In Liwan Xiguan, there is a century-old hospital founded in 1899 - Rouji Hospital (now the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University). It was one of the first Western hospitals in China, but what few people know is that it was founded by an American doctor who founded the first women's medical school in China's modern history.
On April 22, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (hereinafter referred to as the "Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University"), Guangdong People's Publishing House and Yongqingfang Zhongshuge jointly held a meeting for readers of the new book "Fumali China Experience". The book records the life, practice, and writing of American medical doctor and missionary Fulmali in China for more than 30 years, and opens a historical window for understanding the historical process of modern medicine and the cultivation of China's earliest female doctors.
At the event, the three translators of the book - Chen Anwei, who was an internal medicine physician and vice president of the Third Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Yang Zhiwen, a doctor of history from Sun Yat-sen University and a full-time teacher of Zhongkai College of Agriculture and Engineering, Huang Yong, director of the Liwan District Cultural and Tourism Integration Development Center, and special guests, Mai Weiyang, former vice president of the Third Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University and former secretary of the Party Committee of Guangzhou Huiai Hospital, read this precious historical book with more than 50 readers. Wang Qian, vice president of Guangdong People's Publishing House, served as the host of the event.
From the "Pig Village" to the first women's medical hall in China
In 1884, Fumali traveled thousands of miles to China to begin a journey that lasted for more than 30 years.
"Fumali China Experience" mentioned that at that time, the Chinese had gradually recognized the necessity of female doctors under the influence of Western medicine. Due to the limitations of concepts and conditions, many women often do not receive good treatment. "For Chinese women, there is no substitute for female doctors, because they refuse to be treated by male doctors. "In addition, due to gender segregation, it is very difficult for male healers to involve women, and there are many outdated superstitious treatment methods.
Fumali sensed the need for female doctors in China, and as far as she could see, there were very few qualified female doctors in Guangdong at that time, which made her determined to look for a place to run a school and a medical institution in Guangzhou, and finally chose the westernmost part of Guangzhou at that time, "an open land, with 200 pigs in the mud", and called it a "pig village".
Since 1899, Fumali has successively established three medical institutions: Guangdong Women's Medical Hall (later renamed "Xia Ge Medical College") and affiliated Rouji Women's and Children's Hospital and Duanna Women's Nursing School. Among them, Xia Ge Medical College is the first women's medical school in modern Chinese history.
"When Fumali arrived in China and saw the current state of society, he put all his energy into treating the sick, and he was very down-to-earth. We offer free clinics every week, with no registration fees, and even give medicines to people who come to see them. Chen Anwei told reporters.
The school has cultivated a large number of outstanding female doctors
According to the book, Fumali arrived in Guangzhou via Japan and Hong Kong, China, and went to Guangxi Guibian Medical Center for a time, but later returned to Guangzhou. In Chen Anwei's view, Guangzhou has been open and tolerant since ancient times, and the high acceptance of advanced technology by Guangzhou citizens, coupled with the convenience of imported medical equipment, has naturally become the reason why Fumali chose Guangzhou.
It is worth mentioning that at that time, the hospital required students and doctors to come to Guangzhou to learn to speak Cantonese within one month. For the newcomer, how to integrate into Guangzhou and deal with patients, the first challenge to solve is to learn the local language. As you can see from the letters she wrote, she was delighted just by learning to count from 1 to 10 in Cantonese.
At the sharing session, the translators said that the translation of the book "Fumali China Experience" can help Chinese readers to look at the historical significance of Fumali's establishment of the three medical institutions from a more diverse perspective.
It is understood that a large number of Chinese female doctors who have mastered advanced medical knowledge and technology have learned from the Guangdong Women's Medical Hall, such as Luo Xiuyun, a female surgeon who enjoys the "magic skills of female doctors", and Liang Yiwen, the founder of obstetrics and gynecology in the mainland. Female doctors not only treat patients, but also serve as medical teachers, using science and wisdom to fight diseases that are spreading in China. "Our graduates are outstanding and capable of not only saving lives every year, but also bringing basic hygiene knowledge to millions of households. The book says.
Spanning 125 years, it continues its mission as a guardian of women and children
"Our 'pig village' has blossomed and borne fruit, and the flowers are very brilliant and fragrant. "Over the course of their evolution, the three medical institutions founded by Fumali have left a strong mark on the history of modern medical care in China.
Over the centuries, the Faculty of Medicine has undergone several name changes until 1936, when it was merged with Lingnan University. The Duanna Girls' Nursing School was renamed the Affiliated Nursing School of Guangzhou Private Rouji Hospital, and later became the School of Nursing of Guangzhou Medical University.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Rouji Hospital, founded by Fumaly, which is the predecessor of the Third Guangzhou Medical Hospital, which is now located on the shore of Liwan Lake in Xiguan, Guangzhou. This well-known "Shengzi Hospital" has distinctive characteristics for women and children, and has successively established the Guangzhou Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Guangdong Provincial Critical Maternal Treatment Center, the Provincial Critical Neonatal Treatment Center, and the Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology Diseases, and in 2022, the Huangpu Campus of the Third Guangzhou Medical Hospital (Rouji Hospital) will be opened in Huangpu District.
"We have a rich and vivid history, and there are names that shine in the history of medicine, and their efforts to protect health, the hardships they have experienced, and the spirit of determination to forge ahead are the strength of our generation of Rouji people to continue to move forward. Liu Dan, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Third Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, said.
Reporter Zhu Jiale Correspondent Bai Tian Wang Hui