J.Dudgeon & Early Chinese Medical Modernization

This paper studies the characteristics of western medical propagation in China in the 19th century and the early mode of Chinese medical modernization, based on British medical missionary Dr. J. Dudgeon's 38 years' medical mission activities and his life experience in China.The paper explores the impact of western medical progress and development upon Chinese medical modernization based on discussions on the spread of western medicine around the world, and the progress of medical mission and medical propagation.This author believes that Chinese medical modernization starts from late Qing Dynasty, which can be regarded as the early period of Chinese medical modernization, and Dr. Dudgeon is the major representing character in the above period of time.During the above time of western medical modernization time, medical missionaries took on the challenging task to spread western medicine in China. They brought into China the most advanced medical knowledge, aiming at establishing modern Chinese medical model and making Chinese medicine as part of world medical system.The paper does a detailed analysis on how western medicine was spread around China from the perspectives of modern medical model, body language, hygienic habit, health concept and etc. Previous researchers mostly focused on discussing Chinese people's attitude on western medicine. They neglected the cultural power during the course of medical spreading in China, the impact of traditional culture and modern civilization's power of rectification.This paper intends to study cultural spreading activities from the perspective of a medical missionary: how medical missionaries carried out their activities from the context of Chinese culture, what strategies and tactics they used, why they did in this way, whether their objectives were achieved or not, and how they coped with conflicts and obstacles in their activities.After working in China for 38 years, Dr. Dudgeon witnessed and participated in the whole course of Chinese medical modernization. As a doctor, he was of no difference from others. However, he was unique among medical missionaries if we looked at his views on medical mission and his comments on Chinese medical culture.This paper aims to provide an objective description on how the western medicine spread around China in the 19^th century based on studies on Dr. Dudgeon's personal experience, social network and missionary activities, and to provide a fair appraisal.