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The Development of Scientific Medicine and its Impact on Society in Taiwan, 1865 to 1945

Patrick Manson continued the work of the hospital for three more years, he was then moved to be community doctor in Amoy on the China coast opposite of Taiwan. There he made many researches and discoveries in tropical medicine. After 12 years he was moved to Hong Kong and helped to start the Hong Kong Medical College, which was later incorporated into the Hong Kong University. Sun Yat- Sen was an outstanding student in the first graduating class of the college. Sir Patrick as he later became returned to London and was in great demand for his knowledge and experience in tropical disease. He helped to set up the London School of Tropical Medicine. Over the front of the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in Keppel street, behind the British Museum, high up near the top of the building are carved in large capitals the names of 17 famous investigators ; Manson's and Ross's names are among them. Manson's greatest achievement was to elucidate with Ronald Ross that the malarial parasite in the blood is spread from one person to another by the bite of the Anapheles mosquito. ( Ross was in India – in the front line – investigating; Manson encouraged and guided Ross from London) In his writings Manson refers nostalgically to his 6 years in Takao and the people he met there. The hospital in Takao was continued by three more community doctors, in succession, one of them being David Manson. Patrick's younger brother Sadly he died of malaria after only 3 years. The communities in Takao, Amoy, and Foochow subscribed money to improve the hospital and named it David Manson Memorial Hospital.

Maxwell in Taiwan was invalided home in 1871. Two other medical Missionaries continued the Tainan Hospital's service to the end of the century, as also did Taiwan's first woman doctor. Dr. Ferguson, who for 9 years gave much needed help to women in their own homes.

Meanwhile in North Taiwan western (scientific) medicine was introduced in Tamsui, in 1872. Tamsui was a village and an Anchorage at the mouth of the river which leads up to Taipei.

Rev. George L. Mackay was sent out in 1872 by the Presbyterian Church of Canada to start mission work. He was not a qualified doctor but had received some medical training. He was a very determined, resolute and practical man with a tough constitution. He learnt the language and travelled widely among st the Chinese and the aboriginals. He was to some extent a polymath, interested in many scientific subjects, and studied zoology, botany, geography, climate and anthropology of Taiwan.



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