Crown Prince Sells Medicine

“……What are you doing to my bonus lifespan?” A voice that sharply dropped in tone.

Raciel scanned the inside of the tent with a chilling gaze. The scene within was truly horrifying. A soldier lay unconscious, blood oozing from his arm. This was the same soldier who had undergone leg surgery earlier in the day.

And next to him was…

“What, what? I’m treating him right now. What’s it to you?” Shandre retorted without averting his gaze. Raciel noticed the knife in the man’s hand. He also noticed the bucket placed under the soldier’s arm, already filled with collected blood.

He realized immediately.

‘Could it be? Bloodletting?’

A name suddenly crossed his mind, and he recalled the content he had come across in modern medical history books, not too long ago, just about 200 to 300 years back in the 18th century. During that era, there was a prevailing belief that extracting impure blood from the body would improve a person’s health. Even doctors subscribed to this belief.

‘Especially John Brown, a doctor from Edinburgh, Scotland. He advocated the Brunonian System theory, asserting that life depended on constant physical stimulation. Therefore, when illness struck, he believed that forcibly extracting as much impure blood as possible would increase stimulation and lead to the body’s recovery.’

It was an outrageous theory, a preposterous claim, but it had been a prevailing trend at the time. Even François Victor Broussais, a surgeon who had served in Napoleon’s army and been promoted to a surgical officer, further developed this theory. He actively employed leeches in the practice of bloodletting.

‘That doctor believed that all diseases originated from the gastrointestinal tract. So, he would starve any patient who came to him, attaching leeches all over their bodies. In severe cases, up to 50 at a time.’

Broussais believed that by draining blood while fasting, people would recover. Unfortunately, many patients had perished due to this misguided belief. Yet, the doctors of that time showed no remorse. They did not even thoroughly investigate the cause when a patient died after undergoing bloodletting.

‘They simply attributed the death to the patient’s inability to endure, believing they had provided the most effective treatment.’

The peak of Broussais’s fervent support for leech treatments had been from 1820 to 1845, approximately two centuries ago from the advanced 21st century. These were indeed times when only the resilient survived. He never expected to encounter something like this here, let alone such a defiant response.

“Why aren’t you responding? I’m a military doctor too. I’m treating the wounded in the middle of the night, despite my fatigue. So, what gives you the right to interfere with my treatment?” Shandre’s voice grew increasingly louder, cutting through Raciel’s thoughts. Raciel snapped out of his contemplation, feeling a rising anger and involuntary tension in his spine.

In a chilling tone that had dropped even lower, he interrogated Shandre, “You’re treating the wounded while tired? Right now? With that nonsense?”

“Nonsense?” Shandre responded.

“Yes. What exactly were you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I was drawing blood.”

“Why draw blood?”

“Because it will make them healthy!”

“…”

“Look, the soldier has lost consciousness, hasn’t he? It’s proof that his body is fervently fighting since the dirty blood is being drained. So, if he can just overcome this, this soldier will soon…”

“He’ll die.”

“…What?”

Shandre furrowed his brows, and Raciel’s icy retort followed, “Be sensible and stop the bleeding now, before the soldier actually dies.”

“What are you talking about…”

“Step aside.”

He couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

While they were caught in this futile argument, more innocent blood continued to flow from the soldier’s arm. If left unchecked, he might truly die from excessive blood loss. It might already be too late.

Raciel couldn’t restrain himself any longer.

‘At this rate, he’s going to take a life.’

The young soldier, not even in his twenties, had a promising future ahead. He was a patient who had received proper treatment and was well on the road to recovery. The senseless extinguishing of this life right before his eyes was unbearable.

Taking a decisive step forward, he pushed Shandre aside and grabbed a thick piece of cloth from the medical kit. He pressed it firmly against the soldier’s arm, and the cloth quickly absorbed the red fluid.

“What in the world are you doing?” Shandre yelled, his excitement evident. “The treatment was progressing smoothly. Why are you doing this? Is this even allowed? You might be a competent military doctor in this camp, but this is incredibly disrespectful!”

“…”

“Are you trying to undermine your competition like this? Disrespectful, and furthermore, unfair and cowardly. By what authority do you arbitrarily interrupt someone else’s treatment? I demand an explanation!”

“…”

“Why won’t you answer? Have you suddenly lost your voice now that I’m objecting? Then step aside immediately! We can’t simply halt the treatment without clear cause. The patient is at a critical juncture!”

“A critical juncture? Treatment? Weren’t you attempting to harm a perfectly healthy person?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What am I talking about? I’m hitting the nail on the head. Look at the condition of this soldier. Does he appear to be recovering?”

“Of course, he should be…”

“He’s dying. From excessive bleeding. Thanks to you drawing his perfectly healthy blood without reason.”

“…”

Only then did Shandre fall silent. Raciel’s cutting criticism continued.

“Let me be blunt. What were you doing before I arrived? I saw it. You were slapping the soldier’s face, weren’t you?”

“That was to…”

“To wake him up. To get him to open his eyes. You were flustered and inept. I heard it all.”

“…”

“Even if you deny it, you must have realized it. That this soldier’s condition was deteriorating. Yet, you can’t admit it? Can’t acknowledge that the patient is dying right before your eyes due to your misguided treatment methods?”

Raciel’s words were laced with anger, and his frustration grew with each word. It wasn’t solely about the extra lifespan; it was also about Shandre’s attitude.

“People like you are always the problem. You might misdiagnose a patient’s condition. You might choose the wrong treatment approach. I can understand that. Because you’re human. Because doctors are human. Everyone can make mistakes. But why can’t you admit your mistakes? Why do you persist in denying them to the end?”

“…”

“Is it because admitting them would make you a bad person? Is it because it would tarnish your good reputation? Or is it because you want to evade responsibility? Or perhaps, because a deceased patient can’t object? Is that truly why?”

“You’re being too…”

“Too severe? That’s a laugh. Considering your actions, my words don’t even qualify as severe. In fact, you should be held accountable. If I could, I’d revoke your license and have you locked up right now. So, I’ll offer you a single piece of advice.”

“And what might that be…”

“If you don’t want to meet your end right here, then keep your mouth shut.”

“…”

Shandre had no choice but to close his mouth. The sincerity in the man confronting him was palpable.

‘This is serious.’

The man’s eyes conveyed genuine determination, and they had a deadly seriousness to them.

Furthermore, every word he spoke was true. He was pinpointing the issue with precision, and it was all accurate. Shandre felt a sinking sensation in his heart.

He had no counterargument. The other military doctors who had arrived in the meantime shared a similar sentiment.

“…”

Most of them were staunch believers in bloodletting. They were convinced that the most effective way to promote recovery was by vigorously extracting blood from the patient’s body. They had applied this treatment method to numerous patients, leading to the death of many from excessive bleeding.

However, they had never truly reflected on it. They rationalized it, placing blame on the patients for not enduring the treatment. They believed themselves blameless.

But the words of the stout military doctor made them question their beliefs. Perhaps they had been mistaken all along. Naturally, they resisted the idea. They couldn’t possibly be wrong.

“…”

Caught in the conflict of thoughts, the military doctors fell silent. What would this person do? He had vehemently criticized their bloodletting practices, so how would he save the soldier now?

Anticipation and the desire to witness a potential disaster warred within them. Shandre and the officers watched with keen interest for Raciel’s response.

“Demian? Gardin? You’ve arrived just in time.”

Raciel’s expression eased upon seeing the two individuals who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion. He swiftly issued instructions.

“Demian, fetch a thick blanket. Cover the soldier’s body with it as much as possible. Lift his legs slightly.”

“His legs?”

“So that the remaining blood in his body can circulate to the vital organs and head as much as possible.”

“Understood.”

Demian promptly carried out the instructions. Raciel then turned his attention to Gardin.

“The vein is severed. We need to suture it.”

“Understood.”

Gardin swiftly began preparing the suturing tools. Meanwhile, Raciel applied a tourniquet to the soldier’s arm and carefully assessed his condition.

‘Palpation.’

Ding-dong!

[Initiating Palpation.]

[Scanning.]

[3… 2… 1…]

[The Palpation result is available.]

[Please refer to the following <Comprehensive Examination Form>.]

Shortly after, the test results appeared on the screen. Raciel’s gaze was drawn to the bottom of the chart, where the comprehensive assessment of the soldier’s condition was displayed.

[Comprehensive Findings: Currently experiencing Excessive Bleeding. Approximately 30% of the body’s blood volume has been lost, leading to loss of consciousness due to decreased oxygen supply to the brain. Indications of critically low blood pressure, cold extremities, peripheral circulatory failure, and signs of shock have been observed. Immediate measures for blood transfusion are imperative.]

‘…This is a dire situation.’

Raciel’s brow furrowed deeply. The soldier’s condition was far more critical than he had expected. It was a complete catastrophe, and what made it even more discouraging was that there were no immediate resources at his disposal.

‘A blood transfusion is necessary.’

Yet, there was no way to perform a transfusion. There were no suitable needles to access the soldier’s veins, no tubing to transfer the blood, and no anticoagulants to prevent clotting during the transfusion. None of these essential supplies were available.

‘Do I have to settle for merely stopping the bleeding and ending the treatment? Should I merely hope for his survival?’

In reality, no other options seemed feasible. However, he was reluctant to accept that outcome.

Leaving things as they were?

The situation appeared grim, and it was already a perilous state. Most likely, the soldier would not survive without intervention. Raciel was determined not to let that happen. He felt compelled to take action, whether for the sake of extending his own bonus lifespan or for the soldier’s survival.

‘Dying because of reliance on an erroneous treatment method is an avoidable tragedy.’

That was the thing he despised the most.

He was determined to save the soldier at all costs.

Raciel contemplated intensely.

In a situation where a blood transfusion was absolutely necessary, yet lacking the necessary needles or tubing for conventional methods, even a direct vein-to-vein transfusion seemed unfeasible. What could he possibly do in such a predicament? Was there truly no solution?

‘Think. Please, think.’

He nervously bit his lip. Perhaps he bit too hard unknowingly, as a trickle of blood started to flow from his lower lip. In that moment, he paused involuntarily.

And then, it struck him.

‘…There’s a way.’

A notion, an idea, or perhaps a miraculous treatment technique suddenly dawned upon him. It was a method that only he could execute.

The instant this idea crossed his mind,

Click!

Raciel picked up a surgical scalpel. Without a second thought, he incised the vein on the back of his own hand.

(To be Continued)

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