Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1581: Chapter 1487: The Confused Youth

Joseph immediately frowned and said:

"Your surgical tools need to be replaced. I will have the Namu Royal Iron Refinery specially customize a batch of stainless steel instruments for you. You can send your assistant to determine the specifications."

He knew that rust was the "ace death god" on the operating table.

Rust itself is porous, and gaps accumulate large amounts of bacteria and necrotic tissue. Even with disinfectant, the contaminants within the rust layer are difficult to clean thoroughly.

Additionally, the surface of rust easily flakes off tiny particles, which can remain in the wound and, due to the strong irritant nature of iron oxide, cause swelling and even ulceration.

Although the mass production technology of stainless steel at the Royal Iron Refinery is not yet mature, making small quantities in the laboratory poses no problems.

Bodlock heard too many new terms today and was already a bit numb: "Your Highness, what is the stainless steel you’re speaking of?"

"A type of steel with a very smooth surface that won’t produce any rust, and its strength is much higher than the surgical tools you’re currently using. This means that using stainless steel to achieve the same performance would be very lightweight."

Bodlock quickly noted this down, with a conflicted look: "If it’s as you say, I think I should visit the Royal Iron Refinery, but the matter of distinguishing blood types seems more important..."

Joseph thought for a moment and said: "You should personally go to Namu. In addition to birthing instruments, you also need to order a batch of stainless steel scalpels and new types of suturing needles to later be promoted as standard surgical instruments. Now taking a train through Luxembourg to Namu only takes a day and a half."

The time was nearing two in the morning, and Joseph brought up the last topic: "Regarding surgical anesthesia, what methods are currently available?"

"No feeling?" The doctor questioned, "I’m not quite sure what you mean."

Joseph then remembered the word "anesthésie" had not yet been used in the medical field and only had the meaning of "no feeling."

"It’s about making the patient not feel pain during surgery."

Bodlock said: "You mean things like opium tincture? But they only make the patient relaxed and sleepy, completely not reaching the level of no pain."

This did not surprise Joseph.

He nodded: "I’m talking about a drug that can make the patient completely feel nothing. This might require Mr. Kovisat to organize professional pharmacists for research.

"Hmm, perhaps synthesizing ether would need the cooperation of chemists..."

Bodlock cautiously said: "Do you mean ether?"

"Yes."

"Your Highness, I’m not too sure if what you mean is what Frobenius synthesized seventy years ago."

"It makes people dizzy when inhaled."

"That very well might be it, Your Highness. It has a sweet smell, is volatile, and makes people dizzy and relaxed when inhaled. Many young people use it for entertainment at parties, calling it ’gas wine.’"

Joseph’s eyes lit up: "That’s great. Ether indeed can have an anesthetic effect."

He hadn’t expected that this era had already synthesized ether, just not knowing why it hadn’t been used in the medical field.

Bodlock was puzzled: "Your Highness, but its pain-relieving effect is even less than opium tincture."

"Perhaps the concentration isn’t high enough, or maybe the inhalation method is flawed." Joseph knew anesthesia was a technical job, and he could only speculate, "Or perhaps it needs to be injected to be effective?

"This still requires the Health Department to conduct extensive experiments to determine."

The next day, Joseph went straight to the Health Department with dark circles under his eyes, tasked Kovisat and other high-ranking officials with a series of tasks.

The time frame was set for half a year, hoping to resolve key issues such as the use of ether, blood transfusion, safe wound suturing, and stainless steel surgical tools.

Thus, a European surgical technique revolution started in the birthing chamber of the Palace of Versailles.

Of course, those most affected were France’s tens of thousands of midwives.

Half of what they had learned before had changed. The Health Department had to retrain and assess them.

...

At the seaside in Brest, over a hundred nobles were laughing and drinking at a beach party hosted by Queen Mary.

Queen Mary sat on a wide beach chair, with an "aunt-like smile" as she watched Princess Marie Elizabeth chatting and laughing with Charles not far away.

Soon, Charles left the Baden princess, who was talking with several noble ladies, and came to his mother, looking tired.

Queen Mary handed him a glass of wine, smiling: "What a good girl, look, even your parrot likes her."

Charles, however, looked at the girl warily, muttering to himself: "Who knows what her real intention is..."

As Marie Elizabeth treated him better, he felt she was trying to exploit him, just like that woman.

Even Mr. Walnut couldn’t escape her scheming, flying around her all day.

Queen Mary didn’t hear her son’s mumbling and continued to speak on her own: "You’re also at the age to marry, I think this year you should marry Marie..."

Charles seemed to have been stung by a wasp, quickly stepping back a few paces, waving his hands repeatedly: "No, I can’t marry her..."

He immediately saw the surprised look on his mother’s face and quickly changed his stance: "I mean, I want, like my brother, to do more for France while young.

"You see, didn’t my brother marry at over twenty too?"

Queen Mary shook her head: "That’s because there was a war back then. I can’t watch as you drag it on any longer."

Due to Joseph’s request to block the news, she was unaware of Charles’s love affair in Berlin.

Charles saw Marie Elizabeth smiling as she walked towards him, desperately thinking of how to deal with his mother, when Countess of Debeninac hurriedly approached, bowed to Queen Mary, and handed over a letter: "Your Majesty, this is from the Regent King."

"Hmm, it must be Joseph missing me."

Queen Mary happily took out the letter paper and opened it, after reading a few lines suddenly flipped the letter and instructed her maid: "Armande, quickly prepare, I shall return to the Palace of Versailles tomorrow."

She then gestured her son to come closer, whispering in his ear: "The Crown Princess is pregnant!"

She stood up, leaving the nobles behind her and walking towards her carriage, mumbling: "Sasha must be waiting for me to take her to receive the Holy Medal and Holy Water."

According to French customs, the mother-in-law is responsible for all matters regarding the daughter-in-law’s pregnancy and birth.

Of course, for the Royal Family, which has court physicians, chefs, and a large number of servants, her main duties are religious-related matters for Alexandra.

Charles watched his mother’s departing back, letting out a long sigh of relief, his brother truly saved him.

He inconspicuously dodged the Baden Princess’s hand reaching over, instructing his attendant: "Prepare a gift for me. Tomorrow, I will depart for Ravenna."