The genuine tryal of Dr. Nosmoth, a physician in Pekin: For the murder of the Mandarin Tonwin, treasurer to the army of the emperor of China, before the great council of Mandarines: Play Guide and Fre
The genuine tryal of Dr. Nosmoth, a physician in Pekin: For the murder of the Mandarin Tonwin, treasurer to the army of the emperor of China, before the great council of Mandarines: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The genuine tryal of Dr. Nosmoth, a physician in Pekin: For the murder of the Mandarin Tonwin, treasurer to the army of the emperor of China, before the great council of Mandarines is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Anonymous.
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The genuine tryal of Dr. Nosmoth, a physician in Pekin : For the murder of the…" is a satirical legal drama published in the mid-18th century. Presented as the official shorthand account of a sensational trial at the imperial Chinese court, the book offers a mock-transcript of the proceedings against Dr. Nosmoth, accused of causing the death of the esteemed Mandarin Tonwin. Though presented with the formal trappings of a serious historical document, the work is a clear parody of both legal procedure and medical practice of its era, drawing on contemporary debates in England. The likely topic centers on a physician’s responsibility in the death of a prominent patient, set against a backdrop of courtly intrigue and exaggerated judicial process. The book begins by describing the highly regulated practice of medicine in China, emphasizing rigorous ethics and strict government oversight. Dr. Nosmoth stands accused of having killed Mandarin Tonwin, the emperor’s treasurer, by reckless medical practice—namely excessive bleeding and purging, allegedly encouraged by outdated or self-serving ideas. The trial unfolds with arguments between the emperor’s council and the defense, lampooning the inflexibility and even absurdity of both the medical establishment and judicial systems. Satirical exchanges highlight the perils of following rigid doctrines over practical adaptation. Ultimately, though the court tries Dr. Nosmoth and delivers a sentence (deliberately left unpublished), the text ends as a cautionary, comedic reflection on the dangers of medical dogmatism and professional jealousy, as well as a jab at legal pomp and bureaucracy.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The genuine tryal of Dr. Nosmoth, a physician in Pekin: For the murder of the Mandarin Tonwin, treasurer to the army of the emperor of China, before the great council of Mandarines
- Author credits: Anonymous
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Satire, English -- Early works to 1800
- Thompson, Thomas, -1763
- Winnington, Thomas, 1696-1746
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery
- Category: Humour
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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