Bethune, Henry Norman (medical adviser in Jingangku, China)

Bethune, Henry Norman (medical adviser in Jingangku, China)

Bethune worked for General Nie Rongzhen as a medical adviser in Jingangku, China in the year 1938 until early 1939. He worked to increase the number of surgical instruments and medicines in the area, as well as train the medical staff. He performed operations and helped the wounded while also inventing medical instruments. One of Bethune’s more well-known inventions was the “Marco Polo bridge” known in Chinese as the “lugou qiao.” This instrument was a wooden case that could easily transport drugs and supplies as well as help with setting up operating tables. In the later months of 1938, Bethune managed a five-week training program for medical staff. His work led to the opening of a permanent training hospital, which was destroyed by the Japanese around a month later. Bethune then shifted his focus to mobile medical units. He took his medical team to the front lines and created the following motto: “Go to the wounded! Don’t wait for the wounded to come to you!” Other than inventing instruments, helping the wounded, and training medical staff, Bethune also gathered volunteer blood donors to offset the lack of blood supplies.

1938-1939

Text

Jingangku, China (his original departure was supported by the China Aid Council)

Shenwen Li, “BETHUNE, HENRY NORMAN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 16, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed May 28, 2021, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/bethune_henry_norman_16E.html.

1890

Gravenhurst, Canada

1939

Huangshikou, Hebei (People's Republic of China)

Teacher; army officer; author; artist; doctor; surgeon; inventor

English

Henry Norman Bethune was born into a family with a history of working in medicine. He was also born into a family of Presbyterians. Although he continued his ancestors’ work in the medical field, he did not seem to embrace any religion. Many historians believe he was an atheist. Bethune eventually married a Scotswoman named Frances Eleanor Campbell Penney in 1920. They separated only 7 years after their marriage and 1 year after Bethune contracted tuberculosis. After surviving the divorce and the disease, Bethune continued to work hard in the medical field. He remarried his ex-wife in 1929 only to get divorced again in 1933 and continue to indulge in his work.

Hannant, Larry. The Politics of Passion : Norman Bethune’s Writing and Art. Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press, 1998. https://ocul-crl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01OCUL_CRL/1gorbd6/alma991022611105605153
Russell, Hilary. “Norman Bethune.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/norman-bethune#:~:text=7-,Henry%20Norman%20Bethune%2C%20surgeon%2C%20inventor%2C%20political%20activist%20(born,this%20on%20Sino%2DCanadian%20relations.

Quebec Since 1800 (Carleton, HIST 3301A)

Sarah Quinn