[sample translations]go jin sook, oliver r avison eng by LTI Korea Library

Sample Translations

Jin-Sook Go Oliver R. Avison E ng l i s h

Book Information

Oliver R. Avison (올리버에비슨) SAMTOH Publishing corp. / 2013 / 42 p. / ISBN 9788946416420 For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772

This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr

Oliver R. Avison Written by Go Jin-Sook, Illustrated by An Jae-Sun

To Korea, a Strange Land

During the six years in which Avison ran a hospital, he went about clad in formal dress and a silk hat treating people and riding a fancy carriage. He gained the highest honor and wealth possible for a doctor and was asked to lecture for five more years at the medical school where he taught. He had a happy marriage, and his children were growing quickly. It was during this peaceful time in his life that he came to meet Underwood. Underwood was an American missionary. He was doing missionary work in Korea when his health began to decline, and had returned home to the States for a little while. Now he gave lectures at different places. Avison invited Underwood to Canada to instill in his students an interest in foreign missions and served as his host. “Will you please come to Korea?” Underwood, while having dinner at Avison’s home, asked the question in a quiet voice. It was a suggestion out of the blue, but the Avisons weren’t too surprised. Did Avison, who lived in Toronto, the most thriving city in faraway Canada, know about Korea? Avison, of course, had known about Korea since his days in medical school. At the time, foreign missions were all the craze in the U.S. and Canada. Avison, who had organized a Christian young adult group at the University of Toronto Medical School, had even sponsored missionaries sent to Korea. While in college, he had pondered, ‘Should I graduate from medical school and start

a practice in the U.S. or Canada, where there’s a doctor for every 700 people, or open up a new path in a country without any knowledge in modern medical care?’ Hardy, a junior colleague of Avison’s, chose the path of a medical missionary early on and had gone to Korea. Before he left, Avison spent several days with Hardy and his family and had taken him to the train station in his carriage. Since then, Avison had been sending him a small donation every month. “There are too many people in Korea today without medical benefits. The royal hospital established for them is next to empty now with the recent passing of Doctor Heron, who was in charge,” Underwood said. The royal hospital spoken of by Underwood was Jejungwon, the first modern hospital built in Korea. In Canada, anyone could make a visit to the hospital. And every year, medical graduates went on to become doctors. But Korea had lost their only doctor at the only royal hospital. Underwood went on to calmly explain medical conditions in Korea. More than anything, stories about children who died young without receiving any health benefits pierced Avison’s heart. Such things happened in the West as well, of course, but things were gradually improving with advancements in medical care. “If we help, we can save Korean children in danger of dying,” Underwood pleaded. After Underwood left, it didn’t take long for Avison to make up his mind to go to Korea. It was the calling of a doctor to go willingly to where there were patients who wanted to be treated. Avison, however, did not want to be one of the doctors posted at the royal hospital. ‘If they’re in such desperate need of doctors, wouldn’t it be better to set up a medical school and cultivate professionals there rather than send a foreign doctor who doesn’t speak their language?’ he thought.

It was Avison’s aim to establish a medical school in Korea based on his experience as a professor. He also wanted to tell the people of Korea how to prevent diseases. Finally, Avison left his post as a renowned professor at a medical college and as a general practitioner and left for Korea to realize a new dream. In August 1893, Avison finally began his life in Hanseong, today’s Seoul. Within a year of Underwood’s suggestion, Avison’s life came to change completely.

*Horace G. Underwood (1859-1916) came to Korea in 1885 as a missionary of the North Presbyterian Mission. He taught physics and chemistry at Jejungwon, and opened a university division at Gyeongsin School in 1915 and developed it into Yeonhi College. During the time of enlightenment, Korea developed into a modern form of state, he left behind a great legacy in many areas, such as religion, politics, education, and culture. His Korean name was Won Du-u.

Avison Becomes a Court Physician

Soon after he arrived in Hanseong, a frantic call came for Avison. It was from Gojong, the emperor of Korea. “You must wear a dress coat to have an audience with the emperor. Do you have one with you?” Underwood asked, informing Avison of the emperor’s summons. Avison, of course, did not. When he packed his bags in Canada, he took only what was essential. He’d probably set aside a dress coat, thinking he wouldn’t need it. “I never imagined I’d have to wear a dress coat in Korea,” Avison said, dumbfounded. He had to get one immediately. “Since we’re in a hurry, why don’t you wear mine for now?”

Underwood offered him his own dress coat. But Underwood was shorter and chubbier than Avison, so his clothes wouldn’t fit. While they were thus speaking, Allen just waited. Allen, who had earned the emperor’s trust and founded Jejungwon, as well as having served as the court physician, could no longer be responsible for both. He was a secretary at the U.S. legation, so he could not give medical treatment to the Korean emperor, being a diplomat. So he had introduced Avison as the doctor who would treat the emperor. Allen, who had a wide network of acquaintances, went from house to house to procure pants, a coat, and a shirt that would fit Avison. Thus, Avison was finally able to put on the appropriate attire, but it was already past ten o’clock at night. Avison, who hurriedly went to see the emperor, smiled awkwardly, saying that he’d had an emergency to attend to. But Gojong, the emperor, seemed to be in too much in pain to care about such things. His face and head were terribly swollen and severely contorted. There were doctors of Oriental medicine who had treated the emperor, but they could not discern the cause of his disease, and no medicine was effective. The emperor, no longer able to bear it, had sent for Allen, and Allen had brought Avison. Avison felt nervous. If he cured the emperor of his ailment, he would gain the emperor’s trust as Allen had, but if he didn’t . . . Cold sweat ran down his back. “Come near,” the emperor made an effort to speak calmly. He had a dignified way of speaking. But his face was so flushed and swollen, to the point where he couldn’t even open his eyes; it was evident how much pain he was under. “Can he be cured?” Allen asked in a low whisper. His voice also trembled. “Let me take care of this,” Avison said, and walked forward with caution. Then out of nowhere, he addressed the attendant standing nearby. “Has His Majesty put on a new headpiece lately?”

Everyone’s eyes widened. “How in the world did you know?” the attendants asked. In their eyes, Avison seemed like a fortuneteller from the West. “I heard that the people of Korea use lacquer in their headpieces. But the lacquer can cause poisoning if not allowed to evaporate sufficiently. His Majesty is suffering from lacquer poisoning.” The people let out gasps of admiration. Avison immediately brought medication for lacquer poisoning and applied it to the emperor’s face and head. “Your Majesty will recover soon,” Avison said to the emperor. The emperor nodded in reply. The next day, Avison returned to the court and saw what he had done. Everyone in the court seemed to see him as a doctor with miraculous heaven-sent powers. The emperor, too, was satisfied with him. After his recovery, the emperor appointed Avison as a court doctor. For fifteen years, Avison stayed by the emperor’s side.

*Horace N. Allen (1858-1932) came to Korea in 1884 as a missionary of the North Presbyterian Mission, and also as the first Christian missionary. He served without pay as a doctor at the U.S. legation in Seoul. He treated Min Yeongik, who was injured during the Gapsin Coup (a coup that occurred through the effort of radical progressives such as Kim Ok Gyun and Pak Yeong Hyo, to drive out the Min government and establish a reformist government. It failed two days after the revolt, however, due to the counterattack of the moderate enlightenment party and the Qing army), and as a result became the emperor’s physician and director of Jejungwon. His Korean name is An Ryeon.

Jejungwon Is Full Again

On November 1, 1893, about two months after he came to Korea, Avison was placed in charge of Jejungwon. He had heard enough about the conditions there, but seeing it for himself, he was quite disappointed. “How is this possible? And they call this the royal hospital!” Jejungwon, established on a vast plot of land, consisted of a single one-story Koreanstyle house. It was divided into a doctor’s office, a treatment room, and a pharmacy. There was no waiting room; patients had to wait in the yard. ‘But what’s the matter? Why have I come to Korea?’ Avison asked himself. He would be working there from now on. He hadn’t come to Korea to work at a modern hospital, like the ones in Canada, equipped with the latest medical facilities. “Are you disappointed?” Underwood asked anxiously after taking him to Jejungwon. “The place is small and shabby, but think of what it must mean to those who are suffering,” Underwood said. Avison smiled. The disappointment didn’t end there. The medical equipment was old-fashioned, and there was almost no medication left. Avison opened the empty medicine cabinets one by one and heaved a sigh. The executive secretaries and the servants standing crowded in the yard stared vacantly as Avison went about inspecting the hospital. Avison opened a box he had brought with him to work. It was full of medicine he’d brought from Canada. It had been worth it to take the trouble to bring as much medicine as possible, while giving up all kinds of luxuries that he’d enjoyed in high society, including his fancy dress coats. The cabinets were soon filled up. The onlookers in the yard let out quiet exclamations. Avison felt proud.

‘That seems to be a good sign,’ he thought. But the feelings of excitement didn’t last long. Things at the hospital were slow for some reason. Less than fifteen patients visited the hospital each day. ‘I thought they were in desperate need of doctors here. What’s the matter?’ he wondered, and checked the medical records. When Allen had been in charge, more than forty patients had come each day. Then when Heron was in charge, nearly seventy people had come on some days. Up to that point, Jejungwon had consisted of several Korean-style houses with patients’ rooms, classrooms, and dormitories. But after Heron passed away due to dysentery, a dark shadow was cast over Jejungwon. Vinton took over after that, but he opened a medical office at his home and neglected the hospital. So Jejungwon had no doctor for nearly a year and a half. The patients began to leave one by one. When Avison took post at Jejungwon, a single building was sufficient to serve as the office. The other buildings were being used for other purposes. ‘How can we bring Jejungwon back to life?’ Avison wondered. He pondered deeply over what the people needed most. A good doctor? Avison, of course, was one of the best doctors in Korea. But that wasn’t enough to make the patients come to Jejungwon. Back then, there weren’t enough hospitals in Seoul for all those who were sick. Even so, they didn’t make their way to Jejungwon. “Why in the world don’t they come to Jejungwon?” Avison asked everyone he met. The answer was always the same—“It’s inconvenient.” It was true. When those who came to Jejungwon explained what was ailing them, Avison had to depend on an interpreter to understand. The executive secretary at Jejungwon

spoke English, but being of noble birth, he rarely interpreted with kindness for the lowly patients. Avison went to see Mr. Yi. Mr. Yi was the Korean teacher Avison had been introduced to upon his arrival in Korea. At first, Mr. Yi was reluctant to go out with Avison. He didn’t want people to see him going around with a foreigner. So he would go by narrow, roundabout routes where there were less people. Then one day, Mr. Lee began taking the main street. He had finally opened his heart to Avison, after seeing him go to great trouble for Jejungwon and for the people of Korea. They didn’t say anything about it to each other, but were friends from that day on. After several years, before Avison left for Canada for a short trip, Mr. Yi even took Avison’s hand while walking through the heart of Seoul. He was sad to part with Avison. Avison told Mr. Yi about what he wanted to do. “I need to understand what the patients say. Is there a good way?” “Of course,” Mr. Yi said without hesitation. From that day on, Mr. Yi taught Avison Korean words that could be used to describe illnesses. Avison, a student once again, spent his morning hours studying the Korean language, learning and memorizing the words. After several months passed in this way, Avison was able to treat patients without interpretation. Strangely, though, there were no patients at all on rainy days. “Why are there no patients today?” Avison asked, his head tilted to a side. The executive secretary answered matter-of-factly: “The people of Korea do not go out on rainy days, for their clothes would get wet. They don’t visit hospitals, either. The doctors before you didn’t even come to work on days like this.” Avison, thinking it shouldn’t be that way, posted a sign outside the hospital, saying,

“Those who need their bandages changed every day or have wounds that must be treated immediately, please come to the hospital regardless of the weather. The office will always remain open.” Patients suffering from pain because they couldn’t come to the hospital on rainy days began to come as if they’d just been waiting for the sign. Jejungwon was now full of patients, on both sunny days and rainy. Now the women in those days, of Confucian tradition, were reluctant to show themselves to male doctors, no matter how ill they were. Avison put women nurses in charge at Jejungwon for them. Then more women began to come to the hospital. Jejungwon was thriving again, and more workers were needed. The empty rooms were gradually turned into rooms for patients, and it was decided that operating rooms should be in place. In less than half a year, Jejungwon was once again bustling.

*John W. Heron (1856-1890) came to Korea in 1885 as a medical missionary of the North Presbyterian Mission. When Horace N. Allen went to the U.S., he was placed in charge of Jejungwon. He died of dysentery while giving medical services in 1890. He was laid to rest at the Yanghwajin Foreigners’ Cemetery in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu. His Korean name was Hye Ron.

*Charles C. Vinton (1856-1936), a medical missionary of the North Presbyterian Mission, became the director of Jejungwon after John W. Heron. His Korean name was Bin Don. Jejungwon Becomes a Private Hospital

Avison, having returned from a week-long house call in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, found himself facing a scene he just could not believe. There were Japanese doctors

in the building with operating rooms, which they had gone to great trouble to set up. The executive secretaries who had been in charge of managing Jejungwon were hesitant at first, but then spoke to him with a triumphant air, as if they had done something great. “Think about it. Would it be better to turn the remaining rooms in the hospital into operating rooms, or rent them out to Japanese doctors and make money that way?” one of them said. Another said, as if out of generosity, “Wouldn’t it be better to buy more medication with the money, than to take on difficult operations and have people blame us for them?” Avison listened silently. The secretaries let out sighs of relief. They thought that they Avison had been persuaded. At Jejungwon, there were government officials called executive secretaries. They were noblemen who had passed the state examination and lived at the hospital with not only their families but their servants as well. They were rude to the patients who came to the hospital, hurling abuses at them and even kicking them. The biggest problem was money. The emperor appropriated 3,000 won a year for the management of the hospital. But for the past six years, Avison had received no more than 200 won. The secretaries had withheld the money. The executive secretaries weren’t solely responsible for the problem. The North Presbyterian Mission in charge of running Jejungwon and the emperor, who was the de facto owner of the hospital, were responsible, too. Both had neglected the hospital. So the secretaries had run the hospital as they wished. Avison, who had brought Jejungwon back to life, felt a great sense of loss. ‘They’re ruining the only hospital they have at a time when they need more hospitals!’ Avison thought.

At this rate, there was no use for Avison to be at Jejungwon. Things couldn’t stay the way they were, not for Jejungwon, and not for those who came to the hospital. But none of the secretaries caught wind of the tempest brewing in Avison’s heart. The next day, Avison came to work like any other day. An ordinary day seemed to begin at the hospital. Avison called the representative secretary and said to him in a formidably calm voice: “I’m going to treat the patients today. But tonight, I’m going home with all the medicine and equipment I brought with me. That will be the end of my ties with Jejungwon.” The secretary turned pale. It would be a disaster if the court got word that Avison was refusing to treat patients any longer. Avison was the emperor’s physician. All the secretaries came running and pleaded with Avison. “We’ll send the Japanese doctors out immediately.” “We’ll return all the money, too.” “Please don’t report to the emperor!” Avison, however, was resolute. “I can’t trust you secretaries. I’m leaving Jejungwon, which you’ve been running as you please,” he said. That night, Avison took all his belongings and went home. The secretaries went to see him at home and asked him to reconsider, but it was no use. Avison immediately wrote Allen at the U.S. legation, explaining the whole story. Allen informed an official at the Korean court of what had happened. In the meantime, the secretaries appealed to Allen for mercy. “What would it take to make you return to Jejungwon?” Allen asked Avison. Allen, a perceptive man, knew that Avison wouldn’t have refused to treat patients without good reason. Avison told him what he wanted.

“Jejungwon is finished as a public hospital. We must return the money to the emperor, and the management cost must come from the mission. I’d like all management rights,” he said. The court, hearing of Avison’s request through Allen, was turned upside down. To turn the royal hospital, which the emperor had established out of his generosity for the people, into a private hospital! It would dishonor the emperor. Long negotiations went on for six months between Allen and court officials. In the end, Avison won. The emperor decided that it would be better to have the U.S. mission run Jejungwon than to turn it over to the Japanese, for the Japanese influence was growing with the Sino-Japanese War. On September 26, 1894, the rights of hospital management were turned over to the North Presbyterian Mission. With the money sent from the mission, Avison built additional rooms for patients as well as operating rooms. The mission also sent a woman doctor and a woman nurse. The hospital soon returned to stability.

The Birth of Jejungwon

In the past, Korea was ruled by an emperor, who was responsible for taking care of the sick. The Hyeminseo was established to treat the sick and the Hwalinseo to feed the hungry and prevent diseases. Both institutions, however, began to lose their functions as more and more people began to go to private doctors and pharmacies. After the port opened to foreign trade and new cultures came into the country, the problem grew even worse and the two institutions fell out of use. Emperor Gojong pondered what kind of a medical institution would fit the changing

era. Then the Gapsin coup took place in 1884, and Min Yeong-ik, the nephew of the queen, was stabbed and severely wounded. Min Yeong-ik, who nearly died, was saved by Allen, an American doctor. Emperor Gojong showed his admiration for Western medical practice, and Allen suggested that he establish a hospital. Acting on this suggestion, the emperor established a hospital for the people, free of charge. In April 1885, a notice announcing the birth of Gwanghyewon, the first Western hospital in Korea, was posted on the four main gates of Seoul and the Korean belfry. On April 26, not long after the establishment of Gwanghyewon, Gojong changed its name to Jejungwon, meaning â&#x20AC;&#x153;a house that saves people.â&#x20AC;? After that, Jejungwon served as a hospital healing sick people and a school for the propagation of Western medicine.

*The first Western hospital in Korea, built in 1885, in Jaedong. It later moved to Gurigae

The Three Directors of Jejungwon

A year after it opened, Jejungwon moved from Jae-dong, Jongno-gu to Gurigae (between the current Myeongdong Cathedral and Euljiro 2-ga), because it could not receive all the patients flocking in. In its first year, over ten thousand came for treatment. When Allen became a secretary at the U.S. legation, Heron was given charge of the hospital. Several years later, Heron died of dysentery, and Vinton was appointed as the new director. *Jejungwon in Gurigae in 1890 Horace N. Allen, who established Jejungwon John W. Heron, who took charge of Jejungwon after Allen Charles C. Vinton, who became the director after Heron

Chapter Three: Avison Subdues Cholera

Avison Persuades the Emperor

In the summer of 1895, people began to tremble in fear. “I hear cholera has spread in Manchuria.” “Really? That’s terrible. The Japanese army will be coming down soon . . .” People spoke with worry whenever they gathered together. The Sino-Japanese War, which broke out in 1894 between the Qing Dynasty of China and Japan, ended in April of the following year with Japan’s victory. However, cholera had spread widely among the Japanese soldiers who were in Manchuria. Everyone was terrified because the Japanese soldiers would bring cholera with them. Some even made ready to flee. It was the reformation government, launched a year before, that was the most surprised. When the Min family faction withdrew in 1894 due to Japanese power, reform was implemented by the enlightenment party. The reformation government, with Kim Hong-jip as its prime minister, abolished the caste system and changed the old systems of Korea to fit a new era. Jeoneuigam, a government office that had been in charge of medical treatment, was abolished, and a medical department was put in place. If jeoneuigam was an institution for the treatment of the royal court and the noblemen, the medical department was for the health and hygiene of the people. The medical department focused all their efforts on the prevention of cholera. Failure to do so would bring criticism upon the government. It was decided that prevention efforts

would be concentrated on the ports and major cities where foreigners came and went, and to discuss the matter, Yu Giljun, the vice chamberlain, came to Jejungwon. “We’re trying to prevent cholera for the first time in Korea. But we don’t know where to start,” Yu Giljun said, his face full of anxiety. Avison put him at ease. “There’s no known treatment for cholera, but there are ways to prevent it. In large cities of the West, we propagate ways to prevent epidemics,” Avison explained calmly. Yu Giljun was greatly encouraged by Avison’s words. It seemed that Avison could be trusted to be in charge of the prevention efforts. “Will you take charge of the prevention committee?” Yu Giljun asked. “Yes, I’ll do my best to help,” Avison replied without hesitation. At the time, there were many Western and Japanese doctors in Hanseong, but Avison was appointed as the head of the prevention efforts. Avison closed down Jejungwon for a while, and set up an isolation hospital (a hospital for the quarantine of those suffering from contagious diseases). He also hired as many people as possible to work at the medical department, including many Korean assistants who would be able to attend to the sick and promote the prevention efforts. He also had volunteer workers in place. Slowly but surely, cholera was making its way towards Hanseong. When the first case of cholera broke out in Hanseong, Avison received a message from the emperor, telling him to come to the court immediately. When the emperor saw Avison, he asked him with a worried look on his face, “Won’t you stay here at the court and protect the royal family?” Avison replied, courteously but firmly, “I am much obliged, Your Majesty, but I cannot.”

“Why is it that you refuse?” “A few days ago, I met with a government official and promised that I would do all I can to prevent the disease from spreading. I can’t back down on my promise.” Avison bowed and asked for the king’s permission. The king, however, wouldn’t step back. “This is a request from the emperor of this nation,” he said. Avison knew well that Korea was a sovereign nation. The emperor had the right to be treated and protected by the best doctor. What was more, Avison was the court physician. Avison bowed his head again and spoke. “Your Majesty, I, too, desire with all my heart to be here to care for the royal family. But I must also take care of the many patients outside the court. Isn’t Your Majesty responsible for caring for the people? I will keep my ears open to the court, and come as soon as Your Majesty calls.” The emperor fell into thought. The court physician was saying that he wouldn’t stay by the emperor’s side! The emperor, however, decided that Avison was right. The best doctor should be shared by the king and the people. Above all, Avison’s determination to care for the people was something that could not be shaken. Fortunately, cholera did not strike the court, and the Emperor continued to put his trust in Avison.

*The Min government was the power formed around Empress Min, or Myeongseong, after the regent Heungseong Daewongun, who firmly executed a policy of seclusion for Korea, withdrew from power and the rule of his son, Emperor Gojong began. The Min government, which opened up ports and actively accepted foreign culture, was completely the opposite to

the policy of Heungseong Daewongun.

*The Gabo Reform (Gabogyeongjang) was a reform movement that was carried out for 19 months over three periods of time between 1894 and 1896. Through the reforms, traditional culture and institutions became modernized in all areas including politics, economy, and society. The caste system was abolished and the slave trade was prohibited. The third reform was given the separate name of “Eulmi Reform.”

*Yu Giljun (1856-1914) was an enlightenment thinker and politician. He studied in Japan and the U.S. as the first student studying abroad at government expense. Upon returning to Korea, he wrote Seoyu gyeonmun (Observations of Travels in the West). He devoted himself to the education and enlightenment of the people, but went into seclusion in 1910, feeling ashamed at the loss of nation.

The Miracle at the Mohwagwan Shelter

The cholera epidemic grew worse day by day. If someone fell ill in the morning, he leave through a gate called Sugumun as a corpse in the evening. Back then, patients suffering from contagious diseases were made to live in mud huts in the outskirts of the city. Their families or friends would leave food and medicine near the huts, and the patients would come and take them. Avison, who saw what was going on soon after he came to Korea, spoke to Underwood: “Isn’t there a way to take care of those poor people?” “Well, my friends in the U.S. have sent me some money, so I’ve been thinking about

how I can use the money to help them,” Underwood said. The two built a shelter there right away and took care of the patients. The place was called the Mohwagwan Shelter, located near Mohwagwan, the site where envoys had been received, outside the West Gate. Avison, who was now the chairman of the disease prevention committee, received cholera patients at the shelter. The shelter soon became packed. The patients were utterly exhausted, endlessly throwing up vomit that looked like white gruel and suffering from diarrhea. Those working at the medical department busily went about taking care of them. “Isn’t there a way to save them?” Underwood asked Avison, having seen too many people die. “Unfortunately, there’s no medicine that can cure cholera patients. Occasionally, there are some who recover after suffering severely for a day or two. All we can do is help them recover . . .” Avison said, his face hardened. “Isn’t there some way, though?” Underwood asked. He wanted desperately for Avison to say yes. But for the time being, there was nothing more they could do. Cholera patients died due to dehydration. If they could be kept from dehydrating, their lives could be saved. At that moment, one of the patients took a hold of someone from the medical department, looking greatly pained, and began to plead with him. “I heard that doctors from the West could save people with an injection. Please give me an injection.” “We wish we could, but there’s no medicine. I’m sorry,” the man from the medical department said. He kept bowing in apology. Right then, something flashed through Avison’s mind. If the patients couldn’t drink, water could be injected directly into the blood. ‘Why didn’t I think of that? Water could be supplied through injection.’

Immediately, Avison injected water into the patient’s skin. Contrary to his hopes, however, nothing happened. “Oh . . .” those who had been watching let out a deep sigh. Was there really nothing they could do but leave it to providence? After some thought, Avison came up with another idea. Perhaps all his efforts in leaving behind his post as a professor and studying medicine had been for this day. Water can’t be absorbed, but saline can, because it’s similar to body fluids. At once, Avison prepared saline, and carefully injected it into the patient’s skin. The people in the shelter watched, holding their breath. Something amazing began to happen. Several patients, who had been injected with saline, began to recover. Everyone was deeply moved at the miracle created by Avison, a cool-headed scientist and a dedicated doctor. Years later, a new way of treating cholera was developed: the method of injecting saline intravenously. If Avison had attempted to inject saline not into the skin but into the vein, the damage from cholera in Korea could have ended there. Of the 173 patients at the Mohwagwan Shelter, 61 people died, one third of the total number. Of the 135 patients at the Hadogam Isolation Hospital near Dongdaemun, founded by the government, 102 people died. The facilities at the Mohwagwan Shelter were better than those at the isolation hospital, which of course must have helped the patients. But it was surely through Avison’s miracle that so many more people survived.

Successful Prevention Activity

When the cholera epidemic was at its height, a drawing of a cat was on every gate on

the streets of Hanseong. “Why is it that every house has a cat drawing on it?” Avison asked his assistant, unable to suppress his curiosity. “People believe that cat drawings keep the cholera bacteria out,” the assistant answered. “Oh! Why would they think such a thing?” “They think the cholera bacteria looks like mice, that these mice enter the body through the feet and eat away at the body as they make their way up to the belly. They must’ve reached the conclusion after seeing the muscle convulsions.” “I see.” Avison broke out into a grin, thinking of his experience with scarlet fever when he was in elementary school. Several of his classmates had died of scarlet fever. At the time, Avison, like other kids, carried around transparent camphor, which looked like beeswax. But in the end, Avison, too, fell ill with scarlet fever. His parents massaged him using an onion, and Avison soon recovered. Everyone said it was because of the camphor. There was a time when Avison himself thought that he wouldn’t have caught scarlet fever if he’d had more camphor. It was in the days before the theory of germs. Such nonsense existed in both the East and the West. Even many of the Western missionaries who were in Korea thought that epidemics were the work of evil spirits. People who thought such things had never seen the process in which bacteria caused diseases and were eradicated. Avison gathered together the members of the prevention committee and explained germ theory to them every chance he could.

“It’s true that not much can be done about the cholera bacteria that has already spread. But cholera bacteria is transmitted through food only, and can be killed if you cook the food sufficiently. In other words, you won’t come down with cholera as long as you take preventative measures,” Avison explained. The people at the convalescent hospital trusted Avison and did as he said, and none of them came down with cholera. Encouraged by such results, Avison made some pamphlets and printed materials with the help of the committee.

Cholera does not occur through evil spirits. It occurs through tiny organisms called bacteria. When living bacteria enter the body, they rapidly increase in number and cause diseases. If you do not wish to come down with cholera, you must keep the bacteria out. You must boil your food, and eat the food before it becomes infected again. Rice tea must also be freshly boiled before drinking. Cold water must be boiled and placed in clean bottles. Make sure to wash your hands and the inside of your mouth before a meal, for there’s always the risk of becoming infected. If you follow these guidelines, you will not come down with cholera.

The words were written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet. “You must write it in Hangul. The pamphlet must be in Hangul that so anyone may be able to read and understand,” Avison strongly urged. He had seen the power of Hangul in Korea and recognized how wonderful it was. He believed that the people of Korea were able to accept and develop new ideas faster than others because of Hangul. There were only a thousand copies printed of the pamphlet written in Chinese

characters, but 50,000 copies of the one written in Hangeul. Avison, however, was not satisfied. He had people put up awareness posters that had both paintings and Hangul on them. This led to unexpected results. Watching the staff at the isolation hospital and the shelter put up the posters, people could not believe that they were fine and not infected even though they had been with cholera patients for so long. “How did you survive the cholera hell?” the staff was asked whenever they put up the posters. Each time, they answered, “We just did as the poster says.” “Really? That’s all you have to do to be safe from cholera?” “Of course! I’m a living witness to that.” More and more, people began to believe in the power of prevention. At last, with the coming of autumn breeze, the cholera epidemic began to subside. It was estimated that about 10,000 people died due to cholera that year. The number was very small compared to the number of deaths in 1821 when cholera broke out for the first time in Korea, and to that of 1859, when the number reached 400,000. Immunity had a part in it, but the decrease in the number of deaths was the result of the government’s prevention efforts, including the establishment of the medical department. More people would have died of cholera for sure, if not for the outstanding leadership of Avison, who headed the prevention committee. Avison was not only a doctor who took care of his patients one by one, but one who saved many Koreans from the epidemic. Avison’s reputation spread throughout Korea. Within just two years of coming to Korea, Avison became one of the most influential doctors in the country.

*Camphor is a colorless, semi-transparent crystal that is volatile and has a directional nature.

It is obtained through the distillation and cooling of the juice from the leaves, stem, roots, and such of a camphor tree.

* Germ Theory is a medical theory that states that microorganisms and other organisms that can be seen only through a microscope enter our bodies and cause diseases. In 1865, Pasteur of France discovered that fermentation occurs due to the existence of a certain organism. And in 1876, Koch, a doctor from a German village, presented clear evidence that microorganisms are the cause of diseases. Since then, Eberth discovered the typhoid bacillus, Hansen the leprosy bacillus, Klebs the diphtheria bacillus. Then Escherich reported the colon bacillus to academic circles, Yersin and Kitasato Shibasaburo the pest bacillus, and Shiga Giyoshi the dysentery bacillus. All of these pathogenic organisms were captured by a microscope before the 20th century.

The New Life of Pak the Butcher

The first patient Avison met upon coming to Hanseong from Canada was Pak, a butcher—an occupation considered to be the lowest in Korea’s social stratum. He went around cowering, without wearing a hat or tying his hair in a topknot like other men, and went about only where no one else was around. When Pak came down with typhoid fever, Moore, a pastor, asked Avison to make a house call. When Avison went to see Pak, it was early autumn and still warm. Pak’s room was warm, too, with the floor heated up. He was lying on soft bedding spread out on the floor. The house was small but not shabby, and he seemed fairly well off. “You can get better. I’ll help you recover,” Avison said.

Avison had the patient lie in the most comfortable position and sat down on the floor. It was difficult for a foreigner to sit cross-legged on the floor, but Avison did not mind. Pak was moved to tears, feeling respected for the first time in his life. Avison treated Pak with great care. Fortunately, Pak soon recovered. “Thank you for taking such good care of me,” Pak said, with tears in his eyes. “Please don’t mention it. The reason why I came to Korea is to assist those who need my help,” Avison said in a gentle voice. “But I’m a butcher—the lowliest of the low. How can you be so kind to someone like me?” “To a doctor, class doesn’t exist. There are only those who are sick, and those who aren’t. All people are equal. In my country, too, there was a division of classes in the past, but today, no one is considered low. Soon, Korea will be the same.” “Truly? There’s going to be a world where even a butcher like me isn’t discriminated against?” “That’s right.” Pak trembled with joy as they talked. For centuries, butchers were considered the lowest class of people in Korea. It felt like an unchanging truth, like spring giving way to summer, and night giving way to day. What Avison said about a changing world and people being equal penetrated deep into Pak’s heart. After that, Pak began to change. He came up with a new name for himself, a name in Chinese letters, which butchers weren’t allowed to have. His new name was Pak Seongchun. Seongchun meant “becoming a new person in a new spring.” Pak Seongchun fought ceaselessly for the rights of butchers. After years of discrimination, the first patient Avison met in Korea was not only healed in body but in mind

as well. And the two became friends. Discrimination against butchers, however, remained even after the Gabo Reform of 1894, through which discrimination against all others ceased. Avison was very saddened by that. In October 1895, when the anti-epidemic measures were put to an end, Avison wrote 25

a letter to Yu Giljun. Dear Sir, It seems unnecessary to note the great difficulties butchers must go through in their life in Korea. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re valuable members of the society, and are just as intelligent as other people. They, however, are not allowed to follow the honorable tradition of tying their hair in a knot or wearing a hat. It is our wish that such reality be corrected, in a day and age in which many who are noble-minded and prize freedom have been appointed to important positions in the government. From your faithful servant

Soon afterwards, Yu Giljun sent an astonishing reply. He accepted Avisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request. He could not refuse. Several months later, in February 1896, the Korean government announced a new policy on butchers. From now on, butchers will be treated as people. They can tie their hair in a knot and wear a hat, according to the general custom of the people of Korea.

It was early spring in 1896. A man, his face bright and his gait confident, was walking towards Avison. The man

had his hair tied in a knot and was wearing a hat and he had perfect posture. It was Pak Seongchun. Avison was happier than ever to see him. “You look wonderful,” he said to Pak. Avison took Pak’s hand and wouldn’t let go. “It’s all because of your help, Doctor,” Pak said, his eyes welling up. From then on, Pak led social movements for the rights of the marginalized, including butchers. He gave speeches at the People’s Assembly that moved everyone deeply. He also became a successful banker. Pak Seongchun had a son. After his son got married, Pak made a request to Avison. “Please take this boy to the hospital and make him a man,” Pak said. Through his father’s request, the boy became a student assistant at Jejungwon. The boy’s name was Pak Seoyang.

*Samuel F. Moore (1860-1906) came to Korea as a missionary of the North Presbyterian Mission and did missionary work among the butchers in Korea. He established many churches through missionary work in the outskirts of Seoul.

*Pak Seongchun was the first butcher in Korea to be baptized by the missionary Samuel F. Moore. He was baptized on April 1895, and from that time on was called “Seongchun,” a Chinese name, which he had never had before.

*The People’s Assembly was a people’s rally held in 1898 at the Jongno Intersection in Seoul by the Independence Association to resist the violation of rights by the state and foreign powers. It led in nationalist and democratic movements asserting the exclusion of foreign power, and the freedom of press and assembly.

The Origin of Cholera

Cholera first broke out in the Indus River basin in India. With bustling interactions among nations, however, it began to quickly spread. By 1817, it had spread throughout the entire world. Cholera, which originated in the Bengal region, spread throughout mainland India and then out to the island of Sri Lanka in December 1818, and then to Europe the year after. It continued to spread eastward to Myanmar and Indochina, and broke into the Malacca Peninsula in May 1819. In 1820, it had spread to the South Sea Islands, such as Java, and then to Canton, China. The epidemic raged across Korea in the summer of 1832, in the days of Emperor Sunjo, when it made its way via the Yalu River.

The Medical Department and the Prevention Committee

Jeoneuigam, the institution established for medical administration and education, failed to fulfill its role. A lack of funds and the corruption of officials made it difficult to keep it running, and the Korean government did away with it during the Gabo Reform, instead establishing a medical department in Naemuamun, a central administrative agency in June 1894. They felt that a reduction in the mortality rate, as well as an increase in the population, were necessary to make the nation rich and powerful. But it was difficult to immediately carry out such things as the prevention of infectious diseases, sterilization, quarantine, vaccination (for smallpox), and maintenance of water and sewage. These things had to do

with old superstitions of Korea, and people would not comply easily. The first problem that arose after the medical department was established was the cholera that broke out in 1895. The disease, which had spread out among the Japanese soldiers who fought in Manchuria during the Sino-Japanese War, had spread to Korea. Without medical personnel prepared to deal with the disease, the Korean government had a difficult time preventing it from spreading. Thus, medical missionaries and Japanese doctors working at the different ports in Korea were brought together to set up a prevention committee in 1895, and Oliver R. Avison, the director of Jejungwon at the time, was appointed as the head of the committee. The committee was devoted to preventing the spread of cholera, building convalescent hospitals in Seoul as well as in the ports in Korea, and setting up quarantine stations on traffic routes through which trade was carried out with foreign countries. Before the establishment of the prevention committee, all that was done to prevent epidemics was to build mud huts and quarantine the patients, dispense medicine and some food to patients for their survival, and perform exorcisms by shamans. But now, with the medical department and the prevention committee in place, regulations regarding disease prevention were established, and systematic prevention measures were taken. Medical welfare was on its way to modernization.

In Korea in the past, it was believed that cholera could be prevented by posting cat drawings on the gate. Chapter Four: Avison Establishes Severance Hospital

Return to Medical Education

Even after the anti-epidemic measures were completed, Avison felt much regret. Many had fallen victim to cholera, even though it was not a disease that was untreatable. One day in 1895, Avison was chatting with missionaries. He said, “If there had been well-trained doctors working in Korea, a lot more people could have been saved. It’s time to cultivate Korean doctors.” Everyone was astounded. “Cultivate Korean doctors? That’s impossible.” At the time, Westerners were of the biased opinion that Asians were intellectually inferior. Avison had heard that countless times. Avison, however, was of a different opinion. Coming to Hanseong and hearing the history of Korea, Avison was greatly surprised. Woodblock printing had been invented early on in Korea and metal type had also been invented and used in Korea before it was in the West. And then there was the Turtle Ship, the first ironclad battleship built in the 16th century. Korea was a country with astonishing scientific and technical skills. “Why do you say that the people of a country like this can’t become doctors?” “That was all in the past. How can you turn people who don’t even know basic math or science into doctors?” The others were strongly of the same opinion, too. In most of the hospitals where Western doctors worked, Korean students served as assistants. At first, they ran errands for the doctors or carried out simple nursing tasks, but now, they were in charge of most of the tasks. They wrote prescriptions, washed wounds, helped doctors during surgery, and treated emergency patients when doctors were out. No hospital could be run without the help of student assistants. The assistants, however, were not doctors; nor had they been trained to be doctors. They were merely assistants. The doctors taught the assistants only enough medical

knowledge to help them. Avison wasn’t a doctor from the beginning, either. When he was young, no one had ever said to him, “You’re going to be a doctor someday!” He showed through example that anyone could be a doctor with the will and opportunity to be trained as one. Avison wanted to give the people of Korea that opportunity. “We weren’t doctors from the beginning, were we? I think the people of Korea can become great doctors if given the opportunity,” he said. “Your intentions are good, but they can’t be realized right away. It’ll take at least a few decades. It’s too soon right now.” “That’s right, Doctor Avison. You’re being too naïve. We, as medical missionaries, just need to treat the people of Korea and do missionary work. If we fail in our efforts to establish a medical school, it can bring criticism, or even contempt, from the Korean people.” Everyone clucked their tongue and shook their head. Avison, however, was not about to give up. He had come to this strange land, giving up his comfortable life in Canada and putting his own children at risk, to establish a medical school there. He made up his mind to fulfill that purpose when he was put in charge of Jejungwon by the Korean government. As long as the Korean government interfered, the Jejungwon medical school was nothing but a tool to cultivate government officials. No matter how many years it took, and no matter what the cost, Avison wanted to cultivate doctors who were thoroughly trained and educated. In order to study medicine, however, one did have to be educated in the basics. Thinking that the children of noble families would be thus educated, he decided to choose students from among them. He had a feeling of gloomy foreboding, however, as the interviews began.

“What do doctors do?” A young man, sitting somewhat arrogantly, asked Avison, looking him straight in the eye. Avison could immediately see that he was from a noble family, who had probably been educated in Chinese classics all his life. “Doctors treat patients who come to the hospital, suffering from different diseases.” The young man grimaced at Avison’s words. “I can’t take such work upon myself,” he said. The young nobleman gave up right away and returned home. “Well, that’s too bad,” Avison said to himself, and met another candidate for an interview. This young man had long nails. “Why have you grown your nails so long?” Avison asked. “It’s a sign that we never do any lowly work,” the young man said with great pride. Avison was at a loss for words. What was more, the young men of noble families had received no modern education in particular, so like anyone else, they would have to be taught math and science, a necessary foundation for medical studies. “We’d be better off selecting people who are committed to studying medicine, regardless of class,” Avison decided, and sent all the young noblemen home. Several years passed, and Pak Seoyang entered Jejungwon. Avison gave him all kinds of odd jobs to do. Pak Seoyang was responsible for cleaning the hospital rooms, as well as keeping things neat and tidy. None of the other student assistants who were training to be doctors were responsible for such tasks. Pak Seoyang, however, did everything he was told to do without complaint. “Why do you have him do things that servants should do?” people who came to Jejungwon asked occasionally, feeling bad for the boy who was treated so severely. Each time, Avison smile and said, “I’m trying to see how big a man he is.”

Butchers could now tie their hair in a knot and wear a hat, but social prejudice remained. Avison felt that Pak Seoyang needed more polishing up in order to be a doctor. Avison believed that the more devoted you were, the better doctor you could become.

The Publication of a Korean Medical Textbook 32 In 1895, when he first gathered together medical student candidates, Avison thought that all he had to do was teach them with enthusiasm. He had studied and taught in Canada, so he didn’t think it would be a difficult thing to do. At the beginning of the first class, both Avison and the students were full of hope and expectation. “Today, we’re beginning the study of anatomy. Anatomy is the basic of Western medicine. By studying anatomy, we’ll be able to treat diseases, picturing the inside of the body as though it were right before our eyes.” Pointing to a model of a human body, Avison explained, “This is the skull. It consists of many bones. For instance, this butterfly shaped bone is called the sphenoid bone.” The students sat there with blank expressions on their faces. “This is the palatine bone,” he said again. Still no reaction. Each time the students heard the English terms, they grew more and more pale. It was the same during chemistry class. “There are different measures of concentration: weight percent, molarity, normality, and so on.” They remained silent. The students spoke only enough English to barely communicate with Avison. For

them, the medical terms and scientific terms were too difficult. Never having heard them before, they had a hard time understanding the subject, no matter how Avison explained it. ‘Oh, no!’ Realizing only too late what was wrong, Avison felt his legs weaken. The anatomy textbook and basic science textbook, both in English, did not help the students progress at all. “This isn’t going to work. We need to translate all the textbooks into Korean.” Avison called in a student who had a good knowledge of Chinese characters. He explained Gray’s Anatomy, using body language when necessary. Gray’s Anatomy was the best anatomy textbook at the time. The student, after listening to Avison, found the Chinese words that corresponded best to the English terms, and wrote them out in Hangeul. After four years of tremendous effort, a Korean anatomy textbook was completed at last. “The time has come!” Avison, clutching the manuscript to his chest, felt a tremendous excitement. With both students and teachers, and now with a textbook, the medical school of his dreams could finally open. The Korean textbook was the magic key to the door of a Korean medical school, which everyone had said was impossible. It was around that time, however, that Avison and his wife began to rapidly decline in health. In the end, Avison left the manuscript with his assistant, and returned to Canada in March 1899 on a sabbatical. The next year, in October 1900, Avison returned to Jejungwon, upon recovery of his health, to find that the assistant with whom he had entrusted the manuscript had passed away. The manuscript was nowhere to be found, either. “Is it true? The manuscript is gone, too?” “Yes. It seems that his family burned it along with other articles of his.”

Avison felt hopeless. He couldn’t just wait until another textbook was written. On the other hand, he couldn’t teach without a textbook. Avison decided that he would first open up the Jejungwon medical school, and write another anatomy textbook in Korean as soon as possible. Just as he’d expected, teaching without a textbook was very difficult. Students quit, unable to endure, and only two remained at one point. ‘But what can we do? Who can translate?’ Avison wondered. Avison, who was always so calm, paced around the room, feeling frustrated. At that moment, Avison noticed one of the assistants. It was Kim Pilsun, an interpreting assistant and English teacher. Kim Pilsun, who had learned Chinese in his childhood, had caught the attention of Underwood and had been taken into his home. He graduated from Paejae School, a Methodist school, and entered Jejungwon, being recognized for his outstanding English proficiency “That’s right. Kim Pilsun is good at both Chinese and English, so he’s the one to translate the textbook!” Avison showed Kim Pilsun a copy of Gray’s Anatomy. “Will you try your hand at translating this book?” Kim Pilsun was flustered at the sudden proposal. “I don’t have what it takes,” he said. Avison said firmly, “No, you can do it. No, you must do it.” “Why is that?” “This textbook will be translated into Korean. And the people of Korea will study it. Korean textbooks will help Korea make medical progress on its own.” Listening to Avison, Kim Pilsun came to feel that the work had to be done by a Korean.

“If you think someone like me can do it, I’ll give it everything I have,” he said. “I think you’re the best man in Korea for the job,” Avison said. What Avison said was true. Kim Pilsun, who was proficient in both Chinese and English, began to translate with great speed. He not only translated the anatomy textbook, but chemistry and surgery materials for classes as well, when Avison made the request. When the materials were translated into Korean, Avison could teach with much greater ease, and the classes began to run smoothly. In 1906, after great toil, an anatomy textbook, the most fundamental of basics for medical education, was completed in Korean for easy reading and understanding. *Anatomy, translated by Kim Pilsun, a medical student of Korea, and copy edited by Avison, a doctor of Canada, translated by Jejungwon of the capital of Korea in the year of 1906. It was like a ray of light for the medical students of Korea. ‘The power that ushered in medical classes, which otherwise would have taken decades’ That was the power of the Korean textbooks. It was another miracle for Avison, who understood that language was the greatest tool through which people could receive all that civilization offered. A government medical school, established around the same time, published another textbook, but it was written mostly in Chinese characters. Gradually it grew out of use, and was then forever forgotten. The Jejungwon medical school continued to publish Korean textbooks. With Hong Seokhu and Hong Jong-eun, graduates of a government medical school, entering the Jejungwon medical school in 1906 and participating in translation efforts, the publication endeavors grew even more active.

Around the end of 1910, nearly all textbooks were published in the Korean language.

*Kim Pilsun was so competent that Oliver R. Avison made him his successor *Anatomy 1 (1909) *Chemistry Textbook—Organic Matter (1909) *Remedy for Skin Diseases (1909) *Introduction to Surgery (1910)

Rabies Vaccine

One day in 1904 when spring was around the corner, Avison was startled to hear his wife’s panicked voice. “The children have been bitten by a dog!” Instantly, Avison was overcome by a feeling of foreboding. With his wife ahead of him, he rushed to find the dog. According to his wife, the dog, which had been playing with the children as usual, suddenly began to snarl. The children were surprised at first, but soon they tried to hug and comfort the dog. That’s when it bit the children’s hands and fled, surprised by its own action. It was in the basement that Avison found the dog. He tried to calm it down, but the dog darted out like lightning and ran to the main street. Seeing the dog’s bloodshot eyes, Avison got goose bumps. ‘Rabies!’ he thought. Avison’s hunch was right. The dog, raging furiously, died in the end but it had come down with rabies for sure. It was highly possible that the children who had been bitten by it

were infected as well. Avison immediately set out to obtain medicine for the rabies virus, but it was nowhere to be found in Korea. Urgently, Avison went to see Hayashi, the Japanese Minister. Hayashi told him that he could find the medicine at the Nagasaki Medical School Hospital in Japan. Hope, however, soon turned to despair. With the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, all ships going back and forth between Korea and Japan were tied to port. There was no way to take the children to Japan for vaccination. Once again, Avison made a visit to the Japanese legation. With Hayashi’s help, he managed to get on an army transport to Nagasaki. As soon as he arrived in Nagasaki, Avison ran to the hospital. Avison didn’t go to Japan just as the father of his children. He had the responsibility as a doctor in the land of Korea, a potential harvest for rabies to lay waste. With the permission of Japanese doctors, Avison watched the entire treatment process. And he asked questions whenever he wanted to know something. Finally, when Avison had learned how to treat the disease, Avison wanted to return to Korea with the rabies vaccination. He wanted to provide vaccinations at Jejungwon. He received permission from Japan to do so. “All right. We’ll provide you with as much vaccine as you want.” “Thank you. But I have a better idea.” “What do you mean?” “Taking the vaccine to Korea would require a great deal of time and cost. It would be much more beneficial for me to learn how to extract the virus and produce the vaccine myself.” But they couldn’t give out the information to just anyone.

One of the Japanese doctors spoke briefly with the other doctors, and said cautiously, “Please give us one more day to think about it.” The next day, the Japanese doctors said that they would tell Avison how to produce the vaccine. They had concluded that it couldn’t hurt to win Avison’s favor. He was the most influential doctor in Korea, as well as the emperor’s physician. As a result, Avison was able to return to Hanseong after learning how to extract the rabies virus and produce the vaccine. His children, of course, recovered fully after continued vaccinations. Based on the knowledge he’d gained in Japan, Avison wanted to establish a vaccination department at the hospital. But the thought of the time and cost it would require kept him from taking action. Then something amazing happened. A naval commander from Italy who had been staying in Hanseong came to Jejungwon and gave a donation. “I heard that you were trying to establish a rabies vaccination department at this hospital. I’d be happy to help,” he said. The money had been a reward from the emperor for helping with suppressing a fire at the court. At the time, the Italian navy was in Hanseong to protect its own people during the Russo-Japanese War. And when a fire broke out at the court, which was near their barracks, they helped put it out. The commander tried to decline the favor in light of Italian military regulations, but the emperor would not withdraw his favor. Having no choice, the commander accepted the money, and decided to use it for something he was concerned with in an effort to comply with military rules. With the establishment of a vaccination department, Avison immediately began to prepare for rabies vaccine production. A vaccine is not a medicine for killing viruses. It’s something that helps the human

body develop immunity to viruses. The human body is made so that it will produce antibodies that immediately counter the virus that enters it. When the virus is too strong, however, the body is unable to deal with it. So a weak virus is produced in advance and injected into the body to create resistance. In this way, the body learns how to produce antibodies, and can fight a stronger version of the virus at a later time. A vaccine can be seen as a weak virus. This vaccine is produced by injecting the virus into a live animal. As heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d learned in Japan, Avison produced the rabies virus by using a rabbit. Avison continued to concern himself with the vaccination and management of rabies and other contagious diseases, such as smallpox and tuberculosis. It was at Severance Hospital, where Avison served as director, that the first tuberculosis ward in Korea was created.

From Jejungwon to Severance Hospital

The year of 1904 was a very meaningful year for Avison. The first modern hospital in Korea with the state-of-the-art facilities was established in the place of the old Korean-style building that belonged to the government. How did it happen? It all began with the sabbatical Avison took in 1899, when his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health and his own health had declined and they had returned to Canada. After returning to Canada, Avison gradually began to recover. When his health was restored, Avison decided to use his time there to make preparations for the expansion and relocation of Jejungwon. Thinking that they would need a blueprint of a hospital in order to build a modern hospital, Avison went to see Gordon, a friend who was an architect.

“How can I draw up a blueprint when there’s no money or budget for it?” Gordon asked. He was dumbfounded at Avison’s request to draw up a blueprint based solely on an idea. It was only natural that Gordon responded in this way. Avison, however, replied in all seriousness, “I need a blueprint first to see how much money I’ll need, don’t I?” Gordon considered Avison’s words, and came to agree. “All right. I’ll make you a blueprint. How many patients would this hospital be able to accommodate?” he asked. “About forty,” Avison replied. Gordon said that he would be the first contributor, and drew up a blueprint free of charge. He also informed Avison that he would need about ten thousand dollars to build a hospital that size. “See, we’re already on our way, aren’t we?” Avison said happily. Avison soon came to meet his second contributor. She was a young married woman whom he had met as a doctor in Canada. She was a worker who wasn’t very well off, but she willingly donated five dollars, asking him to put it to good use. Avison was convinced of success. In the spring of 1900, Avison gave a fervent speech at a world mission conference held at Carnegie Hall on the need for a modern hospital in Korea. After his speech, Avison met an amazing contributor. His name was Severance. Severance told Avison that he would donate the ten thousand dollars necessary for building the hospital. “I’ve been praying that I may be able to build a hospital somewhere. After hearing your speech, I realized that the place was Korea. My pleasure in contributing the money is greater than yours in receiving it,” he said, to Avison, whose heart was overflowing with

gratitude. Returning to Seoul after his sabbatical, Avison felt overwhelmed with joy. He immediately began the process of building a new hospital. Gordon, the architect, came from Canada, and Avison bought the lot for the hospital in Boksunga-gol, a village outside of Sungnyemun, with the money donated by Severance. After the groundbreaking, the construction saw rapid progress. A great obstacle arose, however. With the news of the Russo-Japanese war, the cost of materials rose dramatically. Mr. Chang, who was in charge of construction, returned home saying that he could not suffer any more loss. But they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop the work. Gordon, who had experience with carpentry, along with Kim Pilsun, his interpreter, and Avison began to finish up the work with hammers and saws in their own hands. The construction took longer than planned, and the cost, too, was much higher than estimated. Avison wrote Severance a letter, and once again, he sent ten thousand dollars. He also promised continued support. Severance then sent the mission office in New York another ten thousand dollars, to clear up any problems regarding the construction costs. At last, on September 23, 1904, the building was completed. To commemorate Severance, who gave tremendous help, Avison named it â&#x20AC;&#x153;Severance Hospital.â&#x20AC;?

*With the help of Severance, Avison fulfilled his dream of establishing a modern hospital. *1904. To the left is Sungnyemun, and to the right, Severance Hospital, the first modern hospital in Korea.

*Henry B. Gordon (1855-1951) was an architect from Toronto, Canada. He was the one who most enthusiastically recommended Oliver R. Avison to Horace G. Underwood during his visit to Toronto. Later, Gordon lived in Korea for a year to build a hospital.

*Louis H. Severance (1838-1913) a wealthy man and a philanthropist from Cleveland, Ohio. He was a lifetime partner of Rockefeller, the king of oil. He was deeply moved by Avisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech in 1900 and donated the money for a modern hospital in Seoul. The foundation established by his posterity continues to give donations. 42