政治需求与经济考量:英国驻华使领馆的医官配设及影响(1843—1870)

Political Needs and Economic Considerations:The Question of The Medical Officers Attached to the British Diplomatic and Consular Service in China(1843-1870)

晚清英驻华使领馆的医官配设问题源于驻华人员的医疗需求,但驻华人员医疗需求并非英国政府的首要考量。在领馆医官配设问题上,英国政府坚持严控成本的经济考量。在驻北京公使馆医官配设问题上,主导因素是拓展对华外交手段的政治需求。政治需求与经济考量的决策逻辑是英国对华扩张谋求低成本高收益的显著体现。在政治需求与经济考量的作用下,英驻华使领馆的医疗需求和医官配设也成为近代西方医生“来华—进京—入禁(紫禁城)”步步发展的重要依托。

In the late Qing Dynasty,the question of the medical officers attached to the British Diplomatic and Consular Establishments in China originated from the medical needs of the officers stationed in China,but the medical needs of these persons were not the primary consideration of the British government.On the issue of the appointment of medical officers in the Consular Establishment,the British government insisted on the economic consideration of strictly controlling costs.Regarding the appointment of medical officers in the Diplomatic Establishment in Beijing,the dominant factor was the political need to expand diplomatic means toward China.The decision-making logic of political needs and economic considerations was a remarkable manifestation of the British pursuit of low-cost and high-return expansion in China.Under the influence of political needs and economic considerations,the medical needs of the British officers in China and the appointment of medical officers had also become an important support for the development of Modern Western Medical in China.