Chapter 890 The Midwife Register of Chang'an City
The physicians' exchange conference in Chang'an City has been going on every day for the past two weeks, and it has generated a lot of discussion among the people of Chang'an.
At first, everything was normal. The medical skills demonstrations were arranged by the Imperial Medical Bureau and were familiar to the participants. Later, the traditional skills of the Western Region witch doctors, which are commonly known as "shamanic rituals," were also handled relatively well.
Instead, they encountered the witchcraft and sorcery of Miao medicine from the south, which greatly impressed the attendees and doctors.
Chang'an City was already a gathering place for guests from all walks of life and ethnic groups, so the medical exchange conference presented all sorts of strange and wonderful medical techniques, which were truly overwhelming.
Thanks to the Physician Exchange Conference and the upcoming All-Nation Assembly in the second half of the year, more and more people from all over the world are coming to Chang'an.
This allowed small vendors and peddlers in Chang'an and the surrounding villages, as well as wealthy merchants in Chang'an, to make a fortune.
Even the Li family, where Li San Niang lives, has seen a lot of people visiting with gifts lately.
Many pharmaceutical companies and doctors wanted to visit Li San Niang to inquire about the female doctor matter that she had mentioned at the physicians' conference, as well as the tonics for the rich and the prepared medicines for the common people that had already been announced.
Longevity Lane, the main hall of the Li family.
Li's mother, along with Li's sister-in-law and Jiang Shengnan, were organizing and recording information in the many boxes placed on the table and floor in the main hall.
“This piece of cloth was sent by Lady Qiu, Shengnan, make a note of it.”
Jiang Shengnan nodded obediently. She found an extra piece of paper and carefully wrote down the date, who gave the gift, and what it contained.
Looking at the pattern of the jacquard fabric, Sister-in-law Li looked up at her mother and said, "Mother, this Lady Qiu is really thoughtful. This pattern looks just right for a young girl like Lu Zhu'er."
Mother Li put down the wooden box in her hand, looked up at the pattern of the cloth in Sister-in-law Li's hand, and nodded after glancing at it: "That's just how Madam Qiu is. Her Hui Niang is literate and has a good temperament. If she were to register, she would definitely not be rejected."
But she was very particular, and insisted on personally delivering this bolt of cloth to thank us for the news we had given them when we visited earlier.
Actually, even if we don't say anything, they'll still find out from the streets later.
Mother Li put down the wooden box containing a porcelain bottle and went to open another, larger wooden box. While tidying it up, she instructed Jiang Shengnan to write it down carefully: "This gift account must be written down carefully. Third Sister gave me a good reminder before. This account must be recorded clearly. In the future, these things will be converted into silver and sent to the account of the Women's Assistance Association."
"Our Third Madam is truly the best among female officials."
When Li's mother heard what Li's sister-in-law said, she first nodded, then shook her head. "I was very nervous accepting this gift. If it weren't for Third Sister saying that giving and receiving gifts is common in officialdom, and that refusing to accept them would make things difficult for my colleagues, I would have been very worried."
It was a gift I had to accept, and it was something everyone knew about, so I can finally feel at ease.
Li San Niang, whom Li's mother mentioned, was extremely busy at the moment. She was in the maternity ward, discussing with Chen Yanfu and the others the recently completed list of midwives in Chang'an.
"With the help of the heads of each neighborhood, this list should now be the most complete."
The list of people from Luoyang that the medical supervisor wanted was indeed sent, but Sun Chunlan also mentioned in her letter that even with the help of the Imperial Medical Bureau branch, it was still inaccurate, with at least 40% of the people not being on the list.
The maternity ward in Luoyang had not been around for very long. People in Luoyang had not yet developed the habit of going to the maternity ward as soon as they became pregnant, as was the case in Chang'an. Most commoners would still give birth at home, with their mothers-in-law or sisters-in-law helping them.
As for the list of midwives outside of Luoyang and Chang'an, that would be even more difficult.
I think it would be better to wait until after our physicians' exchange meeting is over and the physicians from outside Chang'an have returned home, then we can use the Imperial Medical Bureau's name to count the number of midwives in each prefecture.
While listening to Chen Yanfu's report, Li Sanniang opened the two registers of midwives from Chang'an and Luoyang.
Looking at the final list of names, Li Sanniang first affirmed Chen Yanfu's work, saying, "Chang'an is such a big city, it's already quite an achievement that you could compile this list so well. The same goes for Chunlan's side. The maternity ward in Luoyang has only been open for less than two years, and I'm already very happy that you've managed to do this much."
No problem. With this booklet as a foundation, we can better arrange the recruitment of midwifery students after the free clinic.
As for places outside of Chang'an and Luoyang, just as you said, once our medical exchange conference is over, those people will go back to their hometowns or send messages home. It won't be long before this matter is naturally resolved.
I'm not worried about that; we'll take it one step at a time.
Li San Niang gestured for Chen Yanfu to sit down and talk. She also beckoned to the female doctors, attending physicians, and maternity wardens to drink tea and eat snacks.
The meeting had been going on for more than an hour. Li Sanniang was not the kind of person who strictly adhered to the rules. When she held long meetings, she always allowed everyone to eat and drink.
Chen Yanfu had known Li Sanniang for many years and knew that Li Sanniang was not just being polite on the surface. So she set an example by drinking tea first and then taking some pastries from the plate in front of her. Only after she made a move did the female doctors with lower ranks than her dare to reach out.
"The training and management of midwives is the foundation upon which our maternity ward was able to stand within the Imperial Medical Academy."
The number and skill of midwives directly affect the safety of a woman's childbirth and determine the survival rate of both the woman and the infant.
The population is the foundation of everything that our Tang Dynasty has developed. Therefore, what we are doing is truly related to the future of the Tang Dynasty.
I want you all to know this.
Ladies and gentlemen, you have all been here since the very beginning of our maternity ward. I am not exaggerating at all; you will surely leave your names in the history books in the future.
What you are doing now, and what you will do in the future, is truly of vital importance to the women, mothers, and infants of the Tang Dynasty!
This is true!
I, Li Mingfang, assure you all with my official position, that everything you have done is a great and glorious deed!
Having been given a pep talk, Li San Niang changed the subject, looking at each of the women present with encouraging and trusting eyes, "So, let's work hard now and lay a solid foundation. Once everything is in process, things will be much simpler from now on. At that time, our maternity ward won't have to work so hard."
At this point, Li San Niang stood up and solemnly bowed to all the women present.
“I know that these days you have not only been on duty in the maternity ward, treating patients, but also busy with all the big and small tasks I have assigned you.”
I know all of this, and I truly thank you all.
Li San Niang's gesture of respect was quite flattering to all the women. Even Chen Yanfu, who was used to Li San Niang's utmost care, was somewhat bewildered at this moment.
Chen Yanfu reacted the fastest. She quickly stood up and returned the greeting, saying, "What the Imperial Physician said is true. We, who receive salaries from the Imperial Medical Bureau, are already very fortunate to have been able to secure a position in this officialdom as women."
We will certainly perform our duties diligently to repay the kindness of our medical supervisors.
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