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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11434, 15 January 1892, Page 1

Chinese healing arts. — Chinese doctors profess to be able to diagnose _ disease by Ihe slate of the pulse only. 1 heir knowledge ol anatomy and physiology is almost nil. yet in place of exact know- ■ (edge- they substitute most absurd theories. The nature of disease being unknown, they allribule to the influence oJ the • five lesmenls 1 the onset of disease. To a large extent the physilogical action of drugs is unknown, and most wonderful healing properties are attributed to such substances as dragons; leelh, fossils, tiger bones, pearls, etc. A Chinese doctor examines the pulse of each wrist of his patient with much solemnity, the sick person's hand resting meantime upon a cushion, while the friends stand round watching the operation with much awe. The ..tongue is then examined and a prescription written out ; the doctor then departs after giving his' diagnosis and going into long explanations of what is taking place in his patient's interior. Many of the Chinese wonder much that foreign physicians should make so many inquiries of their patients; they think that they should be able to find out all about such matters from the condition of the pulse. In most cases of sickness idols, astrologers, and fortune-tellers are consulted. Disease Is generally attributed to the anger of the gods, or to a visitation of evil spirits ; the priests, indeed, teach this for their own ends. Charms are in general use to expel evil spirits and pacify ihe offended gods, and many .idolatrous rites are employed. The noise of gongs and firecrackers used in these observances is constantly heard, and of necessity proves very injurious to a patient whose nervous system is weakened by disease. The charms are written out and pasted about the sick room ; sometimes these marvellous pieces of paper are burned, and the ashes used to make a decoction, which the patient is ordered to drink, it is not wonderful -„ therefore that medical science being in so unsatisfactory a state in China, the cures wrought by the foreign doctors seem to the people little short of miraculous; and in many cases the difficulty is not to get the . people to believe in the foreign medical man, bnt rather for them to understand there is a limit' to his healing power.— John Kenneth afacketuie, Medical Missionary to China. By Mrs. Bryson. (London: Hodder and Stonghton.} How Meissonier got his Effects — A writer in the Contributors' Club In the Atlantic gives a characteristic anecdote of Meissonier, which shows how that painter Of the soldier secured accuracy of effect :— At Saint-Germain, which stands on a bend of the river above Poissy, separated by a strip of forest land, the eccentric, almest dwarfish figure of old Meissonier was also well known. Not a raw recruit in the cavalry regiment quartered there but could tell you his name, coupling it with the familiarly affectionate appellation of " father.' ' Among the officers his popularity was associated with that of the great Napoleon, whose memory he had done so much to ssrve. I remember, • two or three summers ago, hearing a young sous-lieutenant of chasseurs, then stationed at the town, describe an encounter he had had with ie vere Meissonier. Early in the morning, it appeared, he had been abroad exercising his squad, and was returning with it at a footpace along one of those straight, intermidabls avenues which traverse the forest, when midway a tall yellow dogcart swooped flown upon him. Aloft sat a little old bonhomme, whose patriarchal beard floated to the wind like the famed white plume of Navarre. » Hola IM. I'Officier I" the little map shouted, when within earshot. Hardly waiting to draw rein, he scrambled precipitately qver the wheels of the ckarrette, and presented his card. It was our lieutenant's turn to spring to earth. "Of what service can Ibo to Meissonier?" "The loan of your men, mon officier," cried the fiery artist, "an affair of ten minutes I You consent? Treshient Follow me." Away rattled the yellow 'charrette at racing speed (Meissonier would brook no laggard in his stables), our blue-coated chasseurs clattering fast on its tracks. Presently they passed the borders of the forest, and entered a wheat-field which skJrted the road, unprotected by fence or hedge, as is the custom in most parts of France. The grain was ripe for harvest, and already a peasant proprietor, assisted by two or three farm lads, bad begun* operations at an upper corner. Calling halt to the company, Meissonier sped across the field to a parley with the farmers. An animated pantomime took place, in which coin -of the country seemed to flow uncounted from capacious shootingjacket pockets to some secret receptacle under the voluminous blue blouse. Then back again, aglow with generous enthusiasm. " Now, my dear sir," the old painter cried, " all I have to ask you Is to station your men yonder, under shadow of those trees. At a signal from me— tan*/ I'll Butter this handkerchief— make a bee-line through the grain. Gallop straight for me " The officer did as desired, andwas met by Meissonier in a high state of excitement » Faster ! faster !" he shonted, gesticulating wildly, notebook in one hand and crayon in Ihe other. •■ Try it again I" Half a dozen limes at least the soldiers charged, and devastated indeed lay that golden grainfield before word was given to desist. They Jvere then courteously thanked and disknissed with a forty-franc pourioire, that ••ces brave, enfants might wet their throats jailer such dry work." When last in sight, the old painter (verging at the time, be it remembered, on his eightyth year), occupied a grotesque attitude in the middle of the beaten field, taking an upside down ■view of his surroundings.

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