Fogarty, John E. A Barefoot Doctor’s Manual: The American Translation of the Official Chinese Paramedical Manual. Running Press, May 1990.

During the Cultural Revolution, society broke down and healthcare was non-existent in rural China. To serve the need for healthcare in rural China, a practical and comprehensive medical handbook called the “Barefoot Doctor’s Manual” was created and “barefoot doctors,” who were essentially laymen who received limited medical training were assigned and sent out to rural areas to tend to the medical needs of the people. This manual is specifically designed to provide practical, easy-to-understand medical instruction to laymen in order to promote healthcare self-sufficiency among the common people of China. During its compilation, original medical texts were gathered, redacted and revised to adapt to modern times.