Careers

Henderson's sudden independence forced him to seek out random jobs. His first boss was a farmer who paid him less than a shilling a week, which was upsetting since he worked too hard.^[8] Then, he worked for another farmer until he was sixteen years old. His third job was being a servant to the surgeon of the district, which most certainly was when his interest in medicine spurred.^[9] Then, he was an underbutler. In 1859, he became a Director of the London Missionary Society. His most notable profession was running the Renji hospital. Meantime, he subsequently attained the position as vice-president of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.^[10]

Early Influences/Inspiration

Overall, Henderson endured a childhood of monotony, and was able to find happiness in the few opportunities he received to be educated after the age of sixteen years. He looked up to his mother and credited her for his actions: “I had the greatest love and reverence for my mother; whatever she said I most firmly believed was right, and whatever she intimated I ought to do, I was only too glad to do it. Nothing could give me greater pain than to think she was displeased with me; nor can I recall to this day one single act of disobedience to her, thank God!” ^[11] The other minor impact was his maternal grandfather who gave him plentiful advice. Perhaps, the greatest influence came from the poor class, who inspired Henderson with their feelings of gratitude even in times of great suffering. Hence, he was motivated to seek opportunities in the “large field of usefulness.”^[12]

Turning Point

On 18 December 1856 Henderson attended a meeting of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society (EMMS) and decided to become a medical missionary. By this time, the society unanimously adopted twenty-eight year-old Henderson.^[19]

Early efforts

Henderson yearned to be a popular physician, specifically, a surgeon beyond his native land. In August 1858, there was no opening abroad and he settled for private practice in the native country in Rhynie, Aberdeenshire for seven months.^[20] Much to his dismay, he was unsatisfied even though his business was very successful. In 1859, under the supervision of Reverend G.D. Cullen, he applied to the Directors of London Missionary Society. A fellow director expressed his gratitude for Dr. James Henderson to join their team: “His self-possessed manner, gentlemanly bearing, and frank answers to all the questions put to him in turn by the several members of the committee, excited special interest in him as a man; while his evident simple-hearted devotedness to the great work of Christian missions, his anxiety to consecrate his talents and attainments to the service of Christ among the Chinese as a missionary physician, and his manifest intelligence and proved energy of character, secured the suffrages of the whole board, and he was unanimously accepted.” After joining this society, Henderson was assigned by Dr. Elijah Coleman Bridgman to take over the Chinese Hospital in Shanghai, formerly run by Mr. William Lockhart (surgeon) and Dr. Benjamin Hobson.^[21]

Journey

On 22 October 1859 Henderson boarded Heroes of Alma at Gravesend with six other missionaries.^[22] After arriving in Shanghai, Henderson took over the Renji hospital, founded fifteen years earlier. In the hospital, the daily routine consisted of religious services in the morning, examining cases, giving out prescriptions, and culminated with performing surgeries. The unique thing about Henderson's practice was the method in which patients were examined- ten women, then ten men, followed by same pattern until finished.^[23] Perhaps, his deep gratitude for women came from his mother, which is why he considered the female gender to be superior to the male gender. Using the help of Chin Foo,^[24] a local loyal apothecary and house surgeon, Henderson was able to treat around twenty thousand patients within the first few months. One of the most common cases were opium smokers who wanted to quit. Another frequent miracle performed by the foreign doctor was giving sight to the blind. A hospital associate described the success and variety of his work: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them."^[25]

Perhaps, the one thing that made Henderson widely noticed was his usage of chloroform,^[26] which he used as anesthesia to deal with sleeping sickness. Having gained the trust of the locals, the Chinese patients were under the spell of Henderson and his magic. Since he integrated himself into the local community, he felt the importance for natives to obtain translated reports of incidents that occurred in the hospital.^[27] He participated in bi-monthly conferences, where he read his original papers about medical missions. One time at a Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland meeting, he got and read his research notes on the physical causes that modify climate. Besides leaving a piece of him in his writings, his dedication towards helping nearby missions and helping future doctors was a critical characteristic about him. Fortunately, on top of his busy schedule, Henderson managed to examine dead bodies ^[28] and thus, provide crucial information for researchers in the future. On 10 January 1862 Henderson abruptly left to England, where he married a woman he met when he departed for Shanghai and soon, had a baby girl.^[29] He greatly desired to go back, which he did in May. James Henderson dedicated his life to medical missionary work for three years until his unfortunate death by unknown reasons.