Chapter 38 (1/2)
Chapter 38: Working Together to Treat Infectious Disease [3]
Cowpox vaccination could be a preventive measure, but it was a curing agent at the same time . Rather, it was the only treatment method at present .
'It is said that Jenner discovered this phenomenon thanks to the shepherds . '
Smallpox was a dreadful disease, both in the west and the east . Naturally, medical professionals had great interest in this, and Jenner innovated with an accidental discovery .
He had realized that the shepherds who milked were free from smallpox .
The phenomenon was there from the beginning, but it was Jenner who paid attention to it and ended up discovering the vaccination .
He used the method of injecting the pus of the cow or ox into people . It seemed like an ignorant method, but the effects were good .
'It was safe and effective . And now I am using that very method . '
Ganghyuk took all the discharge of the ox in the syringe as he worried about the overly quick advancement of medicine for a while . But, the present in this world was more important to him rather than the future that he did not know if he could go back to .
'I will inject this into the first patient . '
Although they would resist a little, he could say that it was a new acupuncture needle . Maybe they would not protest because of the pain then .
Squeak!
Ganghyuk opened the warehouse door and went in .
Cough!
He could hear coughs here and there; it was the room for the serious patients .
'Ugh, that's quite some odor . ”
Ganghyuk went to the patient who had come first . Although he had had anti-inflammatory medication, his fever did not subside . His face was all red .
'He has become worse . '
It seemed that the disease had developed even more, which was natural because he did nothing but give anti-inflammatory medication .
”How do you feel?”
”Painful…”
The patient managed to answer with breathlessness . His lips were dry and red blood came out; he was clearly dehydrated .
”Goodness!”
If possible, Ganghyuk wanted to intubate and use ventilator treatment . He would feel far better if the patient could breathe properly .
'It's such a drag that we don't have such tools here . '
Ganghyuk gave him the Yanggyeoksan that Heo Jun had prepared while shaking his head .
”Do not swallow, but gargle with it . ”
”Yes…”
Doing that did not add to the pain, so the patient gargled easily .
”Take this one . ”
Ganghyuk then gave him the s...o...b..nghwalmyeongeum . The medicine was aromatic, as it had expensive ingredients such as rhubarb, lonicera flower, and frankincense .
He wished it would be as effective as good its aroma was .
”Okay . ”
”Good!”
”Ugh…”
”I will give you some water acupuncture now . ”
”Water acupuncture?”
”Yes, it is a good one . Stay still . '
Ganghyuk searched for the bag and took out a small IV set . It was only 500ml, and there was only one . It was insufficient to use for a dehydrated patient .
'But, it would better than nothing . '
If necessary, he could use the water that Dolseok and Yeoni had boiled . However, it was risky because too many unknown ingredients could come together .
'I would rather give it to him . '
Ganghyuk brought the needle near the patient while shaking his head . As it was a needle for giving large volume IV, the size was quite big .
”It is quite big . ”
”It is effective though . Turn your head away . '
”Okay . ”
Ganghyuk placed the needle on the back of the patient's handand paused .
'I have not done this for a while . The last time was when I was an intern . '
He was a professor, so who could dare ask him to give injection? Even a first year resident would not do that by himself .
”Phew . ”
In Joseon, he had to do too many things that he did not usually do . It was fortunate that the patient had a strong vessel though .
Poke!
With the sound appeared red blood at the end of the needle . It meant that he did the job very well .
”Ouch!” The patient grunted
If one got an injection on the back of one's hand, they would know how painful it was .
Ganghyuk connected the IV with an indifferent facial expression .
”I have done one and I need to do another . Do not look at it . ”
”Okay . ”
It was the time to inject the vaccine . Ganghyuk then administered the pus from the ox to the patient .
”What is this on earth?”
”En…”
The patient felt something different because something had entered his body . So, Ganghyuk improvised, actually without any difficulty . He was a man of good speech, and an expert in making up a story .
”Medicine acupuncture . ”
”Ah!”
Although it was not a very sincere answer, the patient had accepted it . Actually there would be no use to protest anyway .
”Next…” Ganghyuk looked around the warehouse . There were many patients even though he had only put the serious ones here .
'Luckily, we have enough syringes . '
It was not enough to give a shot to less serious patients, but they would be replenished the next morning .
He thus tried to finish with the serious patients first .
”Gargle with this, swallow it… Take it… and here . ”
Ganghyuk used Yanggyeoksan, s...o...b..nghwalmyeongeum, anti-inflammatory meds, antibiotics, and then the vaccine .
All the patients in the warehouse were treated by him and fell asleep .
'I am dying . '
Of course, he had to do operations overnight sometimes because of the nature of his work . But, it was a really long time ago when he worked like this .
'I am not an intern . ' Ganghyuk came out of the warehouse while complaining .
Heo Jun was sitting on the floor . Ganghyuk could not see if he was mediating or sleeping . Yeoni and Yeoju were sleeping side by side as well .
Only Dolseok was awake .
”Sir, you came back . ”