Chapter 608 - 478: Madam, You’re So Fierce! (Part 3)

Lin Miao stepped forward, checked the pupils, and then felt the pulse.

Clearly, this young boy was already in the mid-stage, and it was progressing toward a more severe condition.

"Quickly, bring a bowl of Shengma Gegen Soup!" Lin Miao instructed, and the prescription he provided included Shengma Gegen Soup, a name everyone understood instantly.

Soon, a bowl of warm medicinal soup was brought over.

Lin Miao asked the child’s mother to hold the child, then pried open his mouth and poured the bowl of Shengma Gegen Soup directly down.

He then used silver needles to prick the Quchi acupoint and other points to stimulate the body’s reaction mechanism.

The child was too weak and clearly malnourished, with low immunity. Lin Miao had no better method and could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.

To be honest, many patients had died in his hands; he couldn’t cure all diseases. Once the elderly’s organs had problems, not even a miracle worker could help, let alone him, who was not a miracle worker.

"Smallpox" can only be prevented and immunity can be formed through "vaccination." Vaccination now is possible, but there must be a source of the "pox."

One can first look for cowpox, and if one wants to inoculate "human pox," it requires collecting the dried scabs from the pustules of recovered smallpox patients and grinding them into powder.

In any case, conditions are still immature.

This world probably hasn’t even developed "human pox," otherwise, he would have seen relevant records in medical books long ago.

Otherwise, everyone wouldn’t turn pale at the mention of "smallpox."

Even if a cow with cowpox is found and the cowpox virus is extracted from its pustules, it would still require a significant cognitive process for people to accept vaccination with cowpox to prevent smallpox.

After all, without this understanding, who would believe that this method can prevent "smallpox," and who would have the courage to let you do it?

Therefore, using "vaccination" to prevent "smallpox" is not simple, and overall, it feels difficult to accomplish.

Unless a credible person is found to endorse it, he certainly isn’t suitable, because even if he knows it’s feasible, people wouldn’t believe it coming from him.

Unless villagers are recruited for a controlled trial.

Forget cowpox for now; it’s hard to find a "sick" cow quickly, but "human pox" can be trialed. Although its prevention effect isn’t as good as "cowpox" and doesn’t provide complete protection, it’s currently the best method. We’ll decide after finding cows with cowpox.

Drinking the medicine won’t show immediate effects; we need to wait a bit longer to observe.

However, acupuncture can immediately relieve pain and is visibly effective.

"Madam Wang, the child is too weak and needs better nutrition; otherwise, he might not survive. All patients need nutritional support; even if there’s no appetite, they still must eat. Staying alive is more important than anything!" Lin Miao said.

"As you say."

"The medicine is free, helping you is like helping myself, but you need to pay for food. I’ll only charge the cost price, and you don’t need to pay now—just write an IOU and pay within three years!"

Lin Miao understood the idea that small favors can lead to resentment.

You can’t be too kind to villagers; if you’re too nice, they’ll take it for granted, and if they’re slightly unsatisfied, they’ll feel you’re bullying them.

This matter should be nipped in the bud; maintaining a balance of kindness and authority is the key to longevity.

Lin Miao debated whether to hand Pei Jian the "Prevention Guide"; the current epidemic status within the city was unclear. If he handed it over now and the epidemic hadn’t spread in the city, it would be like a warm face on a cold rear end. People wouldn’t only ignore its importance but might think he’s leveraging it for fame.

Even if approached with sincere public interest, the human factor must be considered.

The truth is, handing over this "Prevention Guide" doesn’t guarantee Pei Jian and Dongshan Prefecture’s bureaucratic system will execute it as directed.

There are too many factors involved.

Maybe wait until the epidemic becomes clearer.

As long as Pei Jian takes it seriously, things will get easier. If Pei Jian also has a high and mighty attitude, ignoring the people’s lives and deaths, then any effort from him would be wasted; he would only tend to his own small plot.

"Thank you, Mr. Lin!"

"I bow to you, Mr. Lin..."

It was a substantial gathering of bowing, kneeling, and expressing gratitude. Lin Miao’s free medical consultations and medication were akin to divine aid for them.

He only charged for some food, just the cost price without profit, and even offered deferred payment through IOUs. Refusing this wouldn’t make sense unless one had a death wish.

The food costs Lin Miao little, but goodwill cannot be bought with money.

Given his future endeavors here, if any incident occurs, these villagers will become his most loyal supporters.

"How much food and resources are stored in the manor?"

"We prepared quite a bit during last year’s New Year. Two granaries are full, storing approximately 300,000 pounds of grain, along with some vegetables and meat. The cold winter facilitates storage and prevents spoilage. We’ve always had a habit of storing up, and if we eat frugally, it can feed five thousand people for a month." Yue Mei’Er was very knowledgeable about the warehouse conditions.

"Can we urgently procure some from elsewhere?"

"Once the news of the smallpox outbreak spreads, no one would dare transport grain and supplies to us. The manor has some pigs, though vegetables may be insufficient, but with warming weather in a month, the manor’s own crops should be harvestable. Additionally, after ice and snow melt, there’s fishing. Families have some surplus grain, so food isn’t a significant issue."

"Okay, if smallpox spreads, we need an effective self-rescue plan. Some places might have insufficient governmental support, but they can organize self-isolation and self-help measures. I’ll draft a simplified version of the prevention guide, get it printed urgently for necessary situations."

"Young Master, aren’t those tasks for Prefect Pei? If you do them, won’t all the credit go to him later?"

"It doesn’t matter; as long as fewer people die, the credit doesn’t matter. I have no ambition for officialdom, and the credit is of little use to me." Lin Miao laughed warmly.

"Who said it’s useless? If you achieve great things in epidemic prevention, the court might grant you a title of nobility as an exception; there are precedents," Lien Yurou interjected.

"Let’s not think about that now. Bring me the compiled cases; let me see if I can find the source of this smallpox outbreak." Lin Miao chuckled calmly.