Notable Women of Modern ChinaBurton, Margaret E. (Margaret Ernestine)
History
Notable Women of Modern China
Burton, Margaret E. (Margaret Ernestine)
China -- Biography; Women -- Biography
Up to this time no girl who did not have a diploma from a mission school
had been admitted to the medical course of the Woolston Hospital. But in
1906, yielding to the great desire of many other young women to take
medical training, Dr. Hü opened the course to any who could pass an
examination on certain subjects which she considered essential
prerequisites to a medical course. Four of the seven who presented
themselves for examination were passed; only one was a Christian girl, two
were daughters-in-law of officials, the other a daughter of one of the
gentry.
An extract from the examination paper of one of them shows the real
earnestness of purpose with which the work was undertaken. The first
question asked was, "Please give your reasons for coming to study
medicine?" "Alas, the women of my country are forgotten in the minds of the
intellectual world. How could they think of a subject as important as the
education of medicine! The result is that many lives are lost, simply on
account of no women physicians for women. Though mission hospitals for
women and children have been established for a number of years in the
Fuhkien province they are far less than we need. For this reason I have a
great desire for a medical education, hoping that I may be able to help,
and to save my fellow sisters from suffering. It is for this reason I dare
to apply for this instruction."
The graduates of the medical course are as yet not great in numbers, but
they are doing earnest, efficient work. Some of them have remained in the
hospital as assistants or matrons. Of a recent graduating class, one went
to the Methodist hospital in Ngu-cheng to assist Dr. Li Bi Cu, the
physician in charge; another went to a large village, to be the only
physician practising Western medicine; the third to Tientsin, as an
assistant in the Imperial Peiyang Woman's Medical College.
V
THE FAVOUR OF THE PEOPLE
As shown by the glimpses of Dr. Hü's work which have been given
evangelistic work is carried on in conjunction with the medical work.
Christian services are held each morning, and are attended by the
dispensary patients, those of the hospital patients who are able to be up,
the servants, and usually, also, by a number of visitors. The first year
after taking charge of the hospital Dr. Hü was able to report: "Not only
some of the in-patients, but also some of our morning dispensary patients,
were converted and joined the church on probation. We are rejoicing over
the fact that all the hospital servants, all my own servants, and also our
teacher, have given their hearts to Christ. They said before a chapel full
of patients in one of our morning services, that they would from that day
on try to be Christians and to live a good life. So far (six months) they
have proved themselves to be in earnest."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account