episode_0004

Episode 4. The Princess’ Doctor Gets Beaten Up (4)

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I need to think more about how to study specifically. I also need to think again about the development process of medical history that I learned when I was an undergraduate.

I was thinking for a long time about how to convince the academic world.

dripping.

I looked up from the paper I was reading at the sound of a knock. There was no one there. The old man, the head of the academy, hadn’t come yet. Who was it?

“Yes, come in.”

It was my first time seeing him. Judging from the books he had next to him, he seemed to be an academy student. Is there something you want to say?

The question was quickly resolved.

“Excuse me, are you recruiting graduate students?”

“Fuck, of course I should pick it.”

I made a slip of the tongue. The student who had just entered my lab tilted his head with a puzzled expression. I mumbled the end of my sentence with a cough.

“Did I hear that wrong?”

“No, they are recruiting graduate students.”

Although the professor’s soul reflexively reacted to the word “graduate student,” he had to hear what the student had to say.

I looked at the student who had come.

Her face still had the look of a student. She had a round face, light brown hair tied in a ponytail, and slightly dark blue eyes.

And he looked incredibly tired. Well, I guess that can’t be helped since he came to graduate school on his own two feet.

He was wearing a white shirt, bow tie, and black robe. This was probably part of the Academy uniform.

I think I’ve heard that story before.

Before the modern era, doctors’ gowns were usually black. It’s similar to the outfit of the plague doctor that appears in mass media. Unless there’s something special going on, there’s no need to wear that beak mask.

“Oh, that’s fortunate.”

“Sit down first.”

A prospective graduate student sat down at my desk. He was a graduate student as soon as he arrived at the Academy.

You were lucky.

“Ah, yes. I am Istina Ivyheart, an apprentice healer from the Imperial Academy Hospital. Nice to meet you, Professor Asterix.”

I nodded.

“I heard that a professor who used to work at the Imperial Palace is taking a new position, so I came here to see if I could ask for some advice.”

It’s all good. It’s all good, but… … .

I pondered Istina’s words for a moment. Istina looked around anxiously, her hands restless.

It’s still early in the year, and the academy hasn’t even properly started yet. Is there any reason to go around knocking on the doors of labs looking for an advisor?

There must be a story.

“Are you from the Academy?”

“Yes!”

“Teacher Istina. If you are from the Academy, there must be professors you know or studied with at the Academy. Why did you come to me first?”

“Uh, that’s… … .”

Istina rolled her eyes anxiously. It was obvious even without looking. She must have caused an accident at some point. There might be a problem with her reputation or skills. Istina avoided my gaze for a moment.

Well, what do I do about this?

Of course, I’m a new employee. I’m not in a position to pick and choose graduate students. I’m grateful that there are students who come to me without looking at anything. But it’s still difficult to get a young bomb.

“What happened to you?”

“Uh… ….”

It looks like they’ve been caught.

Istina opened her mouth after thinking for a while.

“It’s nothing special. I had a fight with a senior because of a difference of opinion. But that story was distorted in a bad way. I guess… … . It’s also because I have a lack of background or origin.”

I thought about it for a while.

“One week.”

“Yes?”

“Since the semester hasn’t really started yet, let’s just work together for a week. Then I’ll decide whether or not to let you go.”

“Okay, I see. Thank you.”

Istina bowed her head.

“What should I do first?”

Of course.

“How much is vodka here?”

“Did I hear that wrong?”

Well, I don’t think it’s something to bring up at first sight. If this continues, people will start to think I’m a drinker.

“Next time, buy me some alcohol. As much as possible, with the highest ABV and clearest. I’ll pay you later.”

“Uh, what kind of alcohol do you like?”

“I’m not going to eat it. Bring me the purest and highest alcohol content. I’m going to use it as research material.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Looks a bit worried.

“Why, do you have more to say?”

After a while, Istina opened her mouth.

“I’ll get the alcohol as soon as possible. Do you have anything to say about class? Like classes starting in the new semester, or something like that?”

Oh, my. I got up from my seat.

“Okay. Is there an empty classroom nearby?”

“Ah. It’s spread.”

“Let’s go to the empty classroom first.”

I arrived at the empty lecture hall with Istina.

“First of all, Ms. Istina. There are two major things I will be teaching in the new semester. One is Introduction to Clinical Medicine, and the other is Physiology Lab Class.”

“Aha, yes.”

We need content that is both practically useful and helpful for academic advancement.

“First of all. Academically speaking, my goals are these. The former is to raise useful healers, and the latter is to correct the academically incorrect facts.”

Istina tilted her head.

“Is this a misunderstood fact?”

“Ms. Istina. Do you know what a germ is?”

“Bacteria?”

Anyway, I nodded.

“I don’t know where to start. First of all, let me say this. Proving the existence of germs and the necessity of hand sanitizing.”

Istina nodded.

“I will do my best.”

“Then. Let’s do a quick lesson. What are bacteria? Bacteria are tiny insect-like creatures that cause various diseases. They can also cause food to spoil.”

“Well, most diseases are caused by environmental factors, such as lack of sunlight or the surrounding environment, rather than by encountering a specific bug.”

I shook my head.

Miasma theory.

The theory is that disease comes from an unclean or polluted environment, especially bad air.

Of course, this is not entirely wrong, but it overlooks the fact that the cause of a disease may not be something abstract, but a specific pathogen.

“It varies by disease, but infectious diseases are caused by bacteria. There are diseases like pneumonia, right?”

“Aha.”

“Anyway, most germs die when they come into contact with alcohol. The same goes for soap. That’s why hand sanitization is important to prevent diseases. This is especially true for us who come into contact with diseases frequently.”

Istina’s eyes were one of incomprehension.

“Oh, think about it this way. Have you ever seen an open wound? It would be bad if it got contaminated.”

“Right.”

“The wound gets contaminated with bacteria, causing problems such as swelling and infection. You can prevent wounds from getting worse just by sterilizing surgical instruments and washing your hands before surgery.”

“So, are you saying that if you pour alcohol on a wound, it might get better?”

I shook my head.

“The bacteria will die, but pouring alcohol into a wound does more harm than good. You can minimize contamination by sterilizing the area around the wound and the instruments used for surgery.”

Istina nodded.

“There weren’t many surgeries to be done in the palace, but when there was surgery under my direction, I sterilized everything used for the surgery. Including my hands.”

“Aha… … . Okay, I understand.”

I just wrote down what I said in chalk.

“Okay, Istina. What do you think you’ll need to prove what you just explained?”

“If I could just see that little bug, it would be proof. Preferably in a wound.”

I nodded.

“That’s right. A magnifying glass would help with the research, right? Since bugs can be transparent, having a way to stain the bacteria would make them more visible.”

Only now did understanding cross Istina’s eyes.

“Do you understand what you need to study?”

“Yes. So you’re saying that you’ll first assert the existence of bacteria, then visually prove the existence of bacteria with dye and a magnifying glass, and then use alcohol as a means to eliminate the bacteria?”

I nodded.

“That’s right.”

Istina was a smart student.

“First, let’s study the topic we were talking about just now. Tomorrow, let’s buy some alcohol and finish what we were talking about today. How to prove the existence of bacteria, how to kill bacteria.”

I was thinking of plagiarizing the papers of the world’s most senior academics. There are so many scholars in the field of bacteria right now.

Pasteur, who discovered bacteria, Lister, who systematized hygiene, and Gram, who classified the types of bacteria. This time, we will follow the original scientific development process of the world without trial and error.

“Okay, okay.”

****

Istina sighed.

I grabbed him because he was the last straw since I was already doomed. He seems like a strange person. He suddenly asked me to buy him alcohol.

The germ story had some merit, but it was ultimately an opinion that differed from the current academic world’s claims. Is it okay to believe this?

“Just wait, Istina. I’ll make you a master of the Imperial Medical Sciences before I graduate.”

In other words, isn’t that saying that they won’t let you graduate from graduate school until you become a master of the medical field? Istina sensed that she was screwed.