This paper argues that Dudgeon was prompted to scrutinize the shortcomings of public health measures in Britain by his medical observations in China.

• 本文分析德贞对中国卫生状况的观察和评论，指出他和他的海关同僚在中国观察到西方公共卫生学说难以解释的异常现象，促使他反思英国公共卫生运动的局限。