DR. NORMAN BETHUNE
VOLUNTEER PHYSICIAN.
"A free and joyful New China,
whether we can see it or not, is built
up with our blood," these words are
ringing in the ears of every person who
has been associated with the late Dr.
Norman Bethune, volunteer Canadian
physician. Full particulars of his death
on Novmber 13, 1939, have been received
in Chungking.
A top-notch physician, a kind-hearted
man, a hard worker, a real friend of
China, and above all, a veteran doctor
with true Samaritan spirit all characterize
Dr. Bethune. Silence and sorrow
shrouded the entire northern border region
of the Chinese forces when the
news of his death spread. Civilians and
soldiers alike, particularly those hundreds
of people whose lives were once
saved by the Canadian physician, refused
to accept the death notice. They
did not want to believe that it was true.
"It is impossible hat a man who has
saved thousands of lives should cease to
live." they thought.
"Racial colors, different languages, and
national boundaries cannot separate us"
Dr. Bethune once remarked. It was
with this principle that he came to do
volunteer work among the Chinese fighting
forces when the Sino-Japanese war
broke out in the summer of 1937. Since
his first days of medical practice among
the Chinese, he became a much-loved
and sought-after physician and friend.
Sir was called "benefactor of Chinese
guerillas."
Dr. Norman Bethune. who came from
Montreal. Canada, died as a victim of
Japanese poison gas. During an operation
on a gassed soldier, he cut his finger
and was also poisoned. Despite all
efforts to save his life, the doctor drew
his last breath amidst a group of his
colleagues in a Chinese guerilla district
behind the Japanese lines in North China
His death is a great loss to the Chinese
warriors guarding the northern border.
Following his service in the first
World War, Dr. Bethune returned to
Canada where he was engaged in re-
search work as well as medical practice.
later he became the chief of the Can-
adian air-force medical service. He was
among the Canadian volunteers during
the war in Spain. He was a specialist in
tuberculosis and blood transfusion.
His energy was almost supernatural.
Ho operated on an average of 130 patients
a month, sometimes having to per-
form 10 to 15 operations a day. From
April to July, 1939, he performed no less
than 315 operations, walked 1,504 miles?
established 13 first-aid and dressing sta-
tions, organized two medical units, conducted
a series of technical lectures, and
formed a model hospital for internes. He
was also responsible for the first medical
training course at Wutaishan.
Many wounded men who would have
been given up as hopeless if they we
treated by other persons were cured by
Dr. Bethune. His oft-repeated words
are "we should go and give treatment to
those who need it, not wait until the
wounded or the sick come to us for help"
Within 4 hours after a major battle, he
attended to 71 wounded soldiers without|
taking any rest.
In order to save the life of a wounded
soldier who had lost too much blood, he
gave 200 c.c. of his own blood to make
the transfusion possible. This little epi-
sode led to the organization of a blood-
donating movement among the civilians
in the district where he was working and
enabled subsequent transfusions. With
special sympathy for the guerilla fighters
he started some simple, mobile medical
service units. With the help of two pack
animals for each group, a "guerilla medical
unit" is ready to render its valuable
services at a moment's notice.
Dr. Bethune was planning to leave
China to conduct a lecture tour and a
fund-raising campaign in the United
States, for the medical relief of Chinese
forces in northern Shansi. He was connected
with the army medical service
until his death. Besides being a physician.
Dr. Bethune was also a good
writer. "University in Caves," one of
his better known articles, received favorable
comment when it was published
last summer.
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