William McMichael's The Golden Cane is a classic medical narrative that tells the story of a Kiangjian cane that has traveled from one eminent doctor to another for over a century. This book is not only a retrospective of medical practice, but also a view of life and death, illness and recovery through the lens of medical history. The author tells about the distinctive characters of his colleagues, about their habits and methods of treatment, as well as about the influence they had on the society of their time. "The Golden Cane" is a work that tells about medical art and its dedication to helping people, about the tragedy and triumph of erudition, pain and hope.