Adaptation and Continuity: Chinese Medicine’s Reception of the First-ever Synthetic Chemical Agent

Abstract The paper examines the response of Chinese medicine and the general public to the introduction of the first-ever synthetic chemical agent of Salvarsan (洒尔佛散) to the Chinese market. Since the new medicine was first introduced in 1910, the feedback has been predominantly positive. The rapid efficacy of Salvarsan was also recognised by Chinese medicine practitioners, who integrated it into the Chinese traditional herbal classification system and redefined its pharmacological properties in Chinese medicine theories. Nevertheless, Chinese medicine’s perspective on Salvarsan goes beyond mere acceptance. The discourse surrounding Salvarsan encompasses its therapeutic effectiveness and delves deeper into broader themes concerning the fundamental principles of the medication as well as the dispute between Chinese and Western medicine that transcends medical theory. To maintain the validity of Chinese medicine theory in the discussion that went beyond simple medical theory, Chinese medicine used Salvarsan as evidence against the notion that bacteriological theory was the sole reliable theory of disease.