Chapter 156 (1/2)

Chapter 156: Chapter 29

‘Oh my G.o.d.'

Kanghyok looked at the bag with resentment.

There was even a plate in it, but no malaria medicine there.

The bag contained a hammer and chisel, as well as other medical tools.

‘I can't find any malaria medicine here.'

Sungmun was still s.h.i.+vering inside the blanket.

“Son, I think I need that medicine you gave me the other day.”

He seemed to believe that medicine worked.

“Please take this medicine for today.”

Kanghyok gave him anti-inflammatory drugs and antacids.

“Dad, I can't cure your sickness with this medication alone. I think I have to find some other medicine. Can you excuse my absence?”

Holding a horse by the reins, Dolsok appeared.

“Mastere, does he look bad?”

“Not that bad, but there is no right medicine.”

“Alas…”

“Shall we go to the mayor's office to get the medicine?”

“Well..” Kanghyok groaned a bit.

The heart of the matter was not to visit the mayor's office.

‘What could be the right medicine?'

Antibiotics were good medicine, but it was only effective when it came to treating infection.

‘Malaria… How come malaricarrying mosquitoes are flying in Joseon?'

Kanghyok desperately tried to recall what he had learned in high school textbooks.

‘Is this the common sickness found in Kanghwa Island and northern areas?'

He never forgot about anything he once memorized it.

What should he do now?

His father was already afflicted with malaria.

If malaria had existed in Joseon, there must have been some kind of herbal medicine at that time.

Dolsok asked in a wet voice, “Master, shall we go?”

“Sure, let's go out.”

“Yes, master.”

After he got on a horse, he again tried to recall what he had learned at the medical college he attended.

‘Surely I learned about it back then. I think I learned it in the medical history cla.s.s.'

But he couldn't recall at all.

“Oh, that might be the one.”

“What's up, master?”

“Quinine.”

“What are you talking about?” Dolsok asked with a worried look.

He knew his master liked to murmur things when he was bored.

As expected, his master kept murmuring something all along.

“No, quinine is not found here. Its origin is South America. There was something else I learned…”

Actually, he remembered he saw it somewhere very recently.

It was neither a medical textbook nor an academic paper.

“Ah, I got it now. n.o.bel Prize in physiology or medicine!”

He felt as if he got a heavy load off his chest.

He even shook in excitement.

“Are you okay, master?”

“Sure, I am. I remembered it!”

Doslok quickly covered his mouth with hand when he was about to murmur, ‘He must be crazy.'

Of course, Kanghyok didn't care at all.

‘In 2015 Professor Tuyuyu received the n.o.bel Prize for developing artemisinin. I think its material must be…'

It must be gra.s.s common anywhere in East Asia.

The gra.s.s could be found even in the area where Kanghyok stopped.

“Artemisia! Look for artemisia!”

“What?”

“Don't stand with a blank face like that. Find artemisa. I need it to treat my father.”

“Oh my… Yes, master.”

Dolsok instantly began to pluck up weeds that were as tall as his waist.

Kanghyok knew the herbal name, but never saw it in person.

So, he had to double check with Dolsok.

“Are you sure that gra.s.s is artemisia?”

“Sure. You can find it everywhere here.”

“Oh, I see. Just look for only fresh leaves of artemisia.”

Kanghyok got off his horse and began to find the gra.s.s.

Both of them spent some time to find it, but it was only a bagful because they plucked up only its leaves.

“Let's go back now.”

“Yes, master.”

As soon as they went into the house, Dolsok came running to him.

“How about his condition now?”

“He looks better after taking the medicine. He is in bed now.” Obviously, his fever went down after he took anti-inflammatory pills.

‘He can't sustain this…'

Anti-inflammatory medicine was only a temporary reliever.

If left uncured, Sungmun could be in a dangerous situation.

“This is the herbal medicine that's good for my father.”

“Great, master.”

Thinking the master could save Sungmun's life, Oksok gave a broad smile.

But Dolsok tilted his head curiously. “By the way, master.”

“What?”

“How much of this medicine does he need to take?”

“Oh…”

It was a sharp question. Dolsok was smart sometimes.

‘Dang it. I have no way of figuring out how much dosage is okay.'