M. I. Ting M. D.
Peiyang Women's Hospital
Tientsin.My dear Miss Turner;
Your good letter came on Christmas Eve and it made me very happy. I am glad that you like the little gift that Carolyn Sewall brought to you for me. Our work has grown so much that we have no work room in connection with our hospital. It has moved to another part of the city and is being taken care of by my friend. The little school that I started is moved to another part of the city also. Within the hospital we have only room and time for the actual medical work.
I was indeed very happy to see Dr. Warthin at Honolulu. I think that he had noticed my tired look. One thing ofcourse [sic] is the responsibility that adds seriousness to my look. Probably Dr. Warthin had much to do with the awarding of this fellowship at Michigan University. My year of study will be from September 29- to October 1930. Dr. Warthin's work on Syphilis is world known. He used to say to his students this- "If you know tuberculosis and syphilis you know medicine." I am beginning to understand this sentence. I want to take up Pediatrics for China must reduce her infant mortality. The rough estimate is every year two million babies died below one year of age. This statement is also true of preschool children.
Altho. I have worked hard for more than six years here but financially our hospital is still very poor. What money I have made I have given to this hospital for improvement. What money my father has given me I have also given to our work. Years of civil war have caused much suffering, this is especially true of North China. For six months people cannot cultivate anything. There is not enough industry to give employment to our poor people. For almost two years we have not received city subsidy. However we try to do the best we can. My coworker Dr. Chu is a very fine woman and is willing to take her share of responsibility happily. My other coworker Dr. Giang has gone into private work for outside attraction is ofcourse [sic] greater. In spite of all we are really very happy in our work. There are times we feel sad becuase [sic] of conditions. For ourselves we would ask nothing more. Our nurses are good also for they work so hard night and day. They never complain. Now I feel I can leave my work in peace for I know they would carry it on with ease.
With much love.
Yours lovingly,
M. I. Ting.December 26th, 1928.