在台灣現代醫政發展的過程中，西方醫學扮演著相當重要的角色。然而檢視台灣醫療史時，明確以西方醫療為主體的醫政發展亦不過是百多年而已，可見在大部分的歷史時空裡，台灣醫療體系係呈現出多元複雜的發展景觀。為探討日治前台灣醫療這般多元複雜的圖像，本文以「雪泥鴻爪的醫療顯像」來彰顯該時期巫醫、漢醫、西醫等在台灣的發展痕跡，再以「醫政關係的歷史糾結」來探討這些醫療體系在台灣社會中所各自盤據的歷史主體及其影響力。最後在「殖民醫學的文化侵吞」之論述中，指出西醫在殖民勢力支撐下的異軍突起，而成為台灣現代醫政體系萌芽的標的。
In the development of medical care of Taiwan, western medical system has played a critical role. However, a closer examination of Taiwan medical history showed that the influence of western medicine on Taiwan is only about a hundred years. It indicated that the development of Taiwanese medical care system is affected not only by the western, medicine but a number of other systems. Exploring the complex interactions of different systems, the present study disclosed three medical systems in the mainstream of Taiwanese medical care development during pre-Japan-occupied era, namely, witch medicine, Chinese medicine, and western medicine. In addition, by tracing their influences, the present study pointed out that the western medicine supported by the Japanese government then emerged as the most powerful force in its colony, Taiwan. Consequently, it became the landmark of the modern history of Taiwan medical care as a result of medical and political interplay.
