Dr. Chambers and Dr. Johnson

Image: Dr. Chambers

Yukichi Fukuzawa's second trip abroad in 1862 (Bunkyu 2) was of great significance to him. In a letter sent from London to Shimazu Suketaro of the Nakatsu Domain, who was a good supporter, he described his feelings as follows:

"It is difficult to say that everything is clear at a glance, but compared to what I have studied in books until now, it is a case of 'seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times,' and I have gained a great deal of benefit."

In his later years, when compiling his own works, he looked back on his state of mind at the time in the Foreword to the Collected Works of Fukuzawa and wrote the following:

"In addition, hospitals, almshouses, schools for the blind and mute, asylums, museums, exhibitions, and so on—there was nothing I saw that was not novel, and nothing I heard of their origins and utility that did not fascinate me. (Omitted) Along with that amazement, I felt an irrepressible ambition to envy them and to implement them in my own country, Japan."

This trip to Europe was as a member of the Shogunate's mission to Europe, but for Fukuzawa, it was a precious opportunity to gain a concrete understanding of various social systems that could not be understood simply by reading original texts in Japan. In various locations, he met local people through various inspections. Thanks to their kindness and the strong will of Fukuzawa and others to clarify ambiguities through repeated questions, they were able to gain the knowledge that led to works such as Things Western (Seiyō Jijō).

The longest stay was in London, England, where he stayed from April 30 to June 13 in the New Style calendar. The itinerary during that time is detailed in Fukuzawa's own "Seikōki" (Record of a Voyage to the West), where the names of two Englishmen appear, each on two separate days. They are "Dr. Chambers" and "Dr. Johnson."

"Dr. Chambers" was Thomas King Chambers, born in 1817, who was 44 years old at the time.

Born in London, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford University, and then studied medical sciences at St. George's Hospital at Hyde Park Corner in London. He was a physician specializing in nutrition and digestion and served as one of the first physicians at the newly opened St. Mary's Hospital.

Chambers' career as a doctor was not very long because he later had to undergo amputation of his left leg in 1864 and his right leg in 1878 due to a vascular disorder in his lower limbs. However, the period when Fukuzawa met him was when he was at the height of his career.

The fact that he accompanied the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) on his travels to Italy and Spain in 1859 clearly demonstrates Chambers' reputation as a doctor. Furthermore, most of his lecture notes and papers published in leading British medical journals, such as the British Medical Journal, date from the late 1850s to around 1862 or 1863.

However, his strengths were not limited to his skills as a doctor.

Obituaries from when he passed away in 1889 reveal a personality with a deep knowledge of literature and art, conveying a sense of profound education and refined dignity. He also had a high interest in medical education. Even after retiring to the suburbs, he fulfilled his responsibilities as a representative of Oxford University on the Medical Council, an organization that ensures the quality and qualifications of doctors in the UK, and worked to improve the status of medical sciences at the university. Furthermore, he was a person who made significant contributions to medical education for women. He consistently supported activities to open the doors to the medical profession—which was then male-only—to women from the very beginning and continued to support the London School of Medicine for Women, established in 1874.

On the other hand, "Dr. Johnson" was Edmund Charles Johnson, born in 1822, who was 40 years old when he met Fukuzawa.

Johnson became a doctor after studying at St. George's Hospital, where his older brother practiced surgery. However, a turning point in his life came at the age of 22 when he accompanied the blind Viscount Cranborne on a trip. During this trip, they visited major schools for the blind in Europe. After returning home, he did not return to clinical practice as a doctor but dedicated his life to the welfare of the visually and hearing impaired.

For example, he was not only involved in the management of the London School for the Indigent Blind in Southwark, South London, but also served as a member of the Royal Commission for the Blind and the Deaf and Dumb, and was involved in the management committees of several facilities. He also served as vice-president of a conference for the blind held in Paris in 1878.

In this way, while Johnson devoted himself to the actual management of schools and the enhancement of education, he also left behind written works.

"Tangible Typography" (Tangible Typography), published in 1853, is an introductory book on Braille notation that explains each major notation system with actual examples of Braille embossed on thick paper.

In 1855, he published "An Inquiry into the Musical Instruction of the Blind" (An Inquiry into the Musical Instruction of the Blind). This was a compilation of his observations of music education in schools for the blind in France and Spain. It not only discusses the significance of music education for the visually impaired but also demonstrates how to notate music, contrasting standard musical scores with Braille notation.

Johnson passed away in 1895, and his obituary at the time clearly illustrates his uniqueness. The St. George's Hospital Gazette reported his death with the opening line, "(His death) has removed a St. George's man who went his own way." Additionally, the medical journal The Lancet paid tribute with the opening, "He was the only physician who had long ago given up professional practice to devote himself to improving the condition of the blind and the deaf-mute."

Fukuzawa's itinerary in the local area is detailed in "Seikōki." Let's look at the descriptions related to the two men.

"Went to St. Mary's Hospital with Dr. Chambers, and on the way back, stopped by Chambers' for tea" (Local calendar May 11)

"Went to King's College School with Dr. Chambers, then went to the school for the deaf and mute and saw Dr. Johnson" (May 19)

"Went to St. George's Hospital with Dr. Johnson, and on the way back, went to the school for the deaf and the asylum with Dr. Johnson" (May 20)

Chambers guided Fukuzawa and his companions to St. Mary's Hospital, where he worked. They spent over three hours touring the hospital and its affiliated medical school.

King's College School, which he guided them to the following week, was a school responsible for the primary and secondary education of King's College and was located in the same building as the university at the time. In other words, Fukuzawa observed the state of integrated education from elementary and junior high school students to university students.

Then, Chambers introduced Johnson, and under his guidance, they visited the "School for the Blind," the "School for the Deaf and Mute," and the "Asylum." The "Asylum" refers to a psychiatric hospital, specifically Bethlem Hospital, which was attracting attention at the time for its reforms that considered the patients' living environment.

At the school for the blind, they listened to the students' musical performances and saw the state of education using Braille, as well as education aimed at enabling them to earn a living—that is, vocational training.

At the school for the deaf and mute, he observed and noted down how they learned methods of vocalization and lip-reading to understand sounds from the movement of the other person's mouth. Furthermore, Fukuzawa wrote:

"There was one girl. I asked her, 'How do you do?' She responded and said, 'Very well, thank you.' I also asked, 'How long have you been in this school?' She replied, 'Ten years.' Her quickness was like this."

One can visualize him not just listening to explanations but engaging directly with the students to confirm the results of their education.

A characteristic of Fukuzawa's inspections in London was that he did not merely look at cutting-edge industries, but also focused on the education of people with disabilities as a mechanism that supports the side and bottom of an industrialized society.

In that respect, meeting Johnson through Chambers was a stroke of luck for Fukuzawa.

Chambers was the kind of person who, while escorting Fukuzawa and others from the hospital inspection to the Claridge's Hotel where they were staying, invited them for tea at his home, which happened to be right across from the hotel. Regarding Johnson, Fukuzawa wrote the following at the end of his notes on the school for the blind:

"The superintendent of the school is called Johnson. I am particularly fond of this man."

Finally, I would like to mention the relationship between Chambers and Johnson.

The two studied medical sciences at St. George's Hospital at the same time and were both honored for their excellent grades in the same year, so there is no doubt they were long-time acquaintances. While researching Chambers' books at the British Library, the author once found a book with "EDMUND.C.JOHNSON" stamped on the left side of the front cover and a dedication from the author written on the right page. The dedication was dated February 1887. In other words, their interaction continued until their later years.