FULL NOVELXO Chapter 132: Department of Health
TL: Etude
The two consulting ladies took a long time to regain their composure, but their faces still bore traces of lingering fear.
Ladi asked Paul, “Count, I’ve always been curious why Lakeheart Town has shops that specifically sell boiled water. I suppose this was your idea too?”
“Indeed!” Paul, beaming with pride, patted his chest and said, “Heating water to a certain degree effectively kills these microorganisms. I call this process ‘disinfection’, so I advocate that people in our territory drink boiled water.”
In another timeline, the working people of The Celestial Empire (pre-PRC China lmao) only started the habit of drinking boiled water after 1949. In ancient times, epidemics, parasites, and gastroenteritis were common, especially in rural areas, which were hotbeds for parasites and dysentery.
After the founding of New China, the benefits of drinking boiled water were heavily promoted and played a significant role in eradicating parasites and controlling various gastrointestinal infectious diseases.
However, for the lower-class people in the northwest, using precious fuel to boil water was still a bit of a luxury. Therefore, Paul funded the establishment of boiled water shops where, for just a copper coin, one could buy a small bucket of boiled water.
He also planned to extend this model throughout the regions of Alda and Baylding.
“But, was this microscope just created by you? Did you already know about the numerous microorganisms in water?” Ladi suddenly asked, with Eileen also curiously looking at Paul.
“I…” Paul was momentarily at a loss for words.
After a brief hesitation, he hurriedly explained, “Isn’t it common knowledge that drinking raw water can cause diarrhea? I just combined this common knowledge with the new discovery made through the microscope.”
Ladi still had her doubts, “But the cause and effect of this…”
Paul immediately interrupted her, “Why bother with so many causes and effects? Ah… I called you here for serious business. I am quite busy, you know.”
Ladi, hiding a smile, said, “Please give your orders, Count.”
Powerful firearms, telescopes that could see for miles, exquisite porcelain, cheap paper, time-saving reaping machines, full-sail warships, and now this sophisticated microscope – all were inventions of this Count. If the inventor had been one of those scholars from the Imperial Academy, immersed in knowledge their entire lives, it would be barely plausible. But this Count was just fifteen years old. Could there really be people born with innate knowledge?
Ladi increasingly believed that this lord harbored some secret, but she did not intend to delve too deeply. After all, who didn’t have secrets? For instance, she had another identity herself.
Paul, slightly embarrassed, cleared his throat and said, “The first thing is, I want to establish a Department of Health.”contemporary romance
“A Department of Health?”
“Yes, a Department of Health. The main task of this department will be to promote healthy living habits in Alda and Baylding, in addition to some medical affairs.”
“What do we need to do?”
“I need you two scholars to organize a team to compile a series of promotional booklets and textbooks, introducing good living habits from the upper class to the common people, and explaining their significance in detail. You’ve seen the various microorganisms with your own eyes. Based on my observations of other objects, they exist not only in water. Our world is full of them, and in greater numbers than in clear water, like the nail dirt I’ve deliberately left these past few days…”
Eileen, disgusted, said, “Please, no more.”
“Haha, sorry. With this discovery, the causes of some diseases can be explained. Among the microorganisms we discovered, some can certainly cause illness. Let’s collectively refer to them as ‘pathogens.’ Of course, just as some known organisms have symbiotic relationships, it’s quite possible that some of these microorganisms are beneficial to our bodies.”
Paul decided not to prematurely introduce terms like bacteria, viruses, or fungi, as explaining them would be too complicated.
He continued, “Some good habits, such as bathing regularly, washing hands before meals, keeping the environment clean, eating cooked food, and, as we just mentioned, drinking boiled water, can effectively reduce the number of pathogens, thereby greatly reducing the probability of disease occurrence.”
Ladi nodded in agreement, “That makes sense. Previously, we did these things for comfort, but now there’s an added significance – for health.”
Paul, nodding, added, “These habits should be adopted by the general populace, not just by the nobility and the wealthy.”
Ladi commented, “Such care for one’s subjects is rare among lords like you.”
Eileen also looked at him with admiration.
“Nonsense, the people in my territory are valuable labor. I don’t want them dying from preventable diseases. Otherwise, who will work in my fields and factories?”
The two advisors were taken aback, “Count Grayman, I take back what I said.”
Ignoring their disdain, Paul continued, “Considering most people in the territory are illiterate, you’ll need to include many illustrations in the pamphlets. Choose some of the ‘little bugs’ that you least want to see and exaggerate them as much as possible – the more grotesque, the better, to scare them.”
“I’ll have Morrison’s propaganda team distribute your pamphlets throughout the territory and explain them, enhancing credibility by using microscopes.”
Besides the propaganda team, he planned to gift a microscope to Father Anderson, who oversaw the church in Lakeheart Town. The priest, known for his interest in biology and his garden full of diverse plants, also enjoyed studying scriptures and practicing medicine.
He also wanted to provide several microscopes to Weiss Academy, encouraging students to learn more about biology. “Education should start from a young age, after all.”
“Hmm, and knowledge about childbirth for pregnant women…”
This suddenly came to his mind. He had already sent people to gather and compile data. In the past ten years, the infant mortality rate in the Northwestern Bay area – the number of deaths of infants under one year per thousand live births – was over two hundred per thousand.
This was a heart-wrenching statistic. If these infants had survived, his territory would have had a significant population increase, and his factories would have had many more workers.
“It’s essential to gather experienced midwives from all over, compile their birthing experiences into a book, and teach them about pathogens – the disease-causing microorganisms we observed under the microscope – and how to disinfect.”
“Practices like cutting the umbilical cord with a rusty scissor or cleaning with unboiled water must be strictly abandoned.”
Paul, speaking as the ideas came to him, seemed a bit disorganized. The two female advisors diligently took notes.
“We must declare war on ignorance and backward practices. I’ve decided to launch a movement, which I’ll call—”
“The New Life Movement!”
done.co