A woman (Le Sanying) with tumours on her forehead and under her left ear. Gouache, 18--, after Lam Qua, ca. 1838.

"Case of malpractice. June 1838. Le Sanying, aged 27, of Hwa heen, one year previous to her coming to the hospital had a tumor the size of a hen's egg, upon the forehead. The Chinese as usual applied escharotics [a corrosive substance applied to living tissue in order to produce a slough or scab], by which it was converted into an ulcer of a bad character. A more pitiable object seldom presents itself, than was this woman at her first visit. The ulcerated tumor spread over a surface of three or four square inches. Another tumor had also attained the size of a small orange under the left ear, and a third had commenced over the temporal artery of the right side near its origin. The pulse was feeble, the countenance sallow, and without speedy relief the patient must have died. The ulcer on the head was first cleansed by poultices [preparations of hot moist material], and afterwards adhesive straps and firm bandages were applied--tonics administered, and the whole assumed a healthy appearance. The tumor under the ear has been removed, and new skin has covered a considerable portion of the sore forehead. Had the tumor been left to itself by the native physician it might have been easily removed, and the young woman saved a great deal of suffering. Her case is still doubtful."--Peter Parker's report, Rachman, loc. cit.