My dear Miss Turner;
These are very exciting days for us. Political situation is about to have another turn. Ofcourse [sic] this is too early to say anything. Besides I cannot say much here for mail is strictly censored. But you know my wish. Your good letter came and I read everything with deep interest. We are far behind you in science. Those books that you sent me will be very helpful in my work with students. I have finished in reading one and I passed on to Soo Ying. She has two beautiful children. She certainly is an expert in feeding. Her children are much larger than average Chinese children. We have an idea that Chinese as a whole are a small race. With better care and feeding our babies do come to western standard. Our girls in school now are much larger and taller than our days. Unfortunately there is no statistics about our weights and heights of different ages when we were young girls. Our school authorities do not know anything about nutrition. There is much that some of us would like to change. Time, energy, means are limited. I can only do my best. Problems we have many and we do not know where to start. Miss Carolyn Sewall will be visiting Mount Holyoke College this coming October and she would be able to tell you about our problems are discouragements at times. Miss Sewall has my highest respect as a missionary. She is doing a wonderful work among our poor country women.
Professor Chen is doing good work at Shanghai College. I have not seen Mrs. Chen since coming home. This gives you an idea how isolated we are from each other. Then you see I am in government work and Mrs. Chen is in mission work. Those of us who are in government work have hard times to get away. In the first place we are not getting our support from our government regularly. If the head should leave you know what will become of the institution. Recently I had to refuse an invitation to attend Pan-Pacific Conference. Dr. Mary Stone and myself were chosen as delgates [sic] to this conference. I want Dr. Stone to represent Chinese women doctors.
Probably you would like to know something [sic] my professional work. Two weeks ago I did a Caesarean section on a woman who has osteomalasia. Both baby and mother are doing well. When this patient leaves hospital I would take a picture of her and her baby. This year we had two cases of Caesarean section. A third case is coming in this coming fall. Formerly we were unable to do such operative work as these cases would come to us the last minute. With our prenatal care we are having good results. When this year is over I would send you a chart showing our work of the last six years. Progress is not as fast as I would like. However we are working against current. If all these years have been normal years we would have been able to do more. Dr. Chu is back and she has brought to us many new methods which we are glad to try out on our cases. We have now a trained technician from P. U. M. C. who takes off much from our shoulders. We are trying to get a good nurse from America who would be able to train some good nurses for us.
At our last board meeting I have asked for a year off in summer or fall of 1929. The board is looking for someone to take my place for a year. We expected to invite Dr. Ren who graduated from Michigan last year. She has worked for Dr. Tsao and me when before she went to America. She knows everything of this hospital. The sad part is that we have heard indirectly that she is suffering from Tuberculosis and is on her way to Saranac Lake Sanitorium.
In regard to Peking plan I was unable to do it. Dr. Chu was sick for almost two months this past summer. There was so much to be done and I had to stay. By the time I could get away for little study I was too tired physically. If I could get away next year I would stay away for one whole year. I felt Dr. Tsao had waited too long for her year. Two good habits keep me in good shape; they are simple nourishing good and plenty sleep. For exercise I take a walk daily.
I love Miss Purington. Her home is quite near college, Is it not? I would give anything if I could have afew days now at college canpus. [sic] Your spring is beautiful. I remember Dr. Clapp with pleasant thought. Somebody here at Tientsin told me that Mrs. Frame of Peking is going to be your acting dean for next year. I do not know her personally. She had much experience in China.
There is much that I like to do for you. If I know your measurement I would like to send you a Chinese kimono thru Miss Sewall. It is most comfortable and will be comfortable for your back. You have given me courage for my medical career. To my American professors and my freinds [sic] I owe much. My esteemed professor Dr. Warthin at Ann Arbor has his sixtith [sic] birthday last October. His students dedicated a book to him. Dr. Warthin is a brilliant man and has an international reputation as a pathologist. Letters from my American freinds [sic] give me inspiration to go forward. Such unsetteld [sic] condition indirectly ruins our nervous system. We grit our teeth and shoulder our responsibility. Probably we of this generation would not be able to see China's better days. But I often like to think of what Edward Bock said that we should make the world more beautiful for those who come after us.
Here I am sending you a picture of my girl and my boy. The little girl's mother died three years ago of tuberculosis and little boy's mother died of cholera two years ago. I am taking care of them until their fathers are able to take care of them. I have a woman to take proper care of them. They give me warm welcome when I come back from my work.
With much love.
Yours lovingly,
M. I. Ting.
April 25th, 1928.
Ruth Chang. 5 yrs old
John Woo 3 yrs old