Chapter 271 Syphilis
Li San Niang hesitated when she saw the urgent pleading looks in the eyes of Doctor Sun and Physician Yang, and her words of refusal became somewhat hesitant.
The best way to save lives is to spread the word far and wide, so that more and more people know about it. This is the goal that Li San Niang wants to achieve.
Just like Li San Niang started the Women's Aid Association, wanting to unite midwives who were eager to learn to make progress together, wasn't it also with the idea of saving more people and improving the medical level of the Tang Dynasty at that time?
Thinking of this, Li Sanniang could no longer bring herself to refuse.
Seeing Li San Niang's hesitation, Dr. Sun quickly said, "Don't worry, Dr. Li. Whether you learn well or poorly depends on your own fate. We will not blame you. I guarantee this on behalf of the Department of Surgery. We will not make trouble for you."
With that said, what else could Li San Niang hesitate about?
"Then I shall respectfully accept your offer, but I'm afraid I'll need to ask the medical department for leave before giving the lectures."
"That's easy. I'll just ask someone from the Imperial Medical Academy to contact the Medical Alliance. Don't worry, Third Madam."
Just before their afternoon shift ended, Li San Niang and Tang Ming Yue were driven back to the entrance of the clinic by Yang Shi in a horse-drawn carriage.
Tang Mingyue was tight-lipped. Back at the clinic, when Doctor Cui inquired, she didn't say anything, only saying, "Soldier Yang Shi was just expressing his gratitude; he's a conscientious and loyal man. Jun Youlai's food was indeed unique, especially the seafood soup..."
Li San Niang wasn't really an immature 18 or 19-year-old who needed someone's approval, so she naturally wouldn't tell people that she had been invited by the Department of Ulcer Medicine of the Imperial Medical Academy to give lectures.
Only after agreeing did Li San Niang feel the reality of her nervousness.
My mind was racing, thinking, "How am I supposed to do this? Do I have to start teaching from the beginning? Where should I begin?"
Fortunately, the patient's words "female doctor" brought Li Sanniang back from her chaotic thoughts. Faced with the woman's soft call, Li Sanniang smiled and quickly took the number plate.
"What is wrong with this lady?"
Li San Niang noticed that the woman who came to see her was alone, with powder on her face and drawn eyebrows, and a faint floral fragrance wafted from her body. She was more refined than the other women who usually came to see Li San Niang.
"In response to the female doctor, I have developed some rashes on my body. Although they are not itchy, they are quite unsightly."
I heard that the female doctor specializes in treating mothers, so I came to have a look.
Li San Niang asked some standard questions, such as, "When was it discovered? Where is it located? How long has it been? Besides not itching, is there any pain? Besides the rash, are there any other symptoms?"
At first, Li San Niang thought it was just a rash caused by ordinary dermatitis. But after letting the woman inside and seeing the plum blossom-like red spots on her chest, back and limbs, Li San Niang's face became noticeably serious.
Even Qiu Xiang, who had been helping out the whole time, looked a little off.
This woman was naturally good at reading people's expressions, and now she understood that her rash was probably not very good.
"Please just tell me, doctor. I... do I have some kind of disease that will shorten my lifespan?"
After washing her hands, Li San Niang comforted the woman with her eyes before picking up her pen to write the prescription.
"Lady Green Ripple, it's not that I'm asking, but may I ask if you are married?"
Upon hearing this, and recalling the behavior of Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang, Lü Yi clutched her handkerchief tightly and asked nervously, "Female doctor, is this... a venereal disease?"
Before Li San Niang could reply, Lü Yi's tears started flowing uncontrollably.
This tendency to cry at the drop of a hat left Li San Niang at a loss for what to do.
Treating a woman's illness is difficult; treating her is difficult; curing her is even more difficult; and then there's the need to comfort her—that makes it even more challenging.
Li San Niang didn't say much, just waited quietly, thinking that once Lü Yi had cried enough, she should be able to speak properly.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Lüyi finally picked up her handkerchief to wipe the corner of her eye. Li Sanniang seized the opportunity and quickly said, "Although this 'plum blossom sore' is a kind of dirty disease, not everyone gets it because of going to that brothel."
I asked you this only to see if there's another person sharing a bed with you. This illness needs treatment for both of you, nothing else. Don't overthink it.
After wiping away her tears, Lüyi slowly told Li Sanniang how she contracted the disease.
Luyi was originally from Jiangnan and grew up in the brothel district. When she came of age, she was sold for a good price by the madam in the brothel. She was also lucky to meet a traveling merchant who traveled all over the country and traded whatever was in demand. Luyi was bought and started living with this merchant.
When Lüyi arrived in Chang'an from Jiangnan, she learned that the merchant had not only her own maidservant with him, but also a proper wife in Chang'an.
"Madam is a kind-hearted person. She has always been very polite to us and pays our monthly allowance on time. When I was feeling unwell, she even gave me two taels of silver so I could go see a doctor."
Of course, to Li San Niang, this was just a case of the first wife being unable to control the merchants, taking away Lü Yi's indenture, and treating her as a human-shaped pet for amusement.
What Lüyi said next was what made Li Sanniang realize that there was a bigger problem.
Judging from Lüyi's behavior, the merchant must be ill, which leads to the conclusion that Lüyi's friends Hongxiu and Yingge are also ill.
As for the lady mentioned by Lüyi, given Lüyi's limited knowledge, Li Sanniang didn't know how to judge her and could only tentatively conclude that this lady was also problematic.
But all of that is fine. The biggest problem is that Yingge, the girl who was recently brought back, has just been found to be pregnant.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is already quite painful for adults, but it is truly miserable for an infant with syphilis.
"The key to your illness is not just taking medicine, but that everyone who has been in contact with you must take medicine and get it under control. That's the only way."
It's not something that can be cured by you alone taking medicine.
And those who are pregnant, if they can, should come to me for a check-up, lest they harm the child in their womb.”
Seeing that Lüyi was about to start crying again, Li Sanniang was not comfortable letting her go so easily. After thinking for a while, she took out a piece of paper and wrote a short letter explaining the situation.
"Take this letter back and show it to your wife. Whether she believes me or consults another doctor, she still needs to know."
It was only then that Lüyi realized the seriousness of the problem. In her mind, anything that the madam could know about must be a big deal.
"Yes, I'll go home right away to see my wife. Thank you, Doctor."
Li San Niang couldn't help but feel uneasy about this young woman in her early twenties who had little knowledge and had been spoiled since childhood.
After following them out of the clinic, they saw Lüyi get into the carriage and that she was being served by someone, which put their minds at ease.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com