We alluded in the last Sketch to a work in eight small volumes called “New Collection of Tried Prescriptions,” a book which answers to our “Domestic Medicine,” and professes to supply well-authenticated remedies for some of the most common ills that flesh is heir to.  This book gives a fair idea of the principles and practice of medical science in China.  It is divided into sections and subdivided into chapters under such headings as the eye, the teeth, the hand, the leg, &c. &c.  We gave a specimen of the prescriptions herein brought together in our late remarks upon the methods of extracting teeth, but it would be doing an injustice to the learning of its author if we omitted to point out that in this book remedies are provided, not only for such simple complaints as chilblains or the stomach-ache, but for all kinds of serious complications arising from the evil influence of demons or devils.  One whole chapter is devoted to “Extraordinary Diseases,” and teaches anxious relatives to give instant relief in cases of “the face swelling as big as a peck measure, and little men three feet long appearing in the eyes.”  “Seeing one thing as if it were two,” would hardly be classed by London doctors as an extraordinary disease, and is not altogether unknown even amongst foreigners in China.  “Seeing things upside down after drinking wine,” belongs in the same category, and may be cited in proof of a position take up by most observers, namely, that the Chinese are a sober people.  “Seeing kaleidoscopic views which turn to beautiful women,” “the flesh becoming hard as a stone and sounding like a bell when tapped,” “objecting to eat in company,” and such diseases have each a special prescription offered by the learned Dr Wang with the utmost gravity, and accepted in good faith by many a confiding patient.

Chinamen look with suspicion on the sober treatment of the West, where no joss-stick is burnt, and no paper money is offered on the altar of some favourite P’u-sa; though, if they knew the whole truth, they would discover that intercessory prayers for the recovery of sick persons are considered by many of us to be of equal importance with the administration of pills and draughts.  Further, like our own agricultural classes, they have no faith in medicine of any kind which does not make its presence felt not only quickly but powerfully.  This last desire was amply fulfilled in the case of one poor coolie who applied to an acquaintance of ours for some foreign medicine to cure a sick headache and bilious attack from which he was suffering.  Our friend immediately bethought himself of a Seidlitz powder; but when all was ready, the acid in one wine-glass of water and the salt in another, the devil entered into him, and he gave them to his victim to drink one after the other.  The result was indescribable, for the mixture fizzed inside, and the unfortunate coolie passed such a mauvais quart d’heure as effectually to cure his experimenting master from any further indulgence in practical jokes of so extremely dangerous a nature.