Chapter 49 Assessment (Nine): Raising the Flag
Li San Niang suddenly elevated the status of the entire medical profession to the highest institution of learning and advancement for physicians in the Tang Dynasty, the Imperial Medical Academy, something that even the Li family had not anticipated.
Although Li San Niang wanted to take advantage of the Imperial Medical Bureau's influence, what she said was also true. Although the current social climate did not prohibit women from going out, whether for leisure or business, it was also permissible for women to establish their own households. In fact, the government even encouraged remarriage.
Even after Emperor Wu ascended the throne, he promoted several women to official positions. There were also female doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau, but not many, and they had to listen to the male doctors more.
But those who have influence in the court and hold real power are all men, not to mention some old aristocratic families who have been officials since the previous dynasty. How could they tolerate Li San Niang's CPR method?
At that time, the permission for remarriage and the establishment of a daughter's household were all based on the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words!
Moreover, people are different.
Especially certain civil officials who are full of etiquette and whose mouths are filled with classical Chinese phrases, it's not that they are not afraid of death, but as long as they are not the ones who die for the time being, they will naturally not stand up to support a life-saving technique that requires a lot of physical contact, either the chest or the mouth.
Even if a young girl in their family needs to be rescued, some people might secretly help out of pity for the child without saying a word, but there are definitely those who would let someone die for the sake of so-called etiquette!
Li San Niang wanted to spread this first aid method, so she naturally had to find an opportunity to raise her banner. With the Imperial Medical Bureau taking the lead, what was wrong with Li San Niang standing behind as a small doctor?
"What's wrong with that? Please, Madam Li, demonstrate as you just did."
Sun Chenyang never expected that a simple, sincere question would lead to such a long confession from Li Sanniang, and even involve the conflict between the physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy and the civil officials. But he still wanted to see just how much this destroyed the moral order.
After hearing what Li San Niang said, the male doctors present suddenly realized a problem!
Li San Niangzi saved a female infant, while Sun Yijian saved a male soldier. The demonstration just now also featured two male relatives of Li San Niangzi. What if it were a man and a woman?
To save or not to save?
What should we do if the person is saved and survives?
To become husband and wife?
But what if one or both of them already have families?
In this world, people are either men or women. Most doctors are men, and female doctors like Li San Niang are very rare. If you encounter a man, you should save him; if you encounter a woman, you should give up on him. Is that right?
The room fell silent; everyone was trapped in their own thoughts, utterly at a loss for what to do.
"Third Madam, we can discuss this issue later. If it really doesn't work, we can submit it to the Imperial Medical Bureau. Please demonstrate how to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after chest compressions."
Li San Niang was also in a bit of a dilemma. When she discussed it with her father and second brother at home, her father said that if passing breaths through the mouth was not that important, it would be enough to just say a few words and add a diagram. There was really no need to demonstrate it.
Therefore, Li San Niang did not let Li Er Xiong and Li Da Lang do this rehearsal. Even if they were uncle and nephew, it would not be appropriate to do so. Everyone knew that this was for the purpose of teaching techniques, but it would also give others cause for gossip, since there were indeed sworn brothers at this time.
Finally, having no other choice, Li San Niang asked Li Er Xiong to take out the picture, hang it up, and then began explaining it using a jujube tree branch.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if there is an emergency and a second person is present, you can add this step of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. This requires you to perform 30 chest compressions and then stop, while the other person blows two breaths into the person being rescued. After blowing, if you see the chest rise and fall, you should immediately continue compressions. You and the other person should repeat this process until the person being rescued regains a heartbeat and breathing."
Pointing to the drawing of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation that Li Erxiong had drawn while trying to suppress his embarrassment, Li Sanniang continued, "The key point here is that you must clear the mouth and nose of the person you are rescuing before administering the breath, and check for any foreign objects, especially for drowning victims. Also, before blowing air into them, you must lift their chin to open their airway so that our breath can pass through smoothly. It's the same principle as the Heyka technique I demonstrated with you before. Another point is that when blowing air into them, you must pinch their nostrils closed with one hand, cover their mouth with theirs, and then blow air into them for it to be effective."
"Third Sister, could this increase the chances of a successful rescue?"
"Yes, that can increase the chances of a successful rescue. But the most important thing is still chest compressions!"
No sooner had Li San Niang finished answering than Sun Chenyang tried to get his attention again, "Li San Niangzi, what do you think if the rescue is successful?"
"Once the pulse, heartbeat, and breathing are restored, and the complexion and lips are no longer pale but have returned to a normal rosy color, it can be judged that the rescue was successful. Actually, I have always had an idea that if acupuncture could be applied at the same time, it might have a miraculous effect. But I am not familiar with acupuncture and do not know what to do. If any of the seniors here know this method, we might as well give it a try."
When Li San Niang said this, some of the people present who were majoring in acupuncture realized that, indeed, in such an emergency, only Li San Niang's method and acupuncture could provide a quick rescue and race against time to save lives.
The old doctor stood up and said to everyone, "Alright, it's getting late. Let's have dinner first before continuing."
Li San Niang never expected that she would have to keep talking all day and continue talking by lamplight at night.
That's not suitable either. No matter how many oil lamps you light, the light will still be dim and yellowish, which is not suitable for explanation at all.
With this in mind, Li San Niang went to see Doctor Gao. Doctor Gao said that if there were any other cases that did not require much light, then she could talk about them, and the rest could be discussed tomorrow, or it would be good to resolve the doubts of the doctors.
In short, strike while the iron is hot and don't waste this time before curfew.
At this point, Li San Niang calmed down and decided to talk about the concept of aseptic technique later.
In the same room as at noon, the Li family sat down and soon the dishes were served. There were twelve dishes for eight people, which were different from those at noon, and none of them were the same!
Satisfied and happy!
But Li San Niang was still worried about Li Da Sao and the others who were left at home, especially since Mingming had promised Lu Zhu'er in the morning that she would be back that night, and it was already evening and she still hadn't returned home. She wondered what was going on with her.
"Don't worry, your father just sent someone home to deliver a message, and he also ordered some meatball and mushroom soup for lunch, which you said was delicious, so that they can also try it and see how good it is."
"Father and Mother are so farsighted. I didn't even think to order this dish for the family to try."
Li Silang then happily said, "Little aunt, those pastries are delicious. When we leave, let's buy some to take home for Luzhu'er to eat."
Li San Niang casually took a pastry from the plate on the table that Li Si Lang pointed to. It was filled with jujube paste, with a crispy crust and a soft interior. It was sweet but not overly so, and it was indeed delicious.
"Si Lang is right, it really is delicious. I'll buy some to take home later."
There was also a soup for dinner, tofu and cabbage soup, which was also delicious, but not as flavorful as the meatball and mushroom soup we had at lunch.
Just as everyone was finishing their meal, there was a knock on the door, and several doctors came in together.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com