1st Edition

Test Tubes and Dragon Scales

By George P. Basil Copyright 2006
    330 Pages
    by Routledge

    330 Pages
    by Routledge

    First published in 2010. This is a fascinating account of life in China in the 1920's and 1930's, as seen through the eyes of a young American doctor based in the ancient Szechuan city of Chunking on the Yangtse, one of China's richest, most powerful and romantic ports. Fascinated by Chinese medicine and anxious to learn more about it, Basil agrees to supervise a Chinese hospital and is plunged into an alien and exotic world both medieval and modern, where the old China of coolies and rickshaws mix with the rising militarism that would soon overtake the country. As he learns more about traditional Chinese remedies, Basil is drawn into the turbulent politics of the period, treating Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and witnessing conflict between the Communists and the Central Government as he goes on his medical rounds, treating patients while comparing Chinese methods including feng shui with his own. Basil enters fully into the life of the city, traveling the river by sampan, dallying in markets, watching fortune tellers, entering into strange friendships and, through medicine, gaining intimate glimpses into the heart of the Chinese character, and into the complexities of their internal politics that would shortly erupt into war. He also makes insightful comparisons between the health of Chinese and western people. Vivid prose brings the city and its people to life, complimented by delightful line drawings.

    I. THE MAN WITH A PLOW. II. "EVEN THE GOOS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PILLS, POWDERS, AND PI ASTERS" (PROVERB). III. "TO BECOME A FAMOUS DOCTOR, A MAN NEEDS TO KNOW LITTLE" (PROVERB) IV. THE "BARBARIAN" IS CONFRONTED BY A CHINESE WALL. V. A WANDERING KITE WITH A LONG, LONG TAIL VI. SOLVING A CHINESE PUZZLE. VII. SMALL BROTHER LU. VIII. THE MILITARY THR.OWS A FEW ROCKS IX. A STUDY IN CONTRASTS. X. ENTER THE FENG-SHUI XI. "ONLY THE WEALTHY CAN AFFORD TO VISIT THE LAW COURTS" (PROVERB) XII. "AN OPIUM DEN IS A LAMP ON THE ROAD TO DEATH" (PROVERB) XIII. "GOOD REASON HE HAS TO BE SAO!" XIV. THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURE XV. THE VORTEX XVI. AITEMPTS TO SCALE THE DRAGON XVII. STARRING WITHOUT REHEARSAL XVIII. I PROMISE A SON XIX. TAPPING A MONKEY'S BRAINS XX. FAREWELL, CHUNGKING!

    Biography

    George P. Basil