And a spirit - the spirit of Professor Deng Tietao's rise and fall in the survival struggle of TCM technology is endless. In order to carry out the work, Old Deng brainstormed for the Guangdong Provincial Hospital, grasping the backbone of the hospital's TCM team building, enhancing learning and traditional Chinese medicine theory. Moreover, he came forward to hire over a dozen well-known old Chinese medical seniors with rich experience and advanced technology. The senior apprentices again modeled a team with their apprentices. After two or three years of hard work, the professional ideology, business backbone, and standards were improved, attracting more patients and increasing the volume of business. Teaching achievements and scientific research also stood out. During the fight against SARS, the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine was able to stand on the front line, becoming an important position for fighting SARS by sending young Chinese medical professionals to Hong Kong to jointly combat SARS, demonstrating effectiveness. In the future, the Health Department employs experts from the hospital of traditional Chinese medicine to conduct exchanges and cooperation, all thanks to the Greater Vancouver class division.
In addition, Old Deng provided great support for the forum on traditional Chinese medicine class at Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Although he could not attend due to his 88-year-old journey being tired, he gave reports to thousands of students in the hospital and provided many valuable comments and ideas through exchanges and discussions with the hospital teachers.
In the spring of 2003, when the SARS outbreak occurred in Guangdong and spread nationwide, Old Deng keenly realized that the outbreak of SARS was a bad thing but also a powerful opportunity to demonstrate the treatment of epidemics using traditional Chinese medicine, which was both a challenge and an opportunity. Old Deng believed that TCM had a completely different theory and clinical medical technology compared to Western medicine and should be duty-bound in the battle against SARS, fully utilizing its combat power.
With confidence, Old Deng joined the front line in the fight against SARS at the Guangdong Provincial Hospital, analyzing the condition with his disciples, discussing treatments and prescriptions, and saving SARS patients from death. He timely shared experiences and theoretical discussions, publishing a paper on the diagnosis and treatment of atypical pneumonia using TCM, thereby enhancing confidence and determination to overcome SARS. From a higher national perspective, Old Deng timely wrote letters to the President and the Minister of Health, strongly advocating for the importance and necessity of involving TCM in the fight against SARS. This received full affirmation from the central Ministry of Health's decision-making, playing a role in promoting TCM's participation in the national battle against SARS. With the participation of TCM, China’s treatment of SARS significantly surpassed the world. Especially in the Guangdong region, where the outbreak of SARS was first ravaged for the longest time and had the highest incidence, it had the lowest mortality rate because the masses in Guangdong welcomed TCM in daily life, habitually drinking herbal tea. In the days and nights of fighting SARS, TCM penetrated every corner, from prevention to treatment to rescue. This indisputable fact affirms TCM's unwavering power in combating SARS, even recognized by the World Health Organization.
In recognition of Old Deng's contributions, he was awarded by the Association of Chinese Medicine on behalf of the Ministry of Health in Beijing. If we say that enduring several hardships, losing both legs, and giving heirlooms reflect unyielding dedication worthy of praise, then predecessors like Old Deng devoted their lives to worrying about the cause of Chinese medicine, working to promote the motherland's medical school. They gave their sincere hearts and hot blood, offering the treasure of Chinese culture - to alleviate the sufferings of the Chinese nation and humankind as a whole through Chinese medicine, which is greater than any handed-down treasure and has far-reaching implications.
What forces drove Old Deng to tirelessly struggle? From Old Deng's letter to the Guangzhou College of Traditional Chinese Medicine's 82 students, we can find the answer. Old Deng wrote: love, master the system of Chinese medicine theory, use it in medicine to lift the sufferings of the people, possess a scientific mind, have extensive knowledge, and be determined to utilize new technologies for the development of Chinese medicine, thereby developing new technologies and medicine. It is attainable if one is determined, has clear bones, and a clear direction. For the socialist motherland, for thousands of years, the art of qi HUANG did not lack passionate love. This passion continues to inspire his own source of strength to struggle. [Received 2004-12-20]