This paper aimed to introduce and examine the biography of Sun Xi-miao (581-682) which I found in The Biography of The Avatamsaka-Sutra, that Fazang (643-712) wrote in 692 A.D. This document was neglected to understand Sun who was the famous medical writer of the collection of prescriptions, the Bei ji qian jin yao fang. His life is rather well documented, because he has his own biographies in Jiu Tang shu and Xin Tang shu which cited from Da Tang sin yu, published in 807. But I found several new informations about Sun in The Biography of The Avatamsaka-Sutra, such as he use to be a military medicine in the troops of Li Yuan who became the first emperor Kao Tsu of Tang dynasty and treat Sun with great favour. This document let us know that the Bei ji qian jin yao fang was dedicated to Kao Tsu, known as published in 652 A.D. MY CONCLUSIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: First, it was written by Fazang in 692 A.D, who was the real establisher of the fraternity of the Avatamsaka in China, for the purpose of encouraging to copy the Avatamsaka-Sutra. According to this biography, Sun made 750 copies to persuade the monks and the peoples, and that's the reason Fazang wrote his biography. Secondly, it was not conveyed to posterity, such as Sun was good looking, tall and use to be the medicine of Kao Tsu and dedicated his medical book to the first emperor. It might be left out for Tai Tsung's sake in the official records, who murdered his brother, the heir apparent to the throne and became the second emperor by himself. On the contrary, it was written in Da Tang sin yu, Jiu and Xin Tang shu that Sun made a prediction that his collection of prescriptions would help the holyman after 50 years from Xuan Di (578-579) of Northern Chou Dynasty. Holyman meant Tai Tsung. It shows that Sun's biographies in the Da Tang sin yu, Jiu and Xin Tang Shu were based on the documents that might be fabricated and embellished for Tai Tsung. Thirdly, this biography let us know that Sun wote the Bei ji qian jin yao fang under the circumstances that the epidemic disease was spreaded in Changan at 618 A.D. and the population of Kao Tsu era (618-626) was decreased rapidly. I think that's why he wrote down the medical morals as the first chapter, and the prescriptions about the gynecology and pediatrics as the second chapter.
Military Medicine/history ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/*history ; Humans ; History, Medieval ; Disease Outbreaks/history ; China

Epidemic diseases in the early Choson period were big problems to the people and society. However, the weapons to the epidemic diseases were very limited at that time. There were few drugs and well-trained practitioners for people. Most people could only depend on religious means and simple folklore medicine including inhalation of specific flavor. People tried to overcome or prevent the epidemics by praying, sorcery, ornaments, runaway and isolation. In most cases, the epidemic diseases came with or broke out from the famine, severe labour (especially in civil engineering) imposed by the ruling class. The epidemics of that time are thought to be typhoid fever, epidemic typhus, or similar febrile diseases.
Communicable Disease Control/*history ; Disease Outbreaks/*history ; English Abstract ; History of Medicine, Medieval ; Human ; Korea

The article "Pandemic influenza in Korea with special references to its etiology," published in JAMA in April, 1919 by Dr. Frank William Schofield, is a valuable material reflecting the influenza pandemic situation in 1918 in Korea. It contains the case reports of influenza infected patients and the results of the bacteriological experiments. Dr. Schofield worked as a bacteriology professor in Severance Union Medical College in Seoul from 1916 to 1920. His academic activities are lesser-known than the role of contributor of Korean independent movement. However, he was a remarkable veterinarian and scientist. According to Dr. Schofield, the number of Influenza infected population in Korea in 1918 was supposed to be 4,000,000 to 8,000,000, which corresponds with other resources(6.7 per 1,000 in Gangwon province). Considering the cases which were not registered as influenza infection by misdiagnosis of pneumonia complication the sum should be higher. However, the estimated crude influenza death rate from the reports by the Japanese colonial government was only 2.38(per 1,000). Dr. Schofield and his colleague tried to culture "Pfeiffer Bacillus" from the sputum and blood specimens of patients showing typical influenza symptoms. The bacterium was mistakenly considered as the influenza agent till the virological nature of influenza was discovered in the 1930s. From the results of his study he seemed to agree that "filterable virus" was the influenza agent and the secondary infection of the bacillus caused respiratory symptoms. He also reported on the influenza vaccination during the epidemics. Dr. Schofield's article confirms that the damage caused by the influenza outbreak in Korea was as great as in other Asian countries or even worse. It also gives information about the researches and education on the etiology and vaccination of influenza based on the germ theory in the medical colleges in Korea, which adopted the western medical educational system in the early 20th century.
Disease Outbreaks/*history ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines/history ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology/*history/mortality ; Korea/epidemiology ; Vaccination/history

Smallpox was one of the most dreadful epidemic diseases in Korea until the early twentieth century. In the Chosun period, smallpox came to prevail more frequently and vigorously, and many people died of the disease. To cope with smallpox, the society of Chosun had various modes of measures, though they were not always effective, which included the government's rituals, medical men's prescriptions, and folk's recipes. Among various responses to smallpox, the recipes of folklore seem to be very interesting. While attitude toward other contagious diseases(e.g., typhoid fever, or malaria) mainly consisted of exorcism, smallpox was believed to be the passage of the smallpox deity, Sonnim(which means guest), through the body of patient for certain time span, and gods of smallpox were treated hospitably. This attitude toward smallpox was deeply rooted in Korean shamanism, and partly in the natural history of the disease. From 1876 smallpox vaccination was reintroduced and practiced. There were, however, a lot of difficulties in practice of vaccination due to distrust and prejudice. And traditional dealings with smallpox, in spite of vaccination, didn't disappear even after the Japanese compulsory occupation.
Disease Outbreaks/*history ; English Abstract ; *Folklore ; History of Medicine, 19th Cent. ; History of Medicine, Modern ; Human ; Korea ; Magic/*history ; *Religion and Medicine ; Shamanism/*history ; Smallpox/*history ; Vaccination/history

INTRODUCTIONSingapore was substantially affected by three 20th Century pandemics. This study describes the course of the pandemics, and the preventive measures adopted.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe reviewed and researched a wide range of material including peer-reviewed journal articles, Ministry of Health reports, Straits Settlements reports and newspaper articles. Monthly mortality data were obtained from various official sources in Singapore.

RESULTSThe 1918 epidemic in Singapore occurred in 2 waves--June to July, and October to November--resulting in up to 3500 deaths. The 1957 epidemic occurred in May, and resulted in widespread morbidity, with 77,000 outpatient attendances in government clinics alone. The 1968 epidemic occurred in August and lasted a few weeks, with outpatient attendances increasing by more than 65%. The preventive measures instituted by the Singapore government during the pandemics included the closure of schools, promulgation of public health messages, setting up of influenza treatment centres, and screening at ports. Students, businessmen and healthcare workers were all severely affected by the pandemics.

CONCLUSIONSTropical cities should be prepared in case of a future pandemic. Some of the preventive measures used in previous pandemics may be applicable during the next pandemic.

Disease Outbreaks ; history ; statistics & numerical data ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; mortality ; Public Health ; history ; Singapore ; epidemiology

This paper examines the spread of venereal disease from the Opening of Korea to the early Japanese colonial period. It focuses on the formation and expansion of Japanese settlement in Korea, the influence of wars, and the state control of VD. The Opening of Korea made the foreign settlement, and Japanese licensed prostitution flourished in Japanese settlement. According to the First Annual Report of the Korean Government Hospital(1886) and Gyelimuisa(1887), VD patients occupied 18.3% of outpatients in Jejungwon hospital of Seoul and 8.9% of outpatients in Busan hospital. Directly after the Opening of Korea, Korean people's VD became lesser critical than Japanese people's VD. But the expansion of Japanese settlement and outbreak of two wars such as Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War made worse Korean people's VD. According to the Residency-General resources(1904-1909), syphilis patients was registered in 0.8~6.6%(average 3.6%). If it add to gonorrhea and chancroid patients which often could not be found out by the naked eyes, the number of VD patients will be increase. Ji Seok-yeong(1855-1935), the earliest smallpox vaccinarian in Korea, asserted the need of VD control. Though he warned men bought sex as well as prostitutes became the main culprit of VD diffusion, he supported licensed prostitution because of realistic possibility. The Great Han Empire(1897-1910) tried to control the lower grade whore, and gathered prostitutes in some area by police power. After Japanese annexation of Korea, while Japanese has gradually decreased in VD patients, Korean has gradually increased in VD patients.
Colonialism/history ; Disease Outbreaks/*history/prevention & control ; Female ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Prostitution/history ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/*history/prevention & control

Disease Outbreaks ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; epidemiology ; history ; prevention & control ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Sierra Leone ; epidemiology

The seasonal febrile diseases had been studied before Qing dynasty, but it was accomplished in Qing dynasty because of high incidence of the epidemics in those days. I studied and analyzed epidemics in Zai Yi Zhi of Qing Shi Gao on the reasons and patterns as yearly, regional, and seasonal parameters. Based on these analyses, I want to report how the doctrine of seasonal febrile diseases could be established in Qing dynasty. The incidence of epidemics was very high during the regimes of Kang Xi(1662~1722), Yong Zheng(1723~1735), and Qian Long(1736~1795) Emperors, the most advanced period in Qing dynasty. The diseases occurred at least once per two years, although, somtimes twice or 5 times per a year. Once it was developed and then smashed through the whole China, especially in Jiang Nan. It was the main reason why the four greatest scholars in the doctrine of seasonal febrile diseases came out from Jiang Nan. These diseases appeared most highly and worst in summer as pestilence. These resulted in the development of the studies of epidemics in those days. Based on the clinical studies of fever-related diseases, the scholars of seasonal febrile diseases tried to cure them with endless and continuous efforts. Finally, they could complete the doctrine of seasonal febrile diseases in Qing dynasty.
China ; Disease Outbreaks/*history ; English Abstract ; Fever/*history ; History of Medicine, 17th Cent. ; History of Medicine, 18th Cent. ; Human ; Philosophy, Medical/*history ; *Seasons

Five influenza pandemics had occurred during the past century (1918 "Spanish flu" , 1957 "Asian flu" , 1968 "Hong Kong flu" , 1977 "Russian flu" and 2009 H1N1 Pandemic), accounting for hundreds of millions of people infected and tens of millions dead. China was influenced by all the five pandemics, and three of them (1957 "Asian flu" , 1968 "Hong Kong flu" and 1977 "Russian flu" ) were originated from China. The pandemics triggered the establishment of public health agencies and influenza surveillance capacities. In addition, more resources were allocated to influenza-related research, prevention and control. As a leader in the field of influenza, China should further strengthen its pandemic preparedness and response to contribute to global health.
Asian People ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks/history* ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human/history* ; Pandemics/history* ; Public Health

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) have been isolated from a wide range of domestic and wild birds. Wild birds, predominantly ducks, geese and gulls form the reservoir of AIV in nature. The viruses in wild bird populations are a potential source of widespread infections in poultry. Active surveillance for AIV infection provides information regarding AIV distribution, and global AIV surveillance can play a key role in the early recognition of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since 2003 in Korea, there have been four H5N1 HPAI outbreaks caused by clade 2.5, 2.2 and 2.3.2. Therefore, improvement of AIV surveillance strategy is required to detect HPAI viruses effectively. This article deals with the major events establishing the role of wild birds in the natural history of influenza in Korea. We highlighted the need for continuous surveillance in wild birds and characterization of these viruses to understand AIV epidemiology and host ecology in Korea.
Animals ; Birds* ; Charadriiformes ; Disease Outbreaks ; Ducks ; Ecology ; Epidemiology ; Geese ; Influenza in Birds* ; Influenza, Human ; Korea* ; Natural History ; Poultry ; Viruses*