NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 21
Throughout my entire stay here, I’ve been referencing Snow’s research, but it seems I haven’t properly explained what John Snow actually did.
So, here’s the gist:
In 1854, John Snow mapped the locations of cholera patients using dots.
This map revealed that the patients were drawing water from a specific well contaminated by fecal matter nearby.
A case proving that epidemics spread not through bad air, but through concrete contamination sources—bacteria. Specifically, it proved cholera spreads via water.
It was revolutionary at the time.
British society didn’t immediately believe Snow’s findings, but policies based on his paper proved effective and were implemented.
Banning unboiled water in affected areas and closing problematic wells.
This required considerable courage from Snow. The prevailing belief was that polluted air caused disease, yet Snow personally conducted epidemiological investigations, visiting patients’ homes in smelly slums.
It was literally life-risking research. That study wasn’t just a scientific achievement—it laid the foundation for modern disease epidemiology.
Istina looked bewildered.
“…”
“I’m going to write this up as a paper.”
“I see.”
“There’s no need to make it too long. Just something like, ‘We roughly did this, and the epidemic was controlled. It seems the mechanism of its spread is such.’”
Anyway, the important part is the map.
Istina nodded.
“But we didn’t create the map ourselves, right? Is there a way to obtain a map showing the distribution of patients? Did bureaucrats make one?”
I don’t really know.
Maybe we can get it from the Lord of Lapis? If needed for research, they’d probably provide it.
“Let’s wrap this up and head back to the Academy. Other healers should be able to handle these patients now, and we need to continue our research.”
“That’s true. Compared to when we first arrived, the number of patients has significantly decreased.”
Some died, some recovered and left. The number of new patients has also dropped dramatically. The situation seems to be stabilizing.
Three days since arriving in the fief of Lapis.
The relief station wards are gradually regaining peace.
We visited the Lord of Lapis again. He was seated not in a conference room but in an office-like space today.
This must be proof the situation is improving.
Knock knock knock.
“Come in.”
Creak. The door to the office opened.
“Greetings, Lord of Lapis.”
“Ah, the healers. Hello.”
Laplania’s office was quite splendid.
Not because of dazzling decorations or expensive furniture, but because books covered three walls of the room. It’s surprising.
Istina and I bowed deeply.
“It seems the epidemic is under control. We wish to return to the Academy now.”
“Certainly. There are patients waiting at the Academy hospital, aren’t there?”
There probably are. I’ve been away for a few days, so I don’t know exactly what’s happening there, but nothing major should have occurred.
“That’s correct.”
“I cannot thank you enough. No matter how much I say, it won’t be enough. If Professor Asterisk hadn’t been here, I don’t even want to imagine what might have happened…”
“It was simply our duty.”
“Simply your duty, huh…”
The Lord hesitated slightly.
“Why is that?”
“It may sound trivial, but I am a regent of sorts. I sit in this position in place of my elderly father.”
He seems to have a long story.
“I see.”
“This incident erupted right after my coronation… If this situation hadn’t been resolved, I don’t know what would have happened.”
The Lord of Lapis appeared younger than expected for someone with the title of lord. Thinking I’d encounter a grandfather or uncle, I found instead a young woman who still looked like a student.
With a competent bureaucracy, things seem to be running smoothly. Not my problem to worry about.
I bowed again.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could I take a look at any documents or maps created during the resolution of this crisis? They’re needed for research.”
The Lord of Lapis made another strange expression. Hard to tell if it’s discomfort or curiosity.
“Take them, please.”
“Yes.”
“Professor Asterisk. I’ll share all the details of this incident, but more importantly… I’d like to continue working with you in the future. Could I afford your services?”
Am I some kind of soccer player where you pay to snatch me away? I shook my head. After all the effort I went through to join the Academy…
I plan to stay at the Academy for now.
It’s also the best environment for research.
“I’ll remain at the Academy for the foreseeable future. I feel I should be where my students and most patients are.”
“Understood.”
Come to think of it, I didn’t struggle that hard to come to the Academy. I just got annoyed a few times when Mint told me not to go.
“Then, we’ll take our leave now. I’ve summarized methods for preventing and treating epidemic dysentery into about three pages and passed them on to Hedwig. Feel free to reference them if needed.”
“Is it okay to leak such information?”
“A hospital isn’t some aid shop. If there’s a good way to save lives, it should be shared.”
Anyhow,
“Then… we’ll take our leave. If another epidemic occurs, please send us a letter at the Academy immediately, and we’ll do our best to assist.”
“Yes. I hope to see you soon.”
“It’s better not to have anything to discuss, Lord.”
A doctor should have fewer appointments in life.
Especially a plague doctor.
We left the Lord of Lapis’ office. Should we ride a wyvern knight back, or take a carriage?
The latter sounds a bit troublesome.
The Lord of Lapis, Laplania, chuckled inwardly. Those people were truly hilarious.
Two healers flew in from the Academy.
According to Hedwig, that professor had started talking about how epidemic dysentery spreads through water before even entering Lapis airspace.
Without knowing the city’s situation, just hearing the word “dysentery,” he diagnosed the problem and proposed solutions.
The conversation went something like this:
“What would we have done without Professor Asterisk? Solving the issue within barely a day…”
“It wasn’t two days. Before even departing from the Academy, he insisted that epidemic dysentery spreads through water and that it must be stopped.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He kept saying stuff like, ‘Dehydration needs to be addressed,’ ‘Contaminated drinking water is the source,’ ‘The wells need cleaning.’”
After implementing those measures, it turned out to be obvious.
“At the time, it seemed like nonsense since he hadn’t even seen the site… Now thinking about it, Professor Asterisk didn’t even need to come. Applying everything he said from the Academy would’ve been enough.”
Laplania gazed out the window.
“Strange. Is he some kind of fortune-teller?”
“He’s been famous among healers for a while. A mysterious healer reportedly saved an imperial princess dying from an unknown lung disease.”
“I see.”
More importantly,
Despite bringing up regency and her elderly father, why did he completely ignore it and jump straight into his own research talk?
– It may sound trivial, but I am a regent of sorts. I sit in this position in place of my elderly father. This incident erupted right after my coronation… If this situation hadn’t been resolved, I don’t know what would have happened.
And this was Asterisk’s response:
– If it’s not too much trouble, could I take a look at any documents or maps created during the resolution of this crisis? They’re needed for research.
Complete disinterest.
‘Oh, my father is elderly, so I came out to help. Thank you.’
‘Forget it, just hand over the research materials.’
Honestly, at this point, isn’t he insane?
Back in my lab at the Academy.
Wow, the documents given by the Lord of Lapis contained almost all the information needed for writing the paper.
Patient geographic distribution maps, success and failure rates of methods used to prevent cholera, reasons why the miasma theory was less plausible than waterborne infection in this case.
Almost no new content needs to be created. It seems the civil servants of Lapis wrote down almost everything I said. They even made the map.
“Just submit it, Istina.”
“Huh? What?”
What else?
“The paper. I’ll be listed as the corresponding author.”
“Me?”
It feels like this has become her catchphrase. But since I only have Istina as my graduate student, and she does everything well when pushed…
“Who else is here besides you?”
“Uh, I’ll do my best…”
Istina nodded.