Chapter 1483: An Emerging City
The carriage set off with a gentle lurch.
Alexandra’s wide eyes were filled with curiosity. "Dearest, it is simply miraculous. To think that those metal tubes alone can determine if a person is at risk of a stroke."
"That is the power of modern medicine," Joseph replied with a smile. "And it is not just strokes. By cross-referencing data from various instruments, we can diagnose heart failure, arteriosclerosis, polyuria, fatty liver, pulmonary edema, and many other conditions."
"It can detect so many illnesses?" Alexandra asked in astonishment. "But I recall seeing only three or four types of equipment."
Realizing they still had three hours before reaching Fontainebleau, Joseph decided to pass the time by explaining the medical checkups to his wife. "The human body is like a precision machine. Falling ill usually means a component has been damaged or has malfunctioned.
"Take a stroke, for instance. It occurs when the blood vessels in the brain are obstructed by impurities or when a vessel ruptures, causing a lack of blood supply that leads to tissue death. These impurities are primarily composed of excess lipids in the blood, or sometimes congealed blood clots.
"When these substances begin to accumulate within the vessels, the body senses the poor circulation. To compensate, it increases the pressure from the heart to force blood through those narrowed passages."
Alexandra instinctively asked, "Is that truly how it works?"
Back in Saint Petersburg, the most recent medical breakthrough she had heard of was Mr. John Brown’s Vitalism, which claimed that all bodily discomfort stemmed from either excessive or insufficient excitement. It was a theory that rejected the older belief that illness was caused by an imbalance of the four humors.
"Therefore, when the body begins to show signs of a potential stroke, the first indicator is an increase in blood pressure—a necessary response to push blood through the constricted vessels. This can be measured using the sphygmomanometer developed by Chief Physician Bisha and Mr. Kullen.
"Furthermore, blood lipid levels are a critical factor. By that, I mean the fat content in a patient’s blood. The more lipids there are, the more likely they are to coalesce into an embolism within the vessels.
"By monitoring abnormalities in these two metrics, we can detect a predisposition toward strokes many years in advance."
Alexandra asked several more questions, clarifying concepts like blood pressure, blood lipids, and cerebral blood insufficiency, until she finally grasped the underlying nature of a stroke.
A tinge of bitterness touched her heart.
Years ago, when her grandmother suffered a stroke, the doctors had placed leeches behind her ears to draw blood and administered large doses of laudanum and camphor. They had even summoned priests and wise men to perform rituals to ward off evil spirits.
If they had possessed something like a blood pressure monitor back then, perhaps her grandmother would still be alive today.
She also realized why the King of Baden had traveled so far to Fontainebleau for an examination. It could very well save his life. Joseph noticed her expression and guessed she was thinking of Catherine. He gently stroked her hair to comfort her, then shifted the conversation toward heart health to distract her.
Before long, the roar of the steam railcar faded as it came to a halt. Joseph turned to look out the window and saw that the area surrounding the Palace of Fontainebleau had been transformed into a massive construction site. Stones and timber were piled everywhere, and countless craftsmen bustled between buildings in various stages of completion, stretching as far as the eye could see.
He had heard reports of a massive population influx and the constant stream of nobles visiting the sanatorium, but he hadn't expected it to be quite this lively. As the carriage door opened, Karl Friedrich von Zähringen stepped forward from among the hundreds of welcoming French nobles. He was the first to bow to Joseph. "Your Highness the Prince Regent, it is a magnificent surprise to see you here. May the Lord watch over you always."
Joseph returned the gesture with practiced grace. After a few pleasantries, he added, "I shall personally ensure the sanatorium assigns their finest physicians to conduct your examination."
Karl Friedrich offered a self-deprecating smile. "I am deeply grateful, Your Highness. However... I wonder if you might help me move up in the queue? Waiting five days is a bit much to bear..."
"Move up in the queue?"
Joseph was puzzled, but upon inquiry, he learned that due to the sheer number of people seeking checkups, even the King of Baden—who had purchased a top-tier VIP card—was forced to wait five days before his examination could begin.
Evidently, the haughty French aristocrats felt no need to show deference to the king of a small South German state.
Joseph rubbed his temples. "I shall see what I can arrange for you."
The steward of the Palace of Fontainebleau approached and bowed to Joseph. "Your Highness, the banquet is prepared."
Joseph and Karl Friedrich began walking toward the palace. As they walked, the King pointed toward a small villa not far to the north, speaking enthusiastically about the new estate he had recently purchased.
When Joseph heard that the price of the house was a staggering 170,000 francs, he couldn't help but click his tongue in surprise.
It was true that the Fontainebleau Sanatorium had only been open to the public for a few months, and existing high-quality housing in the area was scarce.
Great nobles from across the globe wanted nearby residences for the sake of convenience during their medical stays, naturally causing property values to skyrocket.
In fact, even a modest farmhouse on the outskirts of Fontainebleau now commanded a price of two or three thousand francs.
Merchants, craftsmen, and servants followed the nobility, and combined with the families of the doctors and nurses, the permanent population of Fontainebleau had already surpassed ten thousand and was growing rapidly.
It was easy to predict that before long, a flourishing city would coalesce around the Palace of Fontainebleau.
During the banquet, Karl Friedrich grew impatient and approached Joseph with a proposal. He hoped France would provide chemical technology to help Baden develop the brine mines of Bad Nauheim and construct wood tar refineries.
Baden had grown wealthy in recent years by serving as a transit hub for French goods entering South Germany. Now, the King wished to use that wealth to develop his nation's industry. As France’s most loyal subordinate, Karl Friedrich had ordered thorough research before his arrival; brine mining and wood tar were industries that France either neglected or lacked the resources to pursue fully.
Joseph was willing to support his vassal state. Moreover, after years of operating within the Common Market, it was time to plan the integration of the German regions into the French industrial chain.
He was weighing whether to implement a direct fee or a profit-sharing model when he heard Karl Friedrich whisper, "Your Highness, I have heard that Vienna has increased its troop presence in northern Switzerland.
"If hostilities persist, do you believe Baden should declare war on Austria? I am confident I can persuade Würzburg and Mainz to adopt the same stance."
Joseph looked at the King of Baden with a hint of surprise.
It was no wonder a small state like Baden had risen so quickly in just over a decade; this man’s political instincts were remarkably sharp.
He smiled and replied, "You may wait for Bavaria to declare its position first."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
The following afternoon, once all diplomatic matters were concluded, Joseph accompanied Alexandra to the sanatorium’s examination center, intending to undergo a comprehensive checkup himself.
Comments