FONG WAN - Library

judgment and were therefore helpless in the face of emergency. They
found it impossible to meet the exigencies of strange and unusual
ailments, because they were capable of doing only the things that they
had been accustomed to do; to plod along in well-worn ruts. Occa-
sionally, aged herbalists become childish and act in a mysterious way
as though they possess some occult power by means of which they are
able to charm away pain.
"T shall retire before I reach that stage. I do not feel it would be
honest for me, because of my reputation, to continue in my profession
after I shall have reached an age when I am no longer 100 per cent
efficient. It would be wronging my patrons to carry on my business at
their expense and to waste their time and money. When the time
comes that my services are of doubtful value, it will be my bounden
duty to resign the field to younger and keener men."
"Keener in what way?" inquired the interested listener.
"Keener in four ways," was the ready response. "There are four
methods of examination.
"First, through listening to the sufferer's voice. This necessitates
keen ears.
Second, through judging from the expression of the face and eyes
as well as by the condition of the skin. This necessitates keen eyes.
Third, through ability to ask pertinent questions. This necessi-
tates keen judgment.
Fourth, through feeling the pulse. This necessitates keep percep-
tion in addition to thorough knowledge and great power of concen-
tration."
While Fong Wan has experienced the joys that accompany real suc-
cess, especially when one's profession is that of alleviating suffering,
yet he has not been free from trouble and anxiety. Although the herbs
that he sells are legally imported from China and duties paid on them
to the United States Government, and despite the fact that most of
his patrons take their herbs home to cook, the Medical Board has fre-
quently interrupted his business by causing his arrest. On these oc-
casions, Fong Wan has always demanded trial by jury.
At a trial on March 12, 1918, the jury was deeply interested in the
testimony before the court of Mr. R. Lewis, a well-known Oakland
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