Doctors in the East

Source: 
Ho Tak Ming. 2001. Doctors in the East. Where West meets East.  Pelanduk Publications, Selangor, Malaysia. www.pelanduk.com. ISBN 967-978-770-2 [USM call number WZ56 H678 2001]

My review:
The book has 12 chapters. Chapters 1-9 give the historical accounts of the Chinese doctors in China and the coming of Western Medicine. Chapters 10-12 are interesting, and quite amusing too, especially that bit that touches on the Taoist belief in ching and how to keep it within (for males only), and thus remain forever young. Opium is discussed in great detail with a mention that the Arabs had brought opium to China for medical purposes but the Chinese took to its addiction. The last chapter discusses Cheng Ho and Sa Poh Kung in Nanyang. Nanyang refers to Southeast Asia or Nusantara. Also discusses Baba (but not Nyonya) status and their anglophile behaviour and preferences, compared to their sinkehs counterparts who were very Chinese. It also discusses Chinese travel beyond Nanyang, Chinese diaspora, and the Chinese Emperor's ruling not to allow Chinese emigration. The Chinese preferred to stay in China but they were taken to Malaya by the British to work in the tin mines. Places mentioned include Kwangtung and Marco Polo's Zayton or Canton. The history of the FMS Medical School and its initial funding are discussed. Important doctors in Chinese medical history are Dr Sun Yat Sen and Dr Wu Lien-Teh. Dr Wu Lien-Teh was born in Penang but fought the plague in China - he had researched at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur.


This book provides a lot of insights into Chinese medicine in Asia and Southeast Asia. It helps explain some of the gaps in our medical history and links great nations - Malaysia, Singapore, China and Hong Kong.

A plus point of this English book is its use of French, Chinese and Malay words. It has a lot of beautiful poems.

Doctors in the East - Where West meets East

Doctors in the East - Where West meets East (2001) by Ho Tak Ming. Published by Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn Bhd. www.pelanduk.com. E-mail: mypp@tm.net.my. ISBN 967-978-770-2

Author: Dr Ho Tak Ming


Contents:

Acknowledgement
Introduction

1. Physicians at Court
2. Humanitarians and Opium Princes
3. The Lancet and the Cross
4. Deficiencies and Brilliancy of the Empirical Tradition
5. Renaissance and Orthodoxy
6. Restoration and Reform
7. Revolution
8. Half the Earth, Half the Sky
9. Taoists and Imperialists
10. Two Worlds, One Vision
11. Failed Medical Student
12. Thus Endeth the Mandate of Heaven

Bibliography
Index


My comments & highlights
Content is more inclined towards the interaction between the early Christian missionaries to mainland China and its lesser lands. There are quite a number of interesting anecdotes which make reading more pleasant (and later for teaching) of otherwise a boring subject. A detailed account of the plague and the significant role of Dr Wu Lien-Teh are provided but readers can read more detailed accounts elsewhere and in other publications. Most topics are regular topics in my first-year class, "History of Medicine" where we touch on Traditional and Complementary Chinese Medicine. The black hardcover book is small and easy to hold for reading.


Chapter 10

page 310 - History of the King Edward VII Medical School.

page 311 - Chinese medicine and Western medicine are two separate worlds, but they need not be worlds that cannot be bridged.

Chapter 11

page 313 - The Image of the Dragon

page 315 - Japan defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-5

page 317 - Japanese Medicine

page 328 - The Eyes of the Dragon

Chapter 12

page 331 - The Golden Age

page 338 - The Plague Fighter

page 342 - Dr Wu Lien-Teh (portrait)

page 344 - End of the old Traditional Chinese Medicine

DOCTORS IN THE EAST : WHERE WEST MEETS EAST

I borrowed this book  from our medical library and read it. I tried writing to the author (Dr Ho Tak Ming) but instead got a Chinese man in my Facebook who only wrote in Chinese script and got lots of porn photos which I don't need!

Who knows the real author? If you are the author, can you please contact me? There is Dr Samsudin Cassim mentioned in the book and I need permission to use some of the contents. I would also like to know how/where to contact the family. His son Tan Sri Osman is/was with Berjaya group but I need his e-mail to contact him if anyone knows the son or any family member.


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Nor hairani binti. Abd Rashid" <hairani@kk.usm.my>
To: faridah
Cc: "asmak" <asmak@kb.usm.my>, draman@kk.usm.my
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 1:11:34 PM GMT +08:00 Beijing / Chongqing / Hong Kong / Urumqi
Subject: ITEM READY FOR BORROWING : DOCTORS IN THE EAST : WHERE WEST MEETS EAST

Assalamualaikum & Good afternoon,

Dear Prof.,

We would like to inform you that your request for the item below is ready for borrowing. 

Title : Doctors in the east: where west meets east
Author: Ho Tak Ming
Publisher: Pelanduk Publication
Year of Publication: 2001
Call Number: WZ56 H678 2001

You can get the item at Customer Relation Department or Circulation Counter. Please contact me if you have any inquiries.

Thank you.


Nor Hairani Ab Rashid
Customer Relation Department
hairani@kk.usm.my
1448