil had been the primary choice for doctors to treat tuberculosis,and it could be said to be the number one contributor to the treatment of tuberculosis at that time.In short,cod liver oil had a diverse and far-reaching impact on the society of the Republic of China.As a drug,it shines brilliantly in the medical field.As a health product,it is sacred in the hearts of Chinese people.As a cultural symbol,it ignites the determination of people to strengthen their country and breed strong;As a social welfare,it has benefited the public to a certain extent,improved the physical quality of Chinese people,and left a unique memory for Chinese people in that special era.