A Brief Historiography Of The Opium Trade With A New Evaluation Of Dr. William H. Park's Opinions Of Over 100 Physicians On The Use Of Opium In China

Author

Kimberly Gasparini

Date of Award

January 2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

James Mochoruk

Abstract

This thesis provides a brief historiography of the opium trade between Britain and China from the mid-nineteenth through the early twentieth centuries, followed by a reexamination of Dr. William H. Park's Opinions of Over 100 Physicians on the Use of Opium in China. While Dr. Park's compilation was critical in the fight to outlaw the legal opium trade, there were inherent problems with the document. R. K. Newman challenged the veracity of this document in 1995, but stopped short of offering an in-depth appraisal of the report. This thesis provides that critique, followed by suggestions for future utilization of this important primary source.

Recommended Citation

Gasparini, Kimberly, "A Brief Historiography Of The Opium Trade With A New Evaluation Of Dr. William H. Park's Opinions Of Over 100 Physicians On The Use Of Opium In China" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 1534.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/1534