The three of them talked, and Ning Xi'er wasted no time at all.
She made Xue Lin reach out, took out a silver needle and a small porcelain bottle, pricked Xue Lin's finger, and let the blood flow into the small porcelain bottle.
Turning back to the carriage, from Zheng Ye and Xue Lin's perspective, it seemed Ning Xi'er was returning to the carriage to fetch medicine...
Ning Xi'er actually transferred the blood from the porcelain bottle into a test tube; since she couldn't draw blood directly, she had to go through this complicated process.
As they climbed onto the carriage, Angelica dahurica and licorice stood guard outside without leaving a trace, worried that others might approach.
Ning Xi'er quickly entered the space and placed the collected blood from Xue Lin into the laboratory equipment.
Without waiting in the room, I first took out the skin test needle and oral penicillin pills from the pharmacy.
Injection would be more effective, but Xue Lin and Zheng Ye are both conscious right now, so neither syringes nor medicine bottles can be used openly.
After getting off the carriage, Ning Xi'er handed Xue Lin oral penicillin pills and also gave him a water pouch filled with spiritual spring liquid...
Xue Lin looked at the pills and water pouch in Ning Xi'er's hand for a while, then took them with both hands and swallowed the pills with the spiritual spring liquid in the water pouch.
Xue Lin bowed to Ning Xi'er again and quickly got to the point.
He explained that Yongning County is a large county with a permanent population of one million, plus a floating population, totaling about 1.2 million people.
About five days ago, patrol officers reported that many pedestrians on the street were feeling unwell, with most experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, high fever, and chills.
Xue Lin initially thought it was due to the changing seasons and the people catching colds...
Having heard the complaints from the constables, he didn't ignore them and personally went out into the streets to investigate...
It was discovered that from the time the constables reported the incident to the time he went out to visit people, only half a day had passed, and the number of people with similar symptoms on the street far exceeded the number the constables had mentioned.
Pedestrians on the street looked listless; some suddenly fainted in the street, while others squatted down and vomited uncontrollably...
Xue Lin immediately realized that the situation was not as simple as a cold.
They immediately visited several major medical clinics in the city and found that most of the people queuing for treatment had similar symptoms.
The queue for medical treatment stretched from one end of the street to the other.
Xue Lin walked past the patient and stood before the doctor who was examining him. The doctor recognized Xue Lin as the county magistrate and immediately stood up to greet him.
Xue Lin entered the clinic and gathered together the most authoritative doctors from several clinics to ask them about the causes of illness among the people.
The doctors all looked grave, exchanging glances.
In this era, there is a lack of effective detection methods, and it is impossible to find out the cause of infectious diseases caused by pathogens in a timely manner by simply taking a pulse.
But the head, oldest doctor, spoke frankly, informing him of the worst possibility: a plague...
The other doctors also agreed, although it was only a suspicion, the patient's symptoms were indeed somewhat similar to the plague that broke out several years ago.
However, the last outbreak of plague was mainly concentrated in rural areas due to water shortages.
The villagers lived scattered, so there was no large-scale outbreak, but in the end, nearly 20,000 people were killed or injured.
But this time, the rate of infection in the city is alarming...
The doctors all said that only a few dozen people came to see them in the morning, but the line grew longer and longer after noon...
Xue Lin shared the same sentiment.
He also discussed his observations on the street with several doctors.
The doctors greatly admired Xue Lin's responsible attitude towards the people and expressed that they would determine the cause of the illness as soon as possible and report it to Xue Lin in a timely manner.
After all, once it is confirmed to be a plague, it will cause serious damage and have a wide-ranging impact.
Even if the matter is reported to the imperial court, it inevitably results in losses for both the people and the court. Most officials are unable to reverse the overall situation, and their official positions are nearing their end.
Ordinary people are constantly at risk of infection; their family members' names and household belongings could be lost at any moment...
Deaths and devastation...
Therefore, the qualitative assessment must be accurate and quick!
While waiting for news from the doctors, Xue Lin immediately returned to the county government office to take stock of available resources and prepare for the worst.
The largest charity hall and school in the city, as well as a temple in the suburbs, are being secretly vacated after prior communication.
To avoid causing panic, in case it is confirmed to be a plague, some people may notice in advance and flee the city, which could lead to the risk of spillover.
Fortunately, Xue Lin had a good reputation. The sudden eviction meant that the elderly living alone, orphans, students in the school, and worshippers in the temple...
They were all properly resettled, and the heads of the charity and school did not utter a single word.
Xue Lin personally informed the abbot of the temple of the reason for the eviction. The abbot clasped his hands together and said that he and the monks would remain in the temple...
If it is confirmed to be a plague, we can help care for the patients.
Although the cause of his illness is still uncertain, the support from the heads of the charity and school, as well as the abbot, gave him immense courage.
However, before the doctors could confirm the diagnosis, Xue Lin was woken up in the middle of the night by the registrar and the county magistrate knocking on his door.
Xue Lin was not sleeping soundly to begin with, so he immediately put on his clothes and got up.
The county constable, accompanied by Xue Lin and the registrar, traveled along the road for a while...
People were lying unconscious all over the streets.
The patrolling constables were nowhere to be seen.
When Xue Lin inquired, the county magistrate said that the patrolling constables, just like these sick people, would suddenly collapse and lose consciousness...
Xue Lin immediately asked for a horse and, together with the Grand Commandant and the Chief Clerk, galloped towards the medical clinic...
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