Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 485 A Plan Made in Advance
It has to be said that the situation has really taken a sharp turn for the worse.

Just a week ago, the Kingdom of Krant seemed to be teetering on the brink of collapse, while Francis and the Western European Empire were advancing triumphantly, seemingly poised to completely annihilate Krant and the Sasha Alliance.

But now, the situation has completely changed.

The Western Empire of Europe suffered repeated defeats, Francis surrendered, and the Kingdom of Krant appeared invincible.

And this, naturally, is the greatest provocation to the empire.

“You have returned just in time, Sir Levi.”

Her Majesty did not show too much shock at the news of Francis's surrender. Perhaps she had guessed that this day would come sooner or later when Krant bypassed the invincible defense.

After all, Francis had always touted his undefeated front as unprecedented and unparalleled, serving as the backbone of the entire Franciscan nation. Now, however, Krant had not only bypassed their invincible defenses but had even turned them into a weapon against Francis's own army, a significant blow to Francis.

Besides, the Empire has always believed that the Franciscans are pleasure-seeking, lazy, and lack a strong will... Well, from that perspective, surrendering is quite reasonable.

"Oh, Your Majesty, there's one more thing..."

Li Wei didn't comment on this, but continued with his own topic. He briefly told Her Majesty the Queen about Anne in the parallel world, and as expected, this news aroused Her Majesty's interest.

"You mean that world's Dr. Darwin's granddaughter? She looks exactly like Miss Branson?"

"They look similar, but their experiences are quite different, and she doesn't have a good impression of the empire in that world."

"Hmm, from your description, it makes sense... Do you intend to keep her in this world?"

“That’s right, and I believe her skills can help the Empire.”

"But Miss Anne mainly studies chimeras, right? Do you think the Empire should follow the path of chimeras?"

Judging from Her Majesty's tone, she is quite dismissive of chimeras, which is understandable. However, since Li Wei brought this up in front of Her Majesty, he must have already considered it.

“Your Majesty, that world is indeed dominated by biotechnology and synthetic beasts, but it also has one advantage.”

"advantage?"

"Yes... Their medical level is much higher than ours."

That's right. Besides physical enhancement and gene modification, isn't the biggest use of biotechnology in biomedicine?

If there's anything that's better in that world than in this one, it's biomedicine! In that world, they've already invented antibiotics, and even a whole range of other drugs to treat all sorts of common diseases. That's why Levi finally decided to bring Miss Anne back!
He was fed up with those doctors who had nothing better to do than inject patients with heavy metals to see if it would have any effect on their health!

Are you telling the truth?

Upon hearing Li Wei's words, the Queen indeed showed some interest.

"Is the medical technology in that world very advanced?"

"In my opinion, they are much better than us. Diseases like infections and tuberculosis can be easily cured there. I also brought back some of their medicines. Perhaps you could send someone to test them and see how it goes."

Li Wei always believed that a thief never leaves empty-handed. Even if most things in that world are useless, there must at least be something useful, right?
In Li Wei's view, the level of medicine in that world was almost up to the level of his own modern world.

It's definitely much better than this world!
Looking at the medical theories of this world today, it made Li Wei's scalp tingle.

Take "detoxification" for example. The mainstream theory in the world is that as long as you eliminate all the toxins from your body, you will be healthy.

So what are the methods for detoxification?

Ingesting mercury!
Indeed, according to doctors, ingesting mercury causes excessive salivation and diarrhea, which they believe is the body expelling toxins and preventing illness. Some doctors even believe that administering large amounts of mercury to mentally ill patients can help cure their mental illness!
Some doctors even believe that mercury can cure syphilis! And the way syphilis patients are cured is even more terrifying than oral ingestion—people put syphilis patients in saunas, heat mercury into steam, and then give them a steam bath.

Well, I don't know if it can cure syphilis, but mercury poisoning is definitely a death sentence.

Of course, detoxification methods are not limited to diarrhea; there is also vomiting. So, the doctors once again put their creativity to use and found a drug that could cause patients to vomit violently. Its raw material was antimony!

They're all ruthless.

Of course, the doctors' enthusiasm for this treatment method, which Li Wei considered insane, wasn't due to any derangement or desire for revenge against society, but rather stemmed from the medical theory of the four humors. According to this theory, doctors believed the human body was composed of blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile, corresponding to the heart, brain, liver, and stomach, respectively, and also to fire, water, earth, and air…

In summary, this theory holds that people get sick because of an imbalance of the four humors in the body, and that restoring their balance can restore health.

That's why they either bleed the person, cause diarrhea, or induce vomiting... In short, they drain excess fluid from the body, restore the body's fluid balance, and then the person naturally recovers.

Ironically, people were not unaware of the toxicity of this mineral, but they all believed that since doctors used it to treat illnesses, there must be a reason for it... In fact, Li Wei cannot say that this was wrong, after all, arsenic is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. Can you say that people at that time did not know that arsenic could kill people?
What left Li Wei speechless was that the drugs of this era were truly deadly.

When you walk into a pharmacy, you can see a row of medicines on the shelves, and the bottles may even have labels that clearly state the diseases they treat, as well as the solutions and symptoms after poisoning.

For example, you might see a bottle of mercury labeled as a treatment for lung and stomach ailments, but it also warns that excessive mercury consumption can lead to poisoning and death…

Li Wei was very grateful that he had the system. Although his lifespan was limited and could be reduced due to injuries or other reasons, at least he wouldn't get sick.

And fortunately, his little girls hardly ever got sick. Otherwise, he couldn't imagine what would happen if the girls got sick and the doctor prescribed them medications like calomel; would Li Wei let them take it or not?

If he's not allowed to eat it, he might be accused of being an old-fashioned stubborn person who doesn't believe in modern medicine! In other people's eyes, he might be on the same level as those rural women who don't believe in doctors and would rather go to shamans for treatment.

But this doctor really couldn't believe it... Nowadays, which doctor would let their child ingest mercury? Wouldn't they be beaten to death by the parents?

He'd rather hire a shaman!
Therefore, when Li Wei learned that Annie had also studied biomedicine, he felt as if the sun had risen!

Finally, finally we don't have to see so many people slowly committing suicide anymore!
Synthetic beasts aren't essential for the Empire, but they're not entirely useless either. For example, they could be quite suitable for improving certain poultry; you might even be able to synthesize a chicken that can supply enough chicken legs for a family bucket. But right now… let's prioritize biomedicine; at least that stuff is safer than metallic elements.

Humans aren't animals; it's time to change the habit of curiously putting everything in our mouths to try it...

Oh, speaking of which, Li Wei once read a medical book written by a "famous doctor" that stated that when people are sick, they should breathe more fresh air, exercise, sunbathe, and drink more water—but not eat anything.

It's euphemistically called a healthy diet.

That's right, just drinking water, getting sunshine, breathing fresh air, exercising more, and not eating can cure diseases. It claims that healing is a natural process, and that during fasting, all the body's energy is used to strengthen the nervous system, eliminate toxins, and repair and restore human tissues.

Once you eat, the energy is used for digestion and is no longer used to treat the body, thus worsening your condition.

In Li Wei's view, this was no different from a cult, and if he could, he would really like to shoot all these doctors.

Not only that, but with the broadcasts now spreading throughout the Empire, a theory has emerged that radio waves can also cure diseases... This is utter fraud.

Unfortunately, Li Wei wasn't a medical professional. At most, he could only point out that something was wrong, but he couldn't explain why or how to fix it.

Now things are much better; finally, a professional has joined our side.

Li Wei decided to have Annie start with anti-infection and anesthesia, addressing the most pressing issues on the battlefield, before gradually expanding to other areas. After all, war inevitably involves injuries and deaths, and providing soldiers with more protection is always beneficial.

Fortunately, people in this era were both ignorant and gullible. Since they all believed that oral mercury could cure diseases, it should be even less of a problem to give them antibiotics and anesthetics made by Anne.

"Okay, I understand. I'll have someone handle this."

After listening to Li Wei's explanation, the Queen pondered for a moment and nodded. She didn't understand Li Wei's deep resentment towards the current state of medicine in the Empire, but from the Queen's perspective, she also knew that some diseases were currently untreatable for doctors in this world. Perhaps learning from other countries could be helpful?
There's no harm in giving it a try; it's not like you're the one doing the trying.

Having achieved his goal, Li Wei naturally took his leave.

After that, Levi gave all the crew members on the Eye of the Sky a day off so they could go home and rest. As for Annie, Levi also found her and explained his thoughts to her.

It has to be said that when Annie heard Levi say that doctors in this world actually used minerals as medicine, she also had a "Are you kidding me?" expression.

"In a world of steam technology, would people eat iron plates to cure diseases?"

"Of course not."

Li Wei silently rolled his eyes.

"Humans are, after all, made of flesh and blood. That thing is more like killing people than curing diseases. So, I hope you can start your research from here."

"Biomedicine... I have indeed studied it before."

Anne remained silent for a moment.

"However, I need some instruments, which I'm afraid the world doesn't have."

"I think so too. Aren't those enough on the Eye of the Sky?"

"Those are mainly used to organize synthetic beasts; drug research and manufacturing require different equipment..."

“You can draw it out, and I’ll find someone to build it.”

Li Wei believed that with the Empire's current manufacturing technology, as long as you don't use instruments of the space shuttle level, you should still be able to build it.

"Okay, that's the only way."

Anne nodded.

"However, I still need a laboratory and a place to live."

"That's no problem."

Li Wei waved his hand magnanimously.

"You can stay at my house."

(End of this chapter)