Study Of James Henderson,L.M.S.,Medical Missionary To China In The Late-Qing Dynasty

Western medical missionaries were an important group in Chinese modern medical history,from whom western medical books were introduced to China and the books they introduced changed Chinese medicine.James Henderson was one of the most important medical missionaries who came to China in the Late-Qing Dynasty.He arrived in Shanghai in early 1860 on a commission from the London Missionary Society(伦敦会,L.M.S.)and served as the vice president of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asian Society(皇家亚洲文会北华支会)and the president of the Jen Chi I Yüan(仁济医院)that was the first western medical hospital in Shanghai in modern times.However,existing literature on Henderson’s missionary activities in China is very limited.Through a comprehensive interpretation of his autobiography,works and letters,this thesis focuses on systematically exploring his missionary,medical practice and scientific research activities during his stay in China.First,in terms of missionary work,this thesis discusses the entirety of Henderson’s missionary activities in China and the attitudes of the medical missionaries towards medical practice and missionary work in China in the Late-Qing Dynasty.By analyzing the establishment of the L.M.S.and the related doctrines of Christianity,it is found that the medical missionary work was highly recommended,and some missionary society had already made beneficial attempts in China before Henderson came to China.Next,this thesis analyzes Henderson’s youth experience and missionary activities in China.More importantly,this thesis points out that the reason why he believed in God and chose to study medicine is that he was born in a Christian family and most of his family members died of illness in his youth.He often participated in activities of the Medical Missionary Society and received financial support from the L.M.S.in college.These two reasons were the direct reasons to motivate him to be a missionary.Based on Henderson’s missionary activities in Shanghai,he always stuck to the original intention of coming to China,namely,spreading the Gospel of God.Then,by analyzing the relationship between medical practice and regular missionary work among a large number of medical missionaries who came to China in the Late-Qing Dynasty,it was found that most of them believed that medical practice was a means of spreading the Gospel,and some of them gave up the mission of missionary when realizing how massive the patient group was in China.Secondly,in terms of medical practice,this thesis explores the work of Henderson as the President of the Jen Chi I Yüan and his medical practice in this hospital.By comparing the number of patients treated and the amount of donations received by Henderson before and after he took charge of the Jen Chi I Yüan,it is clear that the number of patients treated by him was larger than that of other medical missionaries in the same period,which reflects his higher medical standard.Also,Henderson played the role of Dean excellently and helped the Jen Chi I Yüan obtain plenty of donations from society.In addition,considering Henderson’s diagnosis and treatment of cholera,dysentery,leprosy and other infectious diseases and the use of chloroform in the treatment of knife wounds,gunshot wounds,and various eye diseases,this thesis argues that Henderson had high attainments in internal medicine and surgery,and a high sense of justice – resisting the usage of opium.Thirdly,in terms of scientific research,this thesis mainly discusses Henderson’s scientific research activities in China by analyzing his various medical monographs,medical papers,and other scientific research papers.It can be highlighted that Henderson had begun to consider how to promote Western Medicine in China at this stage by training Chinese medical assistants,running medical schools,unifying teaching materials and teaching English.What is more,The Medical and Medical Practice of The Chinese(《中国的医学与医疗术》)could be considered a comprehensive reflection of Henderson’s view of Traditional Chinese Medicine.It is found that he has a high overall evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine,believing that the Traditional Chinese Medicine is the earliest form of medicine in the world.He took a neutral stance on Chinese Medicine and thought it was partly good.On the other hand,he thought its fundamental principle of treating diseases--keeping the five elements(五行)in balance in the body--was absurd,and he was skeptical about acupuncture and pulse diagnosis.Additionally,through the analysis of Shanghai Hygiene(《上海卫生学》)and Notes on Some of the Physical Causes which Modify Climate(《改变气候的物理因素》),it is found that these two pieces of literature contain not only Henderson’s views on how to maintain public health,the impact of climate on the environment,and the impact of the environment on the human body but also the suggestions on how to keep the missionaries healthy in China.To sum up,as a missionary in China in the Late-Qing Dynasty,on one hand,Henderson actively spread the Gospel of God and promoted the spread of Christianity in China.On the other hand,he helped promote Western Medicine in China by treating patients,managing hospitals and training assistants.In addition,he actively engaged in scientific research activities,wrote books on the relationship between climate and human health,and made his own contributions in the field of public health and health maintenance in modern China.