The reason Zhao Hao came to Xishan Island this time was actually to select a site for the Ordnance Research Institute.
Previously, he had accepted a commission from Zhang Juzheng to help the Ministry of Works' Military Equipment Bureau improve firearms.
For this purpose, Zhang Xianggong also appointed him as the "supervisory committee member" to supervise all the affairs of the Nanjing Arsenal on behalf of the cabinet.
But Zhao Hao didn't want to offend that person, so he just asked the Ordnance Bureau for a dozen gun-making masters and never harassed them again.
Even the dozen or so gun-making masters were sent by Master Zhao to make flood-fighting tools such as hammers, hoes and shovels, and they have not had the chance to meet him yet.
At this moment, the most difficult time has passed. Kunkaisi has recruited dozens of ordinary blacksmiths from various counties in Suzhou, so there is no need to waste their talents.
Zhao Hao ordered people to pick up Old Man Gao and the gun-making masters and bring them to Kunshan.
But to be on the safe side, he decided to set up the Ordnance Research Institute on Xishan Island.
Not only is it surrounded by water and heavily guarded, but the entire island is 22 miles long from north to south and 14 miles wide, which is as big as five Suzhou cities. Even if they fire cannons to test explosives, it won't alert people outside the island.
It is a perfect place to commit crimes... oh no, it is a perfect place to conduct confidential science.
When he inspected Xishan Island before, he roughly selected the Chenjiawu area on the middle island. It was surrounded by mountains, hidden and easy to guard. In the middle was a narrow and flat valley, which was perfect for a shooting test site.
This time, Zhao Hao was going to work with the designers to finalize the construction plan for the Ordnance Research Institute on site.
Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. Early the next morning, bad news reached the island, forcing him to change his itinerary.
When Pan Jixun was inspecting the third phase of the project in Kunnan, he suddenly fainted by the Dianshan Lake. Zheng Ruozeng and others quickly sent him back to Kunbei and urgently notified Zhao Hao.
Zhao Hao was extremely anxious upon hearing the news and immediately ordered people to prepare a boat to return to Kunshan. Xu Bangrui missed his son and followed him on the boat.
~~
The boat sailed downstream from Xishan Island and arrived in Kunshan at noon.
It was already late August and the flood season was coming to an end. The accumulated water in Kunnan had basically receded, revealing a large area of muddy and messy ground, making it impossible to tell where the fields were and where the road was.
Obviously, it will take some time for Kunnan to return to normal living conditions. However, Pan Zhongcheng has been working in this hellhole for several days.
No matter how Lao Pan complained, his serious commitment to water conservancy work was enough to instantly kill those literati who only knew how to talk and do nothing.
"Old Pan, you must be fine! Otherwise, I will be a sinner for all eternity!" Zhao Hao slapped the railing heavily, turned his head and looked at the Jiangnan Hospital on the bank of the Xiaozhen River in the distance, wishing he could grow wings and fly over there.
Jiangnan Hospital has been open for more than a month and is now overcrowded with patients coming for treatment every day.
This is not surprising at all, as the hospital has three of the world's top doctors.
Although most of the patients who see patients on a daily basis are their disciples, their medical skills are already far superior to those of ordinary doctors.
Moreover, Jiangnan Hospital implements a "flexible medical fee system" - in simple terms, it is up to you to pay more or less. If you don't have money, you can give a few duck eggs or a bunch of wicks. If you are really poor, it doesn't matter if you don't pay medical fees.
Anyway, Mr. Zhao didn't open the hospital for making money.
As a result, not only did the people of the county flock to the hospital, but people from nearby Suzhou, Taicang, Changshu and other places also came to see a doctor, almost crowding the hospital.
Zhao Hao had to adopt the appointment number system hundreds of years in advance.
In addition to the emergency department, each department releases a different number of "consultation numbers" every day according to its own capabilities, allowing patients to see a doctor with the numbers. This gives the busy doctors a chance to catch their breath.
~~
Zhao Hao entered the hospital through the back door.
When he walked into the single room with a faint smell of alcohol, he saw Pan Jixun lying motionless on the bed wearing a blue cotton hospital gown.
He quietly walked into the ward and placed a bunch of golden jellyfish on the bedside table. Looking at Pan Zhongcheng, whose eyes were closed and whose face was sallow, Master Zhao sighed apologetically and asked Li Shizhen, who was standing by:
"Sir, what is Zhongcheng's illness?"
"It's probably Gu worm disease." Since learning about the world of germs, Li Shizhen has gotten used to wearing a mask. He also wears a cloth hat, which makes him look a bit like a doctor in later generations. "President Wan has personally checked his feces, and we'll be able to confirm it soon."
Jiangnan Hospital now uses a microscope to observe the patient's feces and look for worm eggs to diagnose schistosomiasis.
The doctors in the Ming Dynasty had a deep understanding of medicine. As long as they were given enough scientific support, they could find scientific solutions on their own.
Diagnosis method.
"Did you get schistosomiasis after coming to Kunshan?" Zhao Hao covered his mouth. Thinking of how Pan Zhongcheng had been stepping in mud almost every day since coming to Kunshan, he felt that he was probably the one who harmed him.
"No." Li Shizhen shook his head and said, "The dampness and poison in his body have flowed through the blood and qi in his meridians and gradually reached his internal organs, causing ascites to accumulate. This is why he has been ill for many years."
After a pause, he continued, "I asked his followers, and they said that he suddenly developed a habit of eating dirt in the past two years. This is most likely caused by worms in his stomach and intestines."
"Is that so?" Zhao Hao sighed. I thought Mr. Pan just liked this, but it turns out he is sick.
"Then how did he fall into a coma?"
"He was suffering from blood deficiency caused by the parasite disease, plus he was tired." Li Shizhen replied: "He had a high fever when he was brought here. I think new parasites have entered his body. We have given him medicine. His fever has gone down now, and he will wake up soon."
"..." Zhao Hao heard it and said, "Okay, feelings are still my responsibility."
"Can this disease be cured?" Zhao Hao's knowledge of schistosomiasis focuses on how to prevent it.
As for treatment, he only knew that "Praziquantel" was a specific medicine, but he didn't have the ability to synthesize it.
Artemisinin seems to have some effect, but let's hear what the doctor says first.
"Don't worry." Li Shizhen said calmly, "I have nine prescriptions that can treat this disease, and Senior Wan also has seven. They are roughly divided into five categories: killing parasites, vomiting, removing blood stasis, removing water, and strengthening the body. After the diagnosis is confirmed, we will discuss a plan to help Zhongcheng cure this disease."
Seeing that Li Shizhen was very confident in treating the terrible schistosomiasis, Zhao Hao felt a lot more at ease.
He increasingly felt the need to continue increasing his investment in medicine.
In a broader sense, this is a great thing that benefits the country and the people and will benefit future generations; in a narrower sense, it also allows yourself and those around you to have more ways to defeat the disease when it strikes.
In this way, the legendary story of our Master Zhao will not be ended halfway.
ps. The third update. Well, everyone should vote to continue the legendary story of Mr. Zhao. I will write another update.