时空、史料与史观——伍连德传的比较研究

Time,Space,Historical Materials and Interpretations: A ComparativeStudy of Life Writings on Wu Liande

伍连德生于南洋槟榔屿的一个华侨家庭,从小在当地受英文教育,后留学英国,获得剑桥大学医学博士学位。1908年应聘回国,担任天津陆军医学堂副监督。1910—1911年间他奉命领导医疗防疫团队成功扑灭了东北大瘟疫。清朝被推翻后,他先后担任多位民国领袖的特医;也先后在民初政府、北洋政府和国民政府时期出任东三省防疫事务总管理处处长、全国海港检疫事务管理处处长等职。他先后在中国成立了二十几所医院和医学机构,被誉为'近代中国医学先驱'。以上所述,只是伍连德在中国的三十年(1908—1937)的人生高峰期。他人生的前期(1879—1907)则是在南洋和欧洲度过,人生的后期(1938—1960)也在南洋度过。他在南洋活跃于各项事业,被尊称为'海峡华人三杰'之一。本文将从时间和时代(从晚清到当代)以及空间和地域(东南亚和中国)纵横交错的视角,来重新审视和理解这位历史人物,并将以当事人的回忆和同时代人的记录,以及后人的论述和历史记忆来讨论史料和史观的关系。

Wu Lien-teh(Wu Liande,1879-1960)was born in Penang,British Malaya and was English educated.After he obtained a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Cambridge,Wu returned to Malaya.He went to China for professional services in 1908 and stayed until 1937.He won fame in China when he successfully subdued the Great Manchurian Plague of 1910-1911 and gained international recognition when he organized and chaired an International Plague Conference in April 1911.His achievements in China included serving as the founding Director of the Northern Manchurian Plague Prevention Service and,later,the Director of the National Quarantine Service.He also helped build some 20 hospitals,laboratories and research institutions.He was therefore being honored as the“Pioneer of Modern Medicine in China”.He also made contributions to the societies in Southeast Asia before he went to and after he returned from China.He was noted as one of“The Three Outstanding Straits Chinese”in British Malaya.This paper examines the conflicting interpretations on Wu Lien-teh in different regions and periods of time,based on historical documents and collective memories.