Chapter 112

112. The Orthopedic Father (1)

****

What the… Letters actually arrived.

And not just one or two. Just as I’d lied to Istina, are these really offers to invest in medicine production? That’d be nice…

Of course, they could also be spam mail.

In this world, spam mail is a serious problem—maybe even worse than ours. If you address it to the Imperial Academy and put my name as the recipient, letters pile up on my desk automatically.

If the volume increases any more, I won’t even have time to read them all. The current influx isn’t small either.

Well, since I’m waiting for investment inquiries, I can’t afford to ignore them. Guess I’ll have to read each one personally.

I opened the first letter.

– Benjamin Brizbane here.

– If you don’t remember me, I was that patient whose arm you operated on. Thanks to you, it healed perfectly, like I never injured it.

Ah, now I recall.

That student patient with the broken arm.

It was my first surgery after arriving at the Academy. Istina mentioned it—Benjamin’s screams during the operation haunted her dreams.

As someone who worked in the ER for years, I wasn’t fazed by the screaming, but it must’ve been shocking for Istina back then. Her first time witnessing surgery.

– Other healers said I might never use my arm properly again, but thanks to you, I can still aim to become a knight.

I flipped to the next page.

– I heard rumors that you’re working on something new. Our Brizbane clan wishes to invest in your company as a token of gratitude.

Good to hear the arm fully recovered. It’s strange they want to invest as “gratitude,” but if it helps, all the better.

Next letter.

This one’s from Elise. Why send a letter when she could just visit the hospital? Is she setting up an appointment? I unfolded her note.

– This is Elise, the minor duchess.

– Thank you for your attentiveness at the Imperial Banquet Hall. Could I visit your clinic soon?

– Also, I heard you’re looking for investors. If it helps others, I’d like to participate.

I refolded the letter.

While their willingness to invest is appreciated, do these fools even care what I’m making? They seem uninterested.

Are they treating this like some kind of bribe? That’s concerning.

Is this about my reputation rather than what I’m creating? Still, maybe ignorance is bliss sometimes.

I spun the pen in my hand.

Anyway, investment money is investment money. If they want to throw cash without knowing what they’re funding, I’m not stopping them. Quite the opposite.

I should ask how much more they can contribute.

“Istina! Come over here.”

“What is it?”

Istina set down her work and walked over. I proudly showed her the stack of letters.

“Check this out. So many people want to invest in our medicine project.”

“Holy cow, there sure are a lot!”

I nodded.

The banquet really paid off.

“Right. You know we have class this afternoon?”

“Yes, I’ll prepare.”

Today’s lesson is about that.

Thomas Splint. My plan was to explain the principles and applications of Thomas Splint to as many people as possible. This time, I invited several professors.

****

Time for class.

I tapped the blackboard.

“Since the lecture hall’s full, we’ll skip attendance. Let’s begin.”

The room was packed. A few people were standing at the back.

Figures. With uninvited guests always showing up, and now with official invites sent out, it’s no surprise it’s crowded.

“Today’s topic: clinical treatment methods for leg fractures. What would you do first if a patient came in with suspected leg fracture?”

Blank stares greeted me.

I scanned the room.

“You there, Oliver.”

“Confirm the leg fracture.”

Great point. When a patient comes in with suspected leg fracture, confirming whether it’s truly fractured is top priority.

“How would you confirm a leg fracture?”

“The leg would be bent unnaturally.”

True, though bones can be damaged without visible bending, a crooked leg usually means fracture. Thinking about it, it’s obvious.

Bones don’t bend without breaking.

“So, how would you straighten and treat a bent leg?”

No response this time.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“Well, there’s no other way. Simply grab and pull until it’s straight.”

The reaction was chilly. They stared at me like I’d said something wrong. A student in the front row raised his hand.

“Pull on a broken leg?”

“Yes.”

“Wouldn’t the patient pass out?”

“They wouldn’t feel pain if they did.”

They didn’t seem convinced.

Can’t blame them.

“A few days ago, a construction worker with a broken thigh bone was admitted. His leg was completely bent, so we used traction with splints.”

I snapped my fingers, and Istina appeared with the iron Thomas Splint. This is it—the tool for straightening legs.

“A special splint. Using this device, we can pull the leg until both sides are equal length, allowing the bone to heal properly.”

With this, even a broken leg doesn’t mean a lifetime of limping. Before Thomas Splint, half the patients with leg fractures died. But not anymore.

“Professor, what if complications arise while pulling the broken leg?”

“Great question. What complications could arise from additional force on a broken leg? Amy, give it a shot.”

“Broken bones could pierce nerves or blood vessels, causing bleeding or sensory/motor dysfunction.”

Smart girl. Though she’s probably just repeating what I said a few days ago, memorization is a skill too.

“It’s about doing it right to avoid such issues. Restoring it correctly minimizes problems. Understand?”

There was some murmuring in the classroom.

Simple as it sounds.

Without X-rays, and with others unlikely to perform leg surgeries like me, the only option is aligning it with the other leg using traction.

I drew the femur on the board.

“The muscles in the leg are incredibly strong, attached diagonally to allow rotation. Those who’ve dissected legs will understand.”

Something I explained to graduate students before.

“The issue is, because the muscles are so powerful, they can crush fractured bones or hinder healing. That’s why we need to stretch and stabilize the leg—pull the muscles.”

I looked around the room again.

“By the way, this is why broken limbs often bend. Without stabilization, muscles pull the bone fragments, causing deformation. Unavoidable.”

Professor Klaus stood up.

“Professor Asterix, I understand the theory, but may I inquire—have you successfully treated any patients with this method?”

“Of course.”

Though I couldn’t bring the patient here, I placed Bernard’s medical record on the podium. All the surgical details, treatments, and management were documented.

“I’ll show the professors separately later. It’s all recorded in the chart.”

“Was it effective?”

I nodded.

He can walk now. In a few weeks, we can remove the splint. I expect him to regain pre-accident functionality.

“He’s currently hospitalized. He’ll be discharged soon—”

At that, a couple of professors and grad students in the back left. Probably going to interview the patient.

“Ugh.”

I sighed softly.

Poor guy must be tired.

Most academics have no shame. If they weren’t in the business of saving lives, they’d probably be bandits or scammers. Thankfully, they expend this energy on helping patients.

I scratched my head.

“Yeah, well. Just remember this key takeaway: a simple device can stretch and stabilize a leg. Stretching and stabilizing allows the bone to heal properly.”