Norman Bethune was born in Graven Hurst, Ontario, Canada in 1890. His family had a long history of human service, a fact that undoubtedly shaped his life in later years. From the outset, as a young university student, he developed a mission, or goal in life, of compassion(憐憫) and commitment to helping the less fortunate to find freedom from the chains of poverty. In earnest, he developed a selflessness(無私) that dominated his whole life, but not without personal sacrifice. He was in a troubled marriage that consequently ended in divorce. Progressive medicine and humanitarian(人道主義的) deeds became the sole purposes of his life. Understandably, his much younger wife, Frances, could not tolerate this situation.
諾爾曼·白求恩于1890年出生在加拿大安大略省的格雷文赫斯特。他的家族有從事公共事業(yè)的悠久歷史，這毫無疑問地影響了他以后的發(fā)展。從一開始，他還是一個青年大學(xué)生的時候，他就立下志向，他的叢生目標(biāo)就是要有一顆憐憫之心，承擔(dān)起社會責(zé)任，幫助不幸的人們擺脫貧困的桎梏，獲得自由。他堅定不移地培養(yǎng)了一種無私的精神，這種精神貫穿他的一生，從不考慮個人的得失。他有一次不成功的婚姻，最終以離婚收場。他生活中的唯一目的是讓醫(yī)術(shù)精益求精和積極從事人道主義活動。在這種情況下，可想而知，比他年輕得多的妻子弗朗西斯是難以接受的。
From 1911to 1912, Bethune worked as a lumberjack and teacher in a remote area of Ontario. He taught at “Frontier College”, a unique school that provided basic education to adult workers at the lumber camps. During the First World War, he became a stretcher(擔(dān)架)-bearer (helping to carry the wounded from the battlefields). He, himself, was wounded by shrapnel(流彈) (fragments of exploding shells). He was confined, as a patient, to hospitals for months, receiving therapy and recuperating(復(fù)原) from his injuries. After the war, he completed his internship(實習(xí)醫(yī)師期) at the hospital for sick children in London, England, leading to a certificate as “A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons(外科醫(yī)生)”.
1911年到1912年，白求恩在安大略的一個偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)做一名伐木工和教師。他在“邊疆學(xué)院”教書。那是一所專門為伐木營地的成年工人提供基礎(chǔ)教育的學(xué)校。第一次大戰(zhàn)期間，他成了一名擔(dān)架手(幫助從戰(zhàn)場上運送傷員)。他自己也被流彈(爆炸后彈殼的碎片)所傷。作為一個病人，他不得不在醫(yī)院住了幾個月，接受治療，等待傷口康復(fù)。戰(zhàn)后，他在英國倫敦的兒童醫(yī)院完成了實習(xí)醫(yī)師期，領(lǐng)到了“皇家外科醫(yī)學(xué)院會員”的資格證書。
Later, in the United States, Bethune came in contact with poverty and deprivation(落后), but his skills as a doctor also attracted wealthy patients who were willing to pay for services usually denied to the poor. He began to appreciate how money was corrupting(腐蝕,使墮落) the medical system. He developed an acute concern for the unattended(未被注意的) medical needs and suffering among the poor. His mission was to relieve, as much as he could, the plight(困境) of the less fortunate. He was appalled(使震驚) at the indifference shown by governments to these conditions. It was at his time that his own health suffered a setback([疾病的]復(fù)發(fā)). He had developed tuberculosis(肺結(jié)核) of the left lung and had to undergo a successful but dangerous operation. This episode with his health had a tremendous impact on his life. It stimulated an interest in thoracic(胸的) medicine, especially the surgical(外科的) aspects in this field and for a couple of years he worked at a tuberculosis hospital in the United States.
之后，在美國，白求恩就與貧窮和落后聯(lián)系在一起了。但他的醫(yī)術(shù)也吸引了富有的病人，他們可以付錢來得到那些通常拒絕對窮人進行的治療。他認(rèn)識到金錢是如何腐蝕醫(yī)療系統(tǒng)的，并開始急切地關(guān)注被人忽視的窮人中的醫(yī)療需求和苦難。他的使命就是盡其所能地使不幸的人們擺脫困境。他對政府漠視這些情況感到震驚。也就在這時，他自己的健康開始惡化。他的左肺染上了肺結(jié)核，于是他進行了一次成功但很危險的手術(shù)。健康上出現(xiàn)的這一段插曲，對他的一生產(chǎn)生了極大的影響。這激發(fā)了他對心胸科醫(yī)學(xué)，特別是該領(lǐng)域的外科方面的興趣，促使他在美國的一家肺病醫(yī)院工作了幾年。
Following this interval in the United States, in 1929, he began to specialize in thoracic medicine at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. He also began to write in medical journals, outlining new surgical techniques. Later, he invented developed and refined surgical instruments.
In 1935, he journeyed to the Soviet Union to attend the International Physiological Congress. The Communist Parties of Canada and the United States had made arrangements for him to go. By this time, Bethune had become a member of the Communist Party of Canada. Returning to Canada, he was convinced, more than ever, that democratic societies needed to develop publicly financed health care for all of their citizens. Bethune had earlier set up a free medical clinic in Montreal. His conscience dictated that he should work for this goal.
在美國工作的這段時間之后，1929年，他開始成為蒙特利爾的皇家維多利亞醫(yī)院胸科醫(yī)學(xué)專家。他開始在醫(yī)學(xué)雜志上撰寫文章介紹新的外科技術(shù)。后來，他發(fā)明、研究并改進了外科儀器。1935年，他到蘇聯(lián)訪問，出席國際生理學(xué)大會，是加拿大共產(chǎn)黨和美國共產(chǎn)黨安排他去的。那時，白求恩已經(jīng)是一名加拿大共產(chǎn)黨員。回到加拿大后，他更加深信民主國家需要建立針對所有公民的公共健康保障體系。早些時候白求恩在蒙特利爾建了一所免費診所。他的良心支配著他為這些目標(biāo)而工作。
The Struggle of the Spanish Republic against Fascist(法西斯主義著) aggression took him to Spain for a medical adventure and challenge. In Madrid, he pioneered a mobile blood transfusion(輸血) unit in the field. He collected blood, which was then transported to where it was needed for the wounded along the 600-mile battlefront. These efforts were reported to have reduced deaths from war by up to 75%. Thousands of people owed their lives to Dr. Bethune. His bedside manner became legendary, and it was another measure of this man.
后來，西班牙共和國反抗法西斯侵略的斗爭使他來到西班牙進行一次醫(yī)學(xué)上的冒險和挑戰(zhàn)。在馬德里，他首創(chuàng)了一家戰(zhàn)地流動血站。他收集血液，然后沿600英里的前線送到傷員需要的地方。據(jù)所道，這些努力將戰(zhàn)爭中的死亡率減少到75%。成千上萬的人感謝白求恩大夫挽救了他們的生命。他對待病人的態(tài)度也享有盛名，它也是這個人物的另一個側(cè)面。
He returned to Canada to go on a speaking tour to raise money for humanitarian efforts among the Spanish people. During this circuit of speaking engagements, Bethune elaborated eloquently(口才流利的) on the desperate needs of these people. His ability to communicate effectively made this tour a success. His undisputed(無可置辯的) talents were attracting widespread attention. Dr. Bethune became the ultimate international volunteer to help less fortunate people whatever he could. In the meantime, Japan was resuming its aggression against China. The decade of the 1930’s was the era of Fascist aggression throughout the world. Bethune’s knowledge of the long history of western aggression and exploitation in China made him conclude that his services were needed there.
他回到加拿大繼續(xù)巡回演講，為西班牙人民的人道主義需要籌集資金。在這次巡回演講期間，白求恩竭盡所能，詳細(xì)描述了那里的人民的迫切需要。他那卓越的交際能力使得這次巡回演講獲得成功。他的勿庸置疑的才能引起了廣泛注意，白求恩大夫成了杰出的國際志愿者，竭盡所能幫助不幸的人民。與此同時，日本開始入侵中國。19世紀(jì)30年代是法西斯肆虐全世界的時期。白求恩知道西方對中國長期進行侵略和剝削的歷史，這讓他認(rèn)定那里需要他的服務(wù)。
In January 1938, he sailed to Mainland China. He stated that he refused to condone(寬恕) (or support) wars which greedy men make against others. He went on to say that Spain and China respectively were parts of the same battle (against Fascism). The Japanese had chased the Chinese into the northwest part of the latter’s country. Mao Tsedung met Bethune only once, but they remained acquaintances by correspondence.
1938年1月，他乘船來到中國大陸。他說，他無法容忍貪婪的人所發(fā)動的侵害另一部分人的戰(zhàn)爭。他繼續(xù)宣講西班牙和中國都是同一場戰(zhàn)爭(反對法西斯主義)的組成部分。日本人已經(jīng)把中國人逼近到了中國的西北部。毛澤東只與白求恩見過一面，但他們通過書信保持聯(lián)系。
Bethune almost immediately set out for the hazardous(復(fù)雜危險的) surroundings of the mountain ranges of Yen an. In the company of the Eighth Route Army, Bethune practiced his profession as best as he could. There were no mobile units and there was a desperate need to recruit medical trainees and convey his knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the soldiers. Consequently, there was an urgent requirement for illustrated medical manuals.
白求恩立即投身到延安山區(qū)復(fù)雜危險的環(huán)境中。在八路軍的協(xié)助下，白求恩盡其所能地發(fā)揮他的專業(yè)特長。沒有移動的設(shè)備，急需征召實習(xí)醫(yī)生，將他的知識和技能傳授給他們，以滿足部隊的需要。相應(yīng)的，還急需帶圖解的醫(yī)療手冊。
Both soldiers and peasants required a good deal of medical attention. Again, under very trying(難受的,費勁的) conditions, and with a lot of nerve, determination and courage, Bethune and his crew of Chinese assistants were eventually able to establish and coordinate over twenty medical and nursing teaching hospitals. Because of shortages of personnel and other difficulties, Bethune himself routinely operated for days without reasonable breaks. In one period, he worked continually for sixty-nine hours on a total of one hundred and fifteen patients. His ability to endure such hard conditions and retain his sanity(頭腦清醒) was little short of a miracle(奇跡). It was under these conditions that his life became abruptly(突然的) doomed(注定). In October of 1939, possible suffering from extreme fatigue, he accidentally cut his left hand with the blade of his scalpel(解剖刀). Without proper medical supplies and with germs everywhere, his hand became infected and blood poisoning (a disease called septicemia) spread. He died on November 12, 1939.
Dr. Norman Bethune’s stature ([思想的] 境界, 高度) became even greater in death. The affection of the Chinese people for him swelled Emotions ran high upon the news of his death. His capacity to move people, and his insight into humanity was never so evident as during this period. The Chinese people were extremely grateful that such a man had crossed their paths.
士兵和農(nóng)民們都需要醫(yī)療。為此，在極端困難的情況下，憑著膽識、決心和勇氣，白求恩和他的中國助手們終于建立和配備了20多所醫(yī)療和護理教學(xué)醫(yī)院。由于人員短缺和其他困難，白求恩自己整天還要照例進行手術(shù)，休息不足。有段時間，他為115個病人連續(xù)工作了69個小時。他忍受這種艱苦條件和保持頭腦清醒的能力真是一個奇跡。這樣的條件注定了他突如其來的命運。1939年，也許是極度疲勞的緣故，他意外地被他的解剖刀片割破了左手。沒有必需的藥品，到處是細(xì)菌，他手上的傷口因而受到感染，血液中毒(一種叫做敗血病的疾病)擴散開來。他于1939年11月12日去世。諾爾曼·白求恩大夫的崇高精神在他去世后影響更加深遠(yuǎn)。中國人民更加熱愛他。他去世的消息使人們非常悲痛。他激勵人們的這種能力和他對人道主義的洞察力從來都不像這時如此的明顯。中國人民非常感謝這位把足跡留在他們土地上的人。
During this solemn time, tributes to Bethune came from many parts of the world. He was described as an activist, a writer, a teacher, an administrator, and above all, a great doctor. Mao said of him, “… We must all learn the spirit of absolute selflessness from him.”
在這個莊嚴(yán)的時刻，對白求恩的悼念來自全世界。他被稱為活動家、作家、教師、管理者，還有最主要的，是一個偉大的醫(yī)生。毛澤東說“……我們必須學(xué)習(xí)他毫不利已的精神”。
After a very simple funeral, as he, had requested, Dr. Norman Bethune was buried in the Mausoleum (陵墓) of the Martyrs in Shih Chia Chuang, southeast of Beijing. The Chinese named a medical school and a hospital in his memory. Many other memorials have been erected in his memory over the years.One ironic(具有諷刺意味的) tragedy of all of this was that, up until 1973, Dr. Bethune had never received much recognition from his native country of Canada. Furthermore, he was not even acknowledged for his accomplishments, presumably because of his communist connection. In 1973, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, another Canadian who had spent a good deal of time in China in his earlier years, convinced his Government to purchase the Bethune house in Graven Hurst, Ontario, and dedicated(把…用于) it as “Bethune Memorial House”.
在一個按他本人生前要求的非常簡單的葬禮之后，諾爾曼?白求恩大夫埋葬在北京東南的石家莊的烈士陵墓。中國人以他的名字命名了一所醫(yī)學(xué)院和一所醫(yī)院。多年來，各地建了許多懷念他的紀(jì)念碑和紀(jì)念館。
與此相反，具有諷刺意味的是，直到1973年，白求恩大夫還沒有在他的祖國加拿大得到應(yīng)有的承認(rèn)。甚至于連他的造詣都不被認(rèn)可(可能是因為他是共產(chǎn)主義者的關(guān)系)。1975年，皮爾·特魯多總理，早年在中國度過很長時間的另一位加拿大人，說服了他的政府，買下了安大略省格雷文赫斯特的白求恩的房子，用作“白求恩紀(jì)念館”。
Dr. Bethune’s impact on medicine was not singular. His career was very comprehensive, as noted above, as he attained an extraordinary list of accomplishments of highest merit. Among his many goals, was one goal that was not fulfilled until after his death? In 1938, while in china, he recommended a universal health system for Canada. Ironically, Donald Sutherland, the Canadian actor who played Bethune in the movie about the latter’s life, called “Bethune: the Making of a Hero”, had been married to the daughter of Douglas. Douglas, when he was the Socialist Premier of Saskatchewan, a western province in Canada, set up a social medicine scheme in his province. Later, in the 1960’s, as a Member of Parliament in the national government, Douglas Played a significant role in establishing a national health system. He later became known as the father of Canada’s Medicare system, as it was eventually called.
白求恩大夫在醫(yī)學(xué)上的影響是多方面的。如上所述，他的職業(yè)生活涉及面十分廣泛，他取得了一系列卓越成就。在他的許多目標(biāo)中，有一個直到他去世之后才完成。1938年，還在中國的時候，他建議在加拿大建立全民保健制度。巧合得很，在一部關(guān)于白求恩生平的電影“英雄白求恩”中扮演白求恩的加拿大演員，唐納德薩瑟蘭，娶了道格拉斯的女兒。道格拉斯在擔(dān)任薩斯喀徹溫省(加拿大西部的一個省份)社會黨總理時，在該省建立了社會醫(yī)療制度。后來，在20世紀(jì)60年代，作為中央政府的一名國會議員，道格拉斯在建立全國衛(wèi)生保健制度的過程中扮演了一個很重要的角色。他最后成為著名的加拿大醫(yī)療保險制度的創(chuàng)始人。
Bethune is probably best known for his introduction of the mobile blood bank to the battlefield, and giving blood transfusions(輸血) in the midst of heavy fighting. China worships him almost as a saint. Upon his death, the Chinese gave him a fond farewell. The charity of his soul still lives on among many Chinese. As Canadian teachers in China, we are often greeted by Chinese people, who make references of praise to this Great Canadian Doctor and humanitarian. Unfortunately, many Canadians know little about the incredible work for humanity undertaken by this remarkable man. This decent, in many ways, simple man was, indeed, one of the great world ambassadors who fought for the poor and less fortunate.
或許，白求恩因為他首次把流動血站引進戰(zhàn)場并在激烈戰(zhàn)斗當(dāng)中進行輸血治療而聲名遠(yuǎn)播。中國幾乎尊他為圣人。對于他的去世，中國人表示了深切地悼念。他的博愛精神仍然活在許多中國人的心中。作為在中國的加拿大教師，我們常常受到中國人的禮遇，他們經(jīng)常提到并贊揚這位偉大的加拿大醫(yī)生和人道主義者。不幸的是，許多加拿大人對這位非凡的人所從事過的難以置信的人道主義工作知之甚少。這位正派樸素的人，的確是一位與貧窮和不幸做斗爭的偉大的國際大使。
