Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 576

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 576
‘It seems like they’re mixing in opium to alleviate the suffering that accompanies it…?’
Reading my expression, he spoke.
“Of course! Mercury is a powerful substance, so I’m well aware that improper use can damage the body. However, treatment is possible if we use it only to the extent that the patient doesn’t die. But…! Even so, because it’s harmful, I’m using it carefully.”
‘What does it mean to use mercury carefully?’
I was confused, but I forced myself to maintain a composed expression.
‘At least they seem to recognize that mercury is harmful.’
If that’s the case, with proper persuasion, couldn’t I convince them not to use it on people going forward?
I thought to myself.
I spoke.
“Moreover, the defining characteristic of this illness is precisely mania, mania, is it not! While the elderly abandon treatment, for the young who develop mania, I’m prescribing medications using cinnabar. After all, to obtain mercury, one must refine cinnabar.”
‘No no no no no, cinnabar? Zhu sha? They’re using that together with opium?’
Cinnabar. Also called vermillion, a sulfide mineral.
While it’s used as a medicinal ingredient in traditional medicine, refining it yields mercury.
And the non-mercury portion is also used medicinally. That part is used as a panacea for mental stabilization.
It’s said to be effective against mania, and numerous records exist of its actual efficacy.
Naturally.
Doctors throughout the martial world use it frequently.
But because it’s a dangerous medicinal material with significant side effects, the Baekrin Medical Guild prefers to substitute cinnabar with other ingredients.
Yet they’re using this together with opium?
“Couldn’t the patient die if something goes wrong?”
He nodded at those words.
“Regardless of what one does, dosage and administration are crucial. For now, let’s observe the progress, and if the medicine you’ve brought, Baek-ui Sinryong, proves more beneficial, we plan to use that instead.”
I replied.
“More than that, sanitation is what matters.”
“…I’ll take it into consideration.”
The conversation ended there.
All that remained was to go out and ask my Master to send antibiotics.
However, the treatment methods here.
The hollow gazes of the healers and patients.
Even the severe wealth disparity where sanitation was a luxury.
None of it helped with disease prevention, so my heart rotted away.
‘Could they be deliberately glossing over this with no intention of doing it?’
If I observe and it doesn’t work, I’ll have to force the issue.
‘First, I need to request that the nearest Medical Guild also send Sichuan Tang Family brand pesticide.’
Distance is the problem. Distance is.
* * *
Epidemiology and sociology are inseparable.
Especially in this era, humans must pass through others for anything they do.
Meeting family, meeting friends, going to work in the fields.
Beyond that, it’s simply a fact that disease spreads faster in filthy environments.
And the poorer the conditions, the harder it is to maintain cleanliness.
‘If I include the slums, far more people could be infected.’
With Oh Dok-mun, religion had been the problem.
But here, the wealth gap is the issue.
And whether the clinic director properly understood is also a concern.
When I returned to the North Sea Ice Palace, Gongseon Yeong was already waiting for me.
“Hey, why are you so late?”
“There was something complicated. Ah, let me change clothes first.”
I activated the Life Qi once as soon as I left the clinic, but fresh clothes would still be better.
I quickly changed into clean clothes, then activated the Life Qi on the old ones again.
Hwang-gu and Noeji also had the Life Qi finely applied to sear their skin surfaces.
Yelp!
“A bit stinging, isn’t it?”
In truth, it’s not good for the complexion.
If used repeatedly, the skin becomes dry, and some doctors say the skin feels constantly tight and cracked.
In modern terms, it would be like developing dry skin.
But what choice do I have?
A doctor can’t simply avoid doing this.
And these spiritual creatures…
‘They hate the stinging sensation.’
A faint stinging sensation lingers when activating the Life Qi, and the animals don’t enjoy it.
After circulating my inner energy, I realized Gongseon Yeong sensed something was amiss too.
“You should change clothes and wash… Ah. It’ll take a while for the grand bath to be prepared. At least change first.”
“Hm?”
“Just go do it.”
At my words, Gongseon Yeong reluctantly changed clothes.
I grasped Gongseon Yeong’s hand and activated the Life Qi to disinfect it.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”
“I did it a bit strongly. If lice were transmitted, it would be troublesome.”
“Right. Right.”
“So what did you find out? Sister?”
At my question, Gongseon Yeong nodded and unfolded her story.
“Nothing major… well. Anyway, the North Sea Ice Palace and Baekho City were quite wealthy and prosperous even just ten years ago. Even with poverty, there were almost no deaths from starvation. That’s how abundant the game and fish harvests were. The land is volcanic, so it’s fertile too.”
“I see.”
Looking at the current state, it’s hard to imagine.
She continued.
“But roughly ten years ago, things gradually became difficult for no clear reason. Taxes rose considerably, and the people of Baekho City began being treated more harshly.”
“Really? Did the harvest or catch amounts decrease?”
“Not exactly. There was a slight decrease, but not enough to create slums of this scale.”
“There were no slums ten years ago?”
“Right. There weren’t any, they say. Everyone lived pretty much the same way back then.”
“….”
Someone entered at that moment.
“Ah, are you in the middle of a conversation?”
It was the Prince.
I spoke up.
“I’ve asked the attendants to prepare a large bath. First, let’s get you changed into fresh clothes.”
“Hm?”
“Your clothes first. And then get some disinfectant as well.”
And so the Prince found himself changed into fresh clothes without quite understanding what was happening, and was forcibly disinfected.
Only then could he listen to Gongseon Yeong’s story and share what he knew.
“The North Sea Ice Palace Master apparently became authoritarian about ten years ago. Since I’m a prince, I was something of an exception, and after my illness worsened, I barely left the palace grounds, so I didn’t know. But even minor mistakes were met with severe punishment.”
“Severe punishment, you say…?”
“It’s the local method here. At midnight, they spray cold water on the limbs, and once frostbite causes numbness, they amputate.”
“Eeeek!”
Gongseon Yeong was greatly shocked.
“Of course, most don’t freeze that cleanly and just freeze to death from the cold. But even if they survive, it’s a problem. They have to get through winter missing at least one limb.”
“…That’s far beyond mere flogging.”
“In the past, he rarely even administered flogging. I can’t understand why he’s changed so much….”
“….”
I fell into deep thought for a while.
Eventually, I asked various questions about the former Master and the current Master.
Then I asked this:
“Would it be possible for me to take his pulse?”
“You’re suggesting it could be a health issue.”
At those words, I scratched my cheek.
“There are many factors that can change a person’s temperament… but given that he’s changed so drastically without any major incident, I’d have to consider the possibility of a tumor or even the precursor signs of demonic cultivation obsession.”
“Hmm, couldn’t it just be that his personality changed as he aged?”
“Yes. That’s possible too.”
The Prince spoke.
“If it’s not an illness, then my Master’s disposition simply underwent some change. They say people don’t change easily, but then again, change is also something that happens easily. And demonic cultivation….”
“The Guardian Church forbids it, right?”
“That’s right.”
The reason the Aisha Kingdom also forbade demonic cultivation was because of the Guardian Church, and the North Sea Ice Palace also believed in the Guardian Church.
“In any case, there’s no way that Master would permit me to take his pulse.”
I nodded in agreement.
“For now, I’m planning to visit the treatment facility starting tomorrow. No matter how I think about it, that director won’t cooperate with me.”
“Hm?”
“There are treatment medicines, but cleanliness must come first. We need to clean everything thoroughly. Burn it all if necessary. That’s the priority.”
Gongseon Yeong spoke.
“You’re not planning to just leave it alone since it’s just a bird?”
“Haha, sister. I guarantee you that if we leave this for just one month, it will spread to the Middle Kingdom. Your neighborhood will be crawling with it, won’t it? And if a great plague breaks out, it will spread even further.”
“Eek?”
“That’s always how epidemics work. Now is always the best time to treat it. If we leave it alone, it can only get worse. Once we start drawing lines between your territory and mine, we all go down together. These things don’t care about borders, or anything else for that matter.”
The Prince, who had been listening quietly, asked.
“How does one kill it?”
“For now… until the pesticide arrives from the Tang Family, we’ll have to use substitutes. The effect will be limited, though.”
I explained that first, then went through each method one by one.
First.
Smoke.
Burn medicinal herbs inside the house and seal the windows and doors.
Once that’s done, the insects either suffocate and die, or some escape outside. This must be done first.
Second.
Pesticide.
Spray a toxic liquid that kills insects.
The Tang Family formula is effective, though not as environmentally safe as modern pesticides. Still, it’s far better than living alongside these creatures.
Strong alcohol is also said to be effective, but it can actually attract other insects, so I wanted to avoid it if possible.
Third.
This is the basics.
Wash, boil, or burn bedding and clothing.
These three measures alone can prevent the spread of this epidemic.
It’s actually easier to handle than cholera or typhoid fever. There’s no water contamination issue.
“Pretty simple, right?”
But the Prince let out a troubled sigh.
“…We’re finished.”
“I’ve given strict instructions to Saint Germain.”
“It’s not even a matter of drug costs—that much is entirely manageable. And I’ll speak to my Master about that part specially. If the Palace Master, my Master, issues an order, it will certainly be possible.”
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
As we were exchanging words like that, an attendant arrived.
“The Palace Master summons you!”
“Perfect timing.”
I rose to my feet.
* * *
After bathing in the great bathhouse and adjusting my medical robes, I headed to meet the Palace Master.
The North Sea Ice Palace Master sat upon something like a throne, just as I had seen her the first time, and beside her stood the Saint quietly.
And below the Palace Master, a line of individuals with intense martial auras stretched out.
Their attire was completely different from anything in Gangho.
They wore leather armor with chain mail layered over it.
The helmets had a Viking-like appearance, with leather padding on the inside.
‘Similar to a Nordic Viking warrior.’
Though the North Sea Ice Palace used the language of the Middle Kingdom, it was clear their food, clothing, and shelter were heavily influenced by the Western Continent.
The Palace Master spoke.
“Jin Sogakju. I have given thought to your proposal. However, I find it lacks credibility. Your medical skill in treating the Prince may be genuine, but this matter is separate from that.”
“….”
I offered a respectful bow without responding.
Only my blue eyes remained clear between strands of hair.
The Palace Master continued.
“Even if you are a truthful person, could it not be that you are fundamentally mistaken about the martial prowess of the Middle Kingdom people?”
“….”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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