The medical history of Longhai is a thousand-year saga of safeguarding life. As early as 669 AD during the Tang Dynasty, Li Rugang, a medical officer under General Chen Zheng, introduced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to this land, then considered a remote frontier.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, a legendary physician emerged from Longhai—Wu Ben (also known as Baosheng Dadi). Born into a poor fishing family in Baijiao, he dedicated his life to medicine, treating patients regardless of their wealth. After his tragic death while gathering herbs on Wunpu Mountain, he was deified as the “Divine Physician” and “Saint of Medical Spirits,” with his influence spreading to Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
Following in his footsteps, generations of medical scholars flourished in Longhai. Lin Nengqian of the Southern Song wrote the 15-volume Bencao Danfang. In the Qing Dynasty, Yang Fengji (known as the “Gypsum Immortal”) authored Douzhen Daquan, starting a five-generation medical legacy. In the early 20th century, Lian Chengzhen preserved TCM wisdom through works like the Tri-character Classic of Internal Medicine.
The Arrival of Western Medicine and Early Public Health
In 1889, British physician Ba Amei founded the Gospel Hospital in Longxi, marking the official entry of Western medicine into the region. Soon after, Xu Shengdian opened Zhen’antang in Shima, and Catholic priests established Ren’ai Hospital. Western clinics began to proliferate in key towns like Shima and Haicheng.
During the Republican period, although Western medicine became more common, the public health situation remained dire. Bubonic plague broke out 133 times, with a staggering mortality rate of 84%. During this era, Longhai was in the painful transition between traditional and modern medicine.
Defying Fate: Fighting Endemics and the “Longjiang Style”
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Longhai’s medical field reached a turning point. In 1951, the bubonic plague that had haunted the people for decades was completely eradicated.
The most moving chapter was the battle against Schistosomiasis (blood fluke disease). In the Republican era, 47 villages were severely affected; Houpu village in Gangwei saw its population plummet from over a hundred to just over twenty. Starting in 1956, over ten thousand people were mobilized for a massive snail-eradication campaign. By 1985, Longhai was officially declared free of Schistosomiasis.
Additionally, in the 1960s, local researchers identified and successfully treated “Lychee Disease” (hypoglycemia syndrome in children). This breakthrough saved countless young lives and showcased the strength of local medical research.
The Heart of the Diaspora: Building Hospitals Together
The advancement of healthcare in Longhai is inseparable from the support of overseas Chinese. In 1956, 57 overseas compatriots, including Zeng Jingjiang and Lin Yongmu, donated funds to establish the Longxi County Overseas Chinese Hospital (now the Longhai First Hospital). They also provided advanced equipment like cardiac monitors and ambulances, fostering deep bonds between the diaspora and their ancestral home.
Today, medical institutions in Shima and Haicheng have formed a comprehensive network. From Renmin Road in Shima to 921 Road in Haicheng, modern inpatient buildings stand tall, continuing a thousand-year promise to protect the health of the community.