Chapter 128

128. Return to the Academy (2)

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I went with Istina to re-examine a pneumonia patient. Diagnosing pneumonia is a crucial skill we must master.

“Hello, Mr. Chester.”

“Yes.”

The patient weakly nodded.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Yes, I’m better than yesterday.”

We checked the patient’s body temperature—it had returned to normal. If only we could confirm inflammation or white blood cell counts through blood tests… For now, we’ll rely on the temperature readings.

“The fever seems to be improving.”

I turned to Istina.

“Istina, auscultate the patient’s lungs.”

“Yes.”

There wasn’t much to debate here. While the critical phase might have passed, we could still use medication to reduce phlegm production if needed.

But maybe that wasn’t necessary?

“How’s it going?”

“There seems to be a lot of phlegm in the lower left lung. Abnormal breathing sounds are loudest there.”

“Good job.”

Pneumonia is a common and highly contagious condition we need to understand thoroughly. Istina nodded, and I looked back at the patient.

“It looks like your condition is improving. Try your best to cough up phlegm later, and let us know if anything feels uncomfortable.”

“Ahh, yes.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“Is there medicine to stop the coughing?”

That gave me pause. Of course, we have cough suppressants, but not coughing would make it impossible to expel phlegm. And unlike modern hospitals, we can’t insert tubes to clear it.

“You need to cough to expel phlegm; it helps pneumonia heal faster. If it gets too difficult, please let us know, and we’ll give you something then.”

The patient nodded again, and Istina and I left the ward.

“Yesterday, Amy poured hot water on a wound on a patient’s arm. The patient was shocked!”

“Haha, that’s embarrassing.”

And speaking of which…

“Let’s start preparing for the autumn symposium tomorrow. We have more than just one or two topics to present this time.”

“That’s true. Things will get busy starting tomorrow…”

****

Back in the research lab, I flipped through the stack of letters on my desk.

Most were about investing in the pharmaceutical company. Nothing urgent, though one letter caught my interest:

– “We’ve heard rumors that Professor [you] uncovered the transmission process and treatment method for the Black Death during research in Vinia City.”

– “However, we haven’t found any published papers yet. If you’ve discovered something new, we’d appreciate it if you could share it widely as soon as possible.”

“We hope to see you at the upcoming autumn academic conference, but if you could provide even a brief explanation of your findings beforehand, we’d be grateful.”

– Gwen, President of the Plague Doctor Symposium

They’re asking for a lot!

A letter from the Plague Doctor Symposium inquiring about the treatment and transmission of the Black Death, with mention of attending the upcoming autumn conference.

I thought about it… This means I’ll have two presentations to prepare for the autumn conference:

First, a lecture on the transmission process of the Black Death—something the Empire’s healers would find fascinating.

Since the Black Death hasn’t disappeared from this world, revealing its specific transmission routes would cause quite a stir. They’d surely want to know how to respond.

Fortunately, I already have records, so all I need to do is present them with some case studies.

Second, I need to promote aspirin. It may sound strange calling it promotion, but even doctors need to understand what this medicine is before deciding whether or not to use it.

I should be able to briefly explain aspirin’s manufacturing process, principles, and effects in a way the academy scholars can comprehend.

To convince them to adopt aspirin widely, I need to explain why they should use it. While it’s easy to think of reasons for penicillin, why exactly do we *need* aspirin?

****

The usefulness of aspirin.

This requires thinking from the perspective of current imperial physicians.

In my lab were three people: Hedwig, Violet, and Professor Klaus.

“So, has anyone used willow wood or tea medicinally?”

“What’s that?” Violet tilted her head.

Violet—a royal healer with violet eyes and black hair. She appears around Istina’s age, though I’ve never asked. Her long black hair, tinged with blue or purple, was tied up. She usually doesn’t work much, so she has a cheerful demeanor.

Convincing Violet has the added benefit of securing more funding for research.

Hedwig—one of the empire’s plague doctors. She seemed a bit tired today, likely due to her usual rounds. Her brown hair gives a soft impression, though her work and personality aren’t particularly gentle.

Professor Klaus—famous for his kind nature at the academy, sat looking confused as to why he’d been summoned.

Anyway, I tapped the chalkboard.

“I’m working on creating a new medicine using willow wood.”

Professor Klaus spoke up.

“Willow tea. I think it’s been used medicinally for a long time. It’s traditionally given when people are sick.”

“Exactly?”

“While it’s an old-fashioned approach, cooled willow tea is sometimes given to feverish patients. Some people do seem to improve.”

So willow tea has been used medicinally? Hedwig chimed in next.

“There was research involving grinding willow wood instead of using tea.”

“Ah, really? How did it go?”

“It lowers fevers, but many patients complained of stomach pain. We’re unsure if it’s due to swallowing wood particles or the compound itself. It’s not a commonly used medicine.”

Got it.

“To summarize: drinking tea isn’t effective enough, but grinding the wood causes severe side effects?”

Hedwig nodded.

“Why are you asking?”

“Just market research. I’m considering creating a new antipyretic analgesic using willow compounds and wanted to know how it’s currently used.”

It doesn’t seem to be widely used these days.

Violet raised her hand.

“But why make a new painkiller when we already have good ones?”

“Yes, there are several types of analgesics.”

I looked at Violet.

She’s probably referring to opium, morphine, cannabis—those kinds of drugs.

People will naturally wonder why we need something new.

If pre-modern doctors treated hemorrhoids by cauterizing them or amputated gangrenous limbs, why did people even bother seeing doctors back then?

My answer is surprisingly simple.

If anyone’s curious about what pre-modern doctors mostly did—well, they heavily relied on narcotics from prehistory through the Middle Ages.

Until the Middle Ages, such substances weren’t illegal.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. A spoonful of something that made all pain disappear would obviously seem effective.

Patients seek doctors because of pain. Since these drugs alleviate it, medieval doctors were doing their jobs.

“Regarding opium—it has serious side effects, right? I had an opium-addicted patient a few months ago.”

Violet scratched her head.

“Opium addiction is scary. As healers, we often deal with people who’ve become invalids from medicinal opium use. Since Asterix became the head healer, it’s no longer used in the palace.”

After pondering, Violet fell silent, and Professor Klaus looked at me.

“How did you handle it?”

“We locked the opium box.”

“Simple.”

While there are treatments for acute opium poisoning, the simplest solution is often the best. No need to overcomplicate things.

I scratched my head.

“If we could create an analgesic without opium, it would help—even slightly. Opium also lacks antipyretic effects.”

****

Next stage of today’s discussion.

“So, how do you plan to make the antipyretic? Have you already found the method?”

I already have. In a few days, I’ll be presenting this as a paper at the autumn academic conference.

“Curious?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t intend to keep it secret. Widespread knowledge of the drug’s formula allows others to conduct further research.

Hiding major discoveries just for profit seems… off. After pretending to think for a moment, I continued.

“Refined acetic acid mixed with powdered willow, then add a few drops of sulfuric acid.”

“Wait, let me jot that down.”

I waited briefly while the three healers quickly scribbled notes, as if I’d just revealed the recipe for a universal cure.

“This should allow us to create willow-based medicine without causing stomach pain.”

“We’ll need to verify that.”

Violet fidgeted with her pen.

“I admit, I’m curious. Everyone should try making the medicine and researching it… Analgesics and antipyretics are extremely useful.”

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