The Canton Guide -
Dr. Kerr
1889 - Kelly and Walsh, Hong Kong - Fourth Edition
A scarce example of this influential guide to Canton by Dr John Glasgow Kerr, who ran the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton for 44 years. He also founded in 1898 the first Refuge for the Insane in China at Canton, one of his students in 1886 was Sun Yat-sen.
With a large and detailed folding map of Canton by Rev. D. Vrooman (who made the first Western map of Canton in 1855) with names in Chinese and English (61x41.5cm), and eight full page illustrations and one full page plan. Providing great detail on each street, together with planned itineraries, and a ‘list of objects of more or less interest to Strangers’. John Glasgow Kerr (1824-1901) graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, arrived in Hong Kong in 1854, and as successor to Peter Parker, was in charge of the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton for 44 years. He also founded in 1898 the first Refuge for the Insane in China at Canton, where he served until his death.
It is estimated that during Kerr’s career in China he treated 780,000 patients and performed 48,000 surgical operations. Kerr also translated 34 volumes of medical works into Chinese, was the author of many articles and treatises, and taught 150 Chinese medical students. One of his students in 1886 was Sun Yat-sen, who later became the first president of the Chinese republic.
Robert E. Speer, in the Monthly Missionary Survey, wrote of him - “Vast as was his distinctly medical work, Dr. Kerr was above all things a missionary. He never lost an opportunity to preach Christ. Kindly, just, dignified in his manner, he was always at work doing good and commending Christ to the Chinese…. He was a missionary first, and all his medical knowledge was used to commend the Gospel.”
Kerr was buried in the Protestant cemetery outside Canton, near three of his missionary colleagues, Dr. Dyer Ball, Dr. Henry V. Noyes, and Dr. Joseph C. Thomson. [Gerald Anderson, Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions].
Octavo (book size 21.5x13.9cm), pp. [2] 41 [1]. In publisher’s pale blue wrappers, upper lettered in black, rear panel advertising Kelly & Walsh photographs. Condition: Very good, edge wear, toning and some soiling to wrappers, faint tape repair to verso of front wrapper, several short splits along Canton map folds, toning to last page. Ref: 112037 Price: HK$ 8,000
With a large and detailed folding map of Canton by Rev. D. Vrooman (who made the first Western map of Canton in 1855) with names in Chinese and English (61x41.5cm), and eight full page illustrations and one full page plan. Providing great detail on each street, together with planned itineraries, and a ‘list of objects of more or less interest to Strangers’. John Glasgow Kerr (1824-1901) graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, arrived in Hong Kong in 1854, and as successor to Peter Parker, was in charge of the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton for 44 years. He also founded in 1898 the first Refuge for the Insane in China at Canton, where he served until his death.
It is estimated that during Kerr’s career in China he treated 780,000 patients and performed 48,000 surgical operations. Kerr also translated 34 volumes of medical works into Chinese, was the author of many articles and treatises, and taught 150 Chinese medical students. One of his students in 1886 was Sun Yat-sen, who later became the first president of the Chinese republic.
Robert E. Speer, in the Monthly Missionary Survey, wrote of him - “Vast as was his distinctly medical work, Dr. Kerr was above all things a missionary. He never lost an opportunity to preach Christ. Kindly, just, dignified in his manner, he was always at work doing good and commending Christ to the Chinese…. He was a missionary first, and all his medical knowledge was used to commend the Gospel.”
Kerr was buried in the Protestant cemetery outside Canton, near three of his missionary colleagues, Dr. Dyer Ball, Dr. Henry V. Noyes, and Dr. Joseph C. Thomson. [Gerald Anderson, Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions].
Octavo (book size 21.5x13.9cm), pp. [2] 41 [1]. In publisher’s pale blue wrappers, upper lettered in black, rear panel advertising Kelly & Walsh photographs. Condition: Very good, edge wear, toning and some soiling to wrappers, faint tape repair to verso of front wrapper, several short splits along Canton map folds, toning to last page. Ref: 112037 Price: HK$ 8,000