Chapter 1487: The Bewildered Youth
Joseph frowned immediately and said, "Your surgical instruments must be replaced. I will have the Namur Royal Ironworks customize a set of stainless steel tools specifically for you. You can send an assistant there to finalize the specifications."
He knew all too well that rust was a reaper in the operating room.
Rust was naturally porous, and its crevices could harbor vast amounts of bacteria and necrotic tissue. Even with disinfectants, contaminants trapped within the rusted layers were nearly impossible to clean thoroughly. Furthermore, tiny particles of rust could easily flake off and remain inside a wound. The strong irritant nature of iron oxides would then trigger inflammation, swelling, and even gangrene.
Although the Namur Royal Ironworks had not yet perfected the technology for mass-producing stainless steel, creating a small batch in a laboratory setting posed no challenge at all.
Baudelocque had heard so many new terms today that he felt somewhat numb. "Your Highness, what is this stainless steel you speak of?"
"It is a type of steel with an exceptionally smooth surface that does not produce any rust," Joseph explained. "Moreover, its strength is much higher than the surgical tools you currently use. This means that to achieve the same level of performance, stainless steel instruments can be made significantly lighter."
Baudelocque quickly took notes, his expression a mix of hesitation and focus. "If it is truly as you say, then I suppose I must make a trip to the Royal Ironworks myself. However, the matter of blood typing seems even more urgent..."
Joseph considered this for a moment before deciding. "You should go to Namur personally. In addition to the delivery instruments, you should also order a batch of stainless steel scalpels and a new type of suturing needle. These will eventually be promoted as the standard equipment for all surgeries. If you take the train through Luxembourg to Namur now, the entire journey will only take a day and a half."
As the time approached two o'clock in the morning, Joseph brought up the final topic. "Regarding surgical anesthesia, what methods are currently in use?"
Joseph then realized that the term anesthesia had not yet been formally adopted for medical use and simply carried the literal meaning of being without feeling. "It means ensuring the patient feels no pain during the surgical process."
Baudelocque nodded in understanding. "You must be referring to things like laudanum. However, those only make the patient relaxed or drowsy; they are far from achieving a state where there is no pain at all."
This was not unexpected for Joseph.
He nodded. "I am talking about a pharmacological agent that can render a patient completely insensible. This will likely require Monsieur Corvisart to organize professional pharmacists for research."
He paused, then added, "Hmm, perhaps the synthesis of ether will require the cooperation of chemists..."
Baudelocque spoke cautiously, "Did you say... ether?"
"Yes."
"Your Highness, I am not certain if you are referring to the substance synthesized by Frobenius some seventy years ago."
"The one that causes dizziness when inhaled."
"That is likely it, Your Highness. It has a sweet fragrance and is highly volatile. After inhalation, one feels dizzy and relaxed. Many young people use it for recreation at parties, calling it 'sweet vitriol' or 'laughing gas.'"
Joseph's eyes lit up. "Excellent. Ether is precisely the agent that can provide an anesthetic effect."
He had not expected that ether had already been synthesized in this era; he simply wondered why it had never been applied to the field of medicine.
Baudelocque remained skeptical. "But Your Highness, the pain-relieving effect of that substance is not even as good as laudanum."
"Perhaps the concentration is insufficient, or the method of inhalation is flawed," Joseph mused, knowing that anesthesia was a delicate skill. "Or perhaps it requires injection to be effective?"
'This will require extensive experimentation by the Medical and Health Bureau to determine.'
The following day, Joseph, sporting dark circles under his eyes, went directly to the Medical and Health Bureau. He assigned a series of tasks to Corvisart and other high-ranking officials.
The goal was to have several key issues resolved within six months: the use of ether, blood transfusions, safe wound suturing, and the production of stainless steel surgical instruments.
And so, a revolution in European surgical technology began within the birthing rooms of the Palace of Versailles.
Naturally, the ones most affected were the tens of thousands of midwives across France.
Half of what they had previously learned was now obsolete. The Medical and Health Bureau was to retrain them and conduct new examinations.
On the coast of Brest, over a hundred nobles were laughing and drinking at a beach party hosted by Queen Marie.
Queen Marie sat on a wide beach chair, watching Princess Marie Elisabeth of Baden chatting and laughing with Charles nearby, her face beaming with maternal satisfaction. After a short while, Charles left the princess, who was still talking to several young noble ladies, and approached his mother with a weary expression.
Queen Marie handed him a glass of wine and smiled. "What a wonderful girl she is. Look, even your parrot likes her so much."
Charles cast a wary glance at the girl and muttered under his breath, "Who knows what her true objective is..."
The kinder Marie Elisabeth was to him, the more he suspected she was trying to use him, just like that other woman.
Hmph, even Mr. Walnut hadn't escaped her schemes, flying around her all day long.
Queen Marie didn't hear her younger son's grumbling and continued as if to herself, "You have reached the age where you should marry. I think you and Marie should wed this year..."
Charles recoiled several steps as if stung by a hornet, waving his hands frantically. "No! I cannot marry her..."
Seeing his mother's startled look, he quickly changed his tune. "I mean, I want to be like my brother and do more for France while I am young. You see, didn't Brother wait until his twenties to marry as well?"
Queen Marie shook her head. "That was because there was a war going on at the time. I cannot let you delay any longer."
Because Joseph had ordered a news blackout, she was still unaware of Charles's romantic history in Berlin.
Charles saw Marie Elisabeth smiling as she walked toward them. He was desperately racking his brain for a way to appease his mother when the Countess of Debeninac hurried over. She curtsied to Queen Marie and handed her a letter. "Your Majesty, the Prince Regent has just sent someone with this."
"Oh, Joseph must be missing me."
Queen Marie happily took the letter and unfolded it. After reading only a few lines, she suddenly folded the letter back and instructed her maid, "Almande, go and make preparations quickly! I am returning to the Palace of Versailles tomorrow."
She then signaled for her son to come closer and whispered in his ear, "Thank God! The Crown Princess is pregnant!"
She stood up, leaving the crowd of nobles behind as she walked toward her carriage, muttering to herself, "Sasha must be waiting for me to take her to receive the holy medals and holy water..."
According to French custom, the mother-in-law was responsible for various matters during the daughter-in-law's pregnancy and childbirth.
Of course, for a royal family with imperial physicians, royal chefs, and a multitude of servants, her primary duty was to handle the religious aspects for Alexandra.
Watching his mother's departing figure, Charles let out a long sigh of relief. His brother had truly saved his life.
He subtly avoided the Princess of Baden's attempt to take his arm and instructed his valet:
"Help me prepare a gift. Also, I am departing for Ravenna tomorrow."
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