November 6, 1916.My dear Miss Turner:-
I have been so home sick for Mount Holyoke College. I was in bad luck when I came to Michigan University. It happened the students director was away on the Pacific coast and my name was not registered. Then I had no place to stay, since that lady sold her house unexpectedly. There was also the question of having enough credits. Botany is a required subject of every medical student. I had to take my french examination at this university. I was too late. Here I was without knowing what next step to take. I was almost decided to go back to Saint Louis. A telegram came from Dr. McLean telling me not to hesitate to enter the women's medical college. She said I could change next year. However I went to see the dean of the classical school. If it was for the best, I would take another year in the literary department. As he looked over the work I had in Mount Holyoke he decided to let me enter the medical school. I suppose I will have to take some Botany this coming summer. The girls in my class are mostly graduates. Some of them have been teaching a number of years. I am the baby of the class. Then I thought I should have finished my collegiate course first. After all I am not as old as I thought I am.
Dr. Huber is at the head of the anatomical laboratory. We start eight o'clock in the morning till half past five in the evening.
The arrangement is fine. We do concentrate [sic] work. We are to finish anatomy in 24 weeks, Histology & Embryology in 12 weeks. We have one quiz of an hour daily. We have only one lecture a day. This lecture is usually in Histology & Embryology, it may last one hour, sometimes two hours. The mornings are devoted to Histology & Embryology & the afternoon, Anatomy. We have no time to do anything else but study. Every student has at least to give four or five hours extra studies in the evening. Work is hard, but everything is so interesting & fascinating.
Oh, Dr. Huber is so kind to his students. He is nicknamed "Pa Huber." He is so fatherly to us. He has time for every student, there are 150 in his class. If I have anything to ask, I have chance to do so, for he comes to my desk every day. Dr. McCotter is the head professor of Anatomy. He is a difficult man. He is so severe looking that you are afraid to approach him. He is a good teacher. It takes him only two or three minutes to straighten out things for you. I feel I am mastering my Histology well. But Anatomy is endless study. I do not think there is much reasoning in the first year's work. There is some in in [sic] Histology so far as development is concerned.
I never study my text book in Anatomy. We have atlas. I looked at the pictures then I try to describe them. I found this is a successful way. At the same time I compare the pictures with the cadaver. In Histology I think about my slides. From the slides I make a table for study. This is an example of it;-
Fibrous connective tissue.
White Elastic Reticular Size .25-1u 1-6u very fine branch &
anastomano yes appear to be
probably notBundles cemented no fibrous acetic acid transparent
& swollenno action no action vencreatin [?] no yes
in pepsin [...]no boiling gelatin elastin gelatin &
reticularhomogenous yes yes no I do not use my text books so much. Of-course [sic] I do read it over. Then I look over the lecture. From the reading, lecture & slides I rearrange into a table like above. Of-course it means time. But I think it is worthwhile. I do that for every lecture. I will tell you after my first examination. My first examination in Anatomy comes before Thanksgiving. Then I will know if my method is a good one or not.
You are very kind in writing to me. I am busy. But I alway[s] have a little time for you whom I think a great deal. Of-course I will not slight my studies & take that time for my friends. I know my friends do not want that. I have Sundays that I like to talk to my friends. Yes, I have many letters to write. I write to Dr. McLean every Sunday. I knew she won't be able to stop at Mount Holyoke so I did not take the time to write to you about it. She was in New York only for one day and one week at the clinical congress. It was kind of you for wanting her to visit our college.
My father is at the head of a Chinese medical school now. He is a president in name for he is well known. They just used his name to build up the school. The course of studies is five years. After that the Chinese government gives diploma to these students. I have sent for catalogues. He is the same man. I hope his feeling toward me rather my feeling toward him will be different as we get older. His attitude will be different when I get home. He dislikes my self-will. He admires my independent spirit.
Dr. McLean is going to write to him telling him about me and my possibility in the future. In spite of all my weakness, Dr. McLean always has a good word for me. After all there is compensation in every life.
I heard from M. Wayne. How I wish that I have means to help her to take up a medical course instead of nursing. I mean she has the mind. I miss you. I think of you often. I wish I can have a peep of you soon. I am glad your mother is better & stronger.
Every day is full of hard work. Every day is full of joy, of new things to see, new things to learn.
Miss Lau is doing post graduate work in Columbia, Miss Wong in Chicago & Mrs. Chen in New York Bible school. There are your mere girls going to study medicine. They came this year.
This is a happy hour for me, to talk to the one whom I know is interested in my welfare.
With a great deal love for your dear mother & yourself. Remember me to Dr. Clap [sic] & Miss Holmes.
Yours lovingly
Me-Iung Ting