episode_0097

Episode 97. How do you do a stethoscope? (3)

****

The explanation of the stethoscope is almost finished.

I looked back around the classroom. There were quite a few students who looked curious, but they all seemed to understand better than I expected. That’s fortunate.

“Any questions?”

“I have a question.”

The class was coming to an end. A graduate student sitting in the front raised her hand. Her name was Anne. I was asked a question.

“Yes.”

“You just showed me your heart, I wonder where you got it.”

“Oh, I bought it.”

Anne frowned.

“Where are you?”

“It’s an execution ground.”

“Can’t I use pork or beef heart?”

I scratched my head. What are you talking about?

The shape of the heart of a cow or pig is different from that of a human heart. I don’t know exactly what the difference is because I’ve never studied it, but of course, the size is different from that of a human heart.

“Why, do you want to be a vet?”

Laughter could be heard throughout the classroom, and Anne shut her mouth awkwardly. There was absolutely no reason to study while holding an animal heart.

“Uh, I was wondering if there are any ethical issues with using corpses for teaching purposes.”

“Anyway, let’s answer seriously. The person who donated the body is someone who sacrificed their body for academics, so let’s always be grateful.”

Anne frowned a little more.

“You said you received it from the execution ground. Isn’t it because the donor didn’t want to donate it?”

“That’s why I should be more grateful.”

I turned my head towards Anne.

“What. Stop worrying about the dead. Do any of you have any more questions?”

After a while, Oliver raised his hand.

Although Oliver is a smart student, it’s a shame he never applied to graduate school.

“Should I auscultate all patients?”

“That would be a good idea. It would be good to auscultate patients who may have heart or lung problems. Auscultate all hospitalized patients.”

Oliver nodded.

“If there are no more questions, we’ll end the class here. Thank you all for your hard work.”

I put the heart back in the vial. Istina came out to the podium, and I gave her the vial containing the heart.

Istina took the heart carefully.

“What a great lecture… … !”

“Really?”

“I wish I had known sooner.”

I nodded.

“That’s true, but that was before the paper on the circulatory system came out, right? That paper had to spread through the academic world before people could be taught the methodology of auscultation.”

Even if I wanted to announce everything at once, there was an order. There was also a need to spread the necessary background information. Istina nodded after thinking about it carefully.

“Oh, that’s what it was.”

◦There are stages, so there’s nothing I can do.”

Still, I’m glad the class ended well.

****

As soon as I got back to the lab, I started writing the booklet. It was just as I had explained in class. It wasn’t difficult. I just had to convey the contents of auscultation of the heart and lungs.

I sat there with my pen in my hand. All I had to do was write down what I learned in class.

“Teacher. You look busy today?”

“I’m always busy.”

“More than usual.”

“I’m writing a booklet.”

“What’s in it?”

“How to do auscultation.”

“Ah. Listening to the heartbeat?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“Ah. I thought other people would wear that rubber tube because the teacher always wore it. I heard it from someone else and they said no. They usually just put their ears up to it.”

“Because I invented it.”

“Did you make it to avoid hitting your ears?”

I nodded roughly.

“Um… … . There is something like that. But since you can’t hear the sound properly by putting it directly to your ear, it’s much better to have a stethoscope anyway.”

Mint laughed.

“A gentleman, a gentleman.”

“Because I said it was necessary.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I started writing in earnest. Five auscultation points on the heart, several auscultation points on the lungs. Since this is what I was talking about, a few pages will be enough.

Mint looked at me and crossed her arms.

“You wouldn’t have made a fuss about that, right? It might have been a bit uncomfortable, but… … . They said it was necessary for treatment, so I guess that’s possible.”

“But it is also important for treatment to create an environment where patients can feel safe. Of course, it is significant that accurate auscultation can be performed, but it also means that contact is no longer necessary.”

I bowed my head again as I wrote, and Mint let out a small sigh.

“Okay. I can’t understand you.”

“No, what kind of answer were you expecting?”

“I’m taking this joke seriously.”

“Uh, I have no idea what part of what you just said was a joke.”

“Oh my. When will this end?”

“Well, two or three hours?”

“It’s just meal time.”

Mint sat down on the lab sofa with her legs stretched out as if lying down. I looked at Mint.

“Do you have nothing to do?”

“Not really.”

Why doesn’t Mint have anything to do?

I thought about it for a while, but I couldn’t think of a clear reason. Mint’s grades weren’t overwhelming, but they were okay.

I don’t know if there’s anything wrong with Mint’s personality, but she doesn’t seem to be causing any significant problems at the Academy.

There are just people like that.

I guess you’re a bit introverted.

The booklet is half finished.

****

Professor Kropelter of the Academy was looking at the article Asterix had posted again today. This time, it was written like some kind of promotional brochure.

This time, it was not a thesis, but a book explaining the technique for practitioners. Specifically, it was a method of understanding the state of the body’s interior through sound.

Professor Kropelter couldn’t help but scratch his head. First of all, the heart sound he heard was the sound of a valve closing.

If you think about it carefully, it’s obvious, but it’s only been a year since the structure and function of the valves were precisely known.

Professor Kropelter felt regretful for a moment. The heart was also a field that Professor Kropelter had previously studied.

Why didn’t Professor Kropelter come up with the idea that the heart sound was the sound of the valves closing? Well, no one else had thought of that.

“Isn’t that right, Ann?”

“What is it?”

“The sound you hear is the sound of the valves closing. Of course, blood flowing or muscles moving alone don’t make a sound.”

“Right. The sound of a valve closing.”

“That would explain the rhythm of the heartbeat perfectly, right? It would even explain why it beats twice in pairs, thump thump, thump thump.”

I want to say that I’m tired of being amazed, but I feel amazed every time I see it. Professor Kropelter was amazed today too. How on earth did he come up with such an idea?

“And.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s dissect it too. If we open the heart, won’t we understand what this professor is talking about a little better?”

“Can I borrow your stethoscope?”

“Would you lend me something so important?”

Professor Kropelter frowned.

“That, Professor Asterix’s graduate student. Who is it? Even Ms. Istina carries one around. If you ask, she’ll lend it to you. ”

Professor Kropelter thought about it for a while. Another professor would not have made such an important invention before publishing his paper, but… … .

Would it be different if it were Professor Asterix?

Considering that he shared the blue mold strain, he may have lent it to me without much thought. Considering that he usually acts like a crazy person, he may have been even more picky.

“Ann. Go and come back.”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t lend it to me, steal it.”

Anne nodded.

You have to try, professors have been making unreasonable demands for more than a day or two.

****

And then the next morning.

I looked at Elizabeth, who was sitting on the sickbed. Still, a week had passed. I don’t know if there had been any improvement in the symptoms during that time.

I don’t think there is one yet.

“Miss Elizabeth. Congratulations on your discharge from the hospital.”

“Yes.”

It was the day of discharge, but he seemed worried about something. Of course, it was time to make a decision. He hadn’t answered yet.

“Have you made a decision?”

Elizabeth thought about it for a long time.

“Oh, that’s it… … .”

Although Elizabeth seemed to be thinking about it for a long time, I thought I knew what she was thinking. There was a book next to her hospital bed.

I’m going to enroll in the academy.

“I’m planning to enroll in the academy this time.”

“Good idea.”

“To be honest… … .”

“Yes.”

Elizabeth looked around as if worried that someone might be watching her.

Of course, there is no reason for her to do that in the ward. In reality, there is no reason for her to do that, but it is an action that shows Elizabeth’s psychological state.

It’s something you’re afraid to say out loud. Or maybe it’s something you want to hide from someone.

“I feel so good about not having to go back to the mansion. It’s hard to explain exactly why, but just thinking about it makes me feel at ease.”

“That could be the case.”

I decided to let it go. It’s understandable that you don’t want to go home, and there’s no need to add anything more to it.

Elizabeth nodded. The princess handed me a rolled-up hospital gown. I wondered why she was giving it to me, but… … .

“Then. Congratulations on your discharge. And congratulations on your admission, Ms. Elizabeth.”

I’ll have to clean this up later.