Taiwan is a subtropical island with a humid climate, an environment which caused considerable problems for the early missionaries. Many endured repeated bouts of malaria and dysentery, and Dr. Landsborough himself suffered through several debilitating attacks which brought him close to resigning from the mission.
台灣地處亞熱帶，多數傳教士對這樣的氣候環境無法適應，紛紛感染瘧疾、痢疾，而且不時反覆發作，常叫他們吃盡苦頭。蘭醫師幾度因瘧疾、痢疾病倒，宿疾一再復發曾使他萌生辭職的念頭。