diff --git a/itchat/__init__.py b/itchat/__init__.py
index 56cac98..4beec48 100644
--- a/itchat/__init__.py
+++ b/itchat/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import time
 from .client import client
 from . import content # this is for creating pyc
 
-__version__ = '1.1.17'
+__version__ = '1.1.18'
 
 __client = client()
 HOT_RELOAD = False
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ def get_batch_contract(groupUserName): return __client.update_chatroom(groupUser
 # <<<
 
 # if toUserName is set to None, msg will be sent to yourself
+def send_raw_msg(msgType, content, toUserName): return __client.send_raw_msg(msgType, content, toUserName)
 def send_msg(msg = 'Test Message', toUserName = None): return __client.send_msg(msg, toUserName)
 def send_file(fileDir, toUserName): return __client.send_file(fileDir, toUserName)
 def send_video(fileDir, toUserName): return __client.send_video(fileDir, toUserName)
diff --git a/itchat/client.py b/itchat/client.py
index d5dcb76..0afd0e5 100644
--- a/itchat/client.py
+++ b/itchat/client.py
@@ -539,21 +539,24 @@ class client(object):
             in msg['Content']
             or
             msg['Content'].endswith(atFlag))
-    def send_msg(self, msg ='Test Message', toUserName = None):
+    def send_raw_msg(self, msgType, content, toUserName):
         url = '%s/webwxsendmsg'%self.loginInfo['url']
         payloads = {
             'BaseRequest': self.loginInfo['BaseRequest'],
             'Msg': {
-                'Type': 1,
-                'Content': msg,
+                'Type': msgType,
+                'Content': content,
                 'FromUserName': self.storageClass.userName,
                 'ToUserName': (toUserName if toUserName else self.storageClass.userName),
                 'LocalID': int(time.time()),
                 'ClientMsgId': int(time.time()),
                 }, }
         headers = { 'ContentType': 'application/json; charset=UTF-8' }
-        r = self.s.post(url, data = json.dumps(payloads, ensure_ascii = False).encode('utf8'), headers = headers)
-        return r.json()['BaseResponse']['Ret'] == 0
+        r = self.s.post(url, data=json.dumps(payloads, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf8'), headers=headers)
+        return r.json()
+    def send_msg(self, msg='Test Message', toUserName=None):
+        r = self.send_raw_msg(1, msg, toUserName)
+        return r['BaseResponse']['Ret'] == 0
     def __upload_file(self, fileDir, isPicture = False, isVideo = False):
         if not tools.check_file(fileDir): return
         url = self.loginInfo.get('fileUrl', self.loginInfo['url']) + \