PARKER, Peter

[s. 591] : Born at Framing ham, Ma ., June 18, 1804. He graduated at Yale College in 1831, spent two years in Yale Divinity School, and took a course of medical study, receiving the degree of M.D. in 1834. He was appointed medical mi ionary to China by the ABCFM, was ordained at Philadelphia May 26, 1834, and He opened a sailed the next month for Canton. hospital at Canton for diseases of the eye, which contributed greatly to disarm prejudice, and furnished opportunities for making known religious truth. In 1836 his eye infirmary had received 1,912 patients at a cost of $1,200, all of which was given by resident foreigners. In this hospital he was forced to receive patients suffering from other than eye diseases, and became famous for wonderful surgical cures. He, using the influence thus gained to secure a hearing, preached to his hospital patients regularly. He also educated Chinese young men in the practise of medicine, one of whom became an expert surgeon. The outbreak of war with the English in 1840 making it nece ary to close the dis?ensary. Dr. Parker visited the United States, n 1842 he returned to Canton. In 1844, with the hope thereby of aiding the mi ionary work, he accepted the appointment of Secretary and Interpreter to the United States Legation to China, and his connection with the American Board was soon after di olved, tho he did not cease mi ionary work, and his labors in the hospital continued till he resigned his secretary He often ship on his return to America in 1855. acted during these years as charg6 d’affaires ad Soon after his return he was appointed interim. United States Commi ioner to China, with plenipotentiary powers for the revision of the treaty This service being completed in two of 1844. years, he returned to America with health impaired, owing to the effects of a sunstroke. He resided in Washington, and in 1868 was elected Regent of the Smithsonian Institution. He died in Washington, January 10, 1888, aged He published A Statement respecting Hos83. pitals in China, and an account of his visit to LuChu Islands and Japan. PARLA-KIMEDI A municipality of Madras,: India, situated 75 miles S. W. by W. of Ganjam. Population, 16,400, of whom 15,900 are Hindus. Station of the Canada Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces (1892), with (1903) 1 mi ionary and his wife, 6 native workers, 1 outstation, 1 place of worship, 2 Sunday schools, 95 profe ed Christians. 591