Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 641 What I need is a complete victory!
"A complete victory?" Sophie was bewildered. She didn't know what constituted a "complete victory," or who the "victory" was.

Lionel countered, "What would happen if I stayed in Paris now?"

Sophie answered without hesitation: "The newspapers will continue to interview you, the salons will continue to invite you, and you can explain the truth to the citizens again and again."

Lionel shook his head: "On the contrary, I would get caught up in endless arguments with Jules Rochelle and the entire Paris Medical School, which is not what I want."

Sophie frowned slightly: "Leon, you once said, 'Truth is not clear without debate,' so why did you leave Paris at the most crucial moment and stop debating?"

You could have exposed Jules Rochelle's lies, allowing more people to see the truth, accept the 'cholera bacteria theory,' and saved more lives.

Lionel turned around and leaned against the railing of the ship's gunwale, the sea breeze making his clothes flutter.

“Sophie, what I want is not a personal victory for Rochelle. What I want is to sweep the ‘miasma theory’ into the dustbin of history and put an end to this absurd doctrine.”

Sophie was puzzled: "What's the difference between the two? Exposing Jules Rochelle is just a way of refuting the 'miasma theory,' isn't it?"

Lionel gave a helpless smile: "There's a big difference. If I focus on Jules Rochelle, then it becomes a personal grudge and a battle of positions."

People might think this is just Lionel Sorel, the author, challenging medical authority. They'll ask, "Does he even understand medicine? What gives him the right to point fingers?"

Sophie was silent for a moment, then said, "But he is a leading figure in adhering to the 'miasma theory.' Exposing him is tantamount to exposing the absurdity of this theory."

Lionel shook his head: "Attacking him personally will only garner him undeserved sympathy. Don't forget, Rochelle also risked his life for the 'miasma theory'."

If I keep attacking him, some people will think, "Look, Sorel is bullying a patient, a person who is not afraid of sacrifice, he is kicking someone when he's down."

A theory or idea will not be automatically accepted by the masses simply because it is correct. People are prone to emotional reactions, and sometimes sympathy is more powerful than truth.

He stretched out his hand and pointed to the distant sea: "So I have no interest in trampling Rochelle underfoot; I want the 'miasma theory' to collapse in the face of facts."

Sophie seemed thoughtful: "So before you left Paris, you had 'The Story of Chess' published in Modern Life?"

Lionel laughed: "That novel originally had another purpose, but right now, quite a few people might identify with it. At least Rochelle certainly will."

He paused before continuing, "Moreover, Professor Pasteur showed me some things that made me even more convinced that silence is more powerful than argument."

"what?"

Instead of answering directly, Lionel asked, "Is the questioning and opposition to the 'miasma theory' and 'bloodletting' and 'enemas' only a recent phenomenon?"

Sophie asked curiously, "Isn't that right? Professor Pasteur's paper says that last year, the German Robert Koch first discovered the bacteria that causes cholera..."

Lionel shook his head: "Of course not last year. In fact, in 1854, the Italian Filippo Pasini observed and isolated the cholera bacteria."

He named this bacterium 'Parsini Vibrio cholerae'. He predated Robert Koch by nearly thirty years.

Sophie was astonished: "1854? That early? That's a full thirty years ago, how come everyone still believes in the 'miasma theory'?"

Lionel still didn't answer the question, but continued, "Was I really the first person to do those methods—like feeding salt water?"

Sophie nodded firmly: "Of course! I've never seen anyone do this before you."

Lionel shook his head again: "I'm certainly not the first. In 1831, Scottish physician Thomas Latta did the same thing during a cholera outbreak."

He was even more 'radical' than me—he injected boiled and sterilized saline solution into the patient's body via intravenous infusion to replenish the water and salt lost due to diarrhea.

A patient who was on the verge of death recovered quickly after undergoing this treatment. "If I had known that intravenous injection was available back then, I would have done that too!"

Sophie was so surprised she could barely speak: "1831? Five...more than fifty years ago? He...he didn't publish his method?"

Lionel gave a helpless look: "Of course it was published, but like the Italian Filippo Pasini, it was buried and ignored."

Sophie's eyes were filled with shock: "These...these are all life-saving things! How could this be...how could this be..."

Lionel sighed: "And there's Dr. John Snow, the Englishman mentioned in 'I Call!', who discovered in 1847 that cholera spreads through water."

If it weren't for the Paris cholera outbreak, which prompted Professor Pasteur to consult numerous documents, this history might have remained undiscovered for a long time, or even been buried forever.

Thirty years ago, Pacinian discovered the cholera bacteria; forty years ago, Snow proved that cholera was transmitted through water; fifty years ago, Lata saved cholera patients using saline solution… But even with so many discoveries and so many successful treatments and preventions of its spread, the entire European medical community still turned a blind eye and insisted on the 'miasma theory.'

At this point, Lionel paused, his voice filled with deep disappointment: "Why?"

Sophie remained silent for a long time before softly saying, "I don't know. Shouldn't doctors and professors be among the people who most pursue truth and respect life?"

Lionel looked at her: “Perhaps. But their fear of change and their shame of admitting their mistakes outweigh their determination to pursue the truth and their mercy to save lives.”

Sophie looked at Lionel's face, into his eyes, and suddenly understood something: "So that's why you decided not to get entangled with Jules Rochelle?"

Lionel nodded: "It wouldn't be difficult to ruin his reputation. I can write many articles, mobilize many newspapers, and question his strange 'gastroenteritis'—"

Everyone knows it's cholera, but he stubbornly refuses to admit it. I can analyze every single thing he says and find the contradictions and absurdities within them.

I could even ruin his reputation in the Parisian medical community... but even if he were to be disgraced, it wouldn't mean that the 'miasma theory' would be shaken throughout Europe.

What can truly put an end to the 'miasma theory' is not the rescue of a few poor people in an apartment building, or a few minor skirmishes in the Parisian media...

It can only be irrefutable scientific fact and large-scale prevention and control achievements. These all require time, patience, and people like Professor Pasteur.

Sophie finally understood completely. She looked at Lionel with both understanding and admiration in her eyes.

Lionel then asked, "What would happen if we got bogged down in a public relations battle with Jules Rochelle and the Paris Medical School, which represents the orthodoxy of French medicine?"

Following Lionel's line of thought, Sophie offered her own answer: "It would push Professor Pasteur to the opposite side of the entire Paris Medical School at an inappropriate time."

Then he won't just be facing academic disputes, but he'll likely also be embroiled in political entanglements. What he needs most right now is a quiet research environment.

If he becomes the focus of a debate, his achievements will be questioned because of his stance, rather than being recognized or accepted. Politics is always the main theme of the people.

At this point, Sophie suddenly realized: "That's why you chose to leave Paris for New York at this time."

Lionel nodded: "On the one hand, it's because of old Morgan's invitation, that we're going to 'inspect' the most important results; on the other hand, it's based on this consideration."

He rested his hands on his cane, leaned forward, and concluded: "This is what I mean by a complete victory, not a personal attack on any professor."

This resounding victory means that when the next cholera outbreak occurs—and it will inevitably happen again—the whole of Europe will know how to prevent and treat it.

Everyone knows that water needs to be boiled, salt water needs to be added, and quicklime needs to be used to disinfect excrement; everyone knows that the 'miasma theory' is wrong and the 'bacteria theory' is right.

By then, who will care what Jules Rochelle said? Who will care how stubborn the Paris Medical School and the European medical community once were?

Sophie remained silent, gazing at the distant sea, at the boundless blue expanse, at the blurred line where the sea met the sky.

Suddenly, the cruise ship sounded its horn, the long, deep sound echoing across the sky and startling a flock of seagulls.

“I understand,” Sophie said softly, then turned to Lionel and smiled. “Let’s go, it’s time for dinner.”

Lionel extended his hand, and Sophie naturally took his arm, and the two walked toward the cabin.

Sophie changed the subject: "I've never been to America. What kind of country is it?"

Lionel paused for a moment, recalling his visit three years ago.

The bridges and churches of New York, the steel mills of Pittsburgh, Andrew Carnegie's "Corporate Town," the gunfight in Storm's End, and the speech in San Francisco...

Of course, there are also the workers exploited by the "tin coin" and those still struggling with racial discrimination.

Lionel began slowly, his voice carried away by the sea breeze: “America… is a young and contradictory country, quite different from France and Britain.”

It possesses the most advanced technology, yet also the most primitive exploitation; the loftiest ideals, yet also the cruelest reality; boundless opportunities, yet also profound suffering.

Before they could finish speaking, the two saw the captain of the "Perel" approaching them with a broad smile:
"Mr. Sorel, Miss Sophie, the dinner is ready, and everyone is looking forward to meeting you both!"

(Second update complete, thank you everyone! Please vote with monthly tickets!)
(End of this chapter)