Chapter 975: Medical Revolution and the Healthcare Industry
Perna nervously lowered her head and whispered, "Your Highness, this is all my fault... I've been negligent about the mask factory recently, which is why the syringes are still only being trialed within the Royal Military Medical University."
In truth, it wasn't entirely her fault. Ever since France went to war with the Anti-French Coalition, she had been busy on the front lines establishing professional field hospitals, so much so that she'd even forgotten she was still in charge of a mask factory.
She was, after all, only a twenty-year-old girl. While she quickly grasped modern medical theories, she wasn't particularly skilled at management.
Joseph simply clarified the situation, then nodded and said, "From now on, the work involved in compiling the 'Manual' and managing the Royal Military Medical University will only increase. I will find someone else to manage the mask factory."
Perna visibly relaxed, then briefly explained what a syringe was to Corvisart.
Corvisart's eyes lit up immediately. "This truly is a magnificent invention! In the future, bloodletting... ahem, I mean, it will be possible to administer medicine to patients more effectively. This instrument should be promoted nationwide at once."
Although the French medical community, influenced by Perna's research, had gradually begun to abandon bloodletting, Corvisart, as an old doctor, first thought of how drawing blood with a syringe wouldn't leave a wound.
Then he remembered that the Crown Prince was the primary author of Doctor Perna's paper on 'the ineffectiveness of bloodletting for treating diseases,' and quickly corrected himself.
Joseph nodded. "Indeed, but not all medicines can be administered via injection, especially herbal ones. We still need to conduct extensive animal and human trials to determine precisely which medicines can be injected and which cannot."
The Director of the Medical and Health Bureau hastily asked, "How much does it cost?"
"The barrel is 63 francs, and each needle is 28 francs."
Corvisart clicked his tongue. At 91 francs each, they were indeed quite expensive. Yet he insisted, "I believe doctors will certainly save up to buy one."
Joseph had seen the syringe manufacturing process when he last treated Camelia, but he hadn't expected the price to be so high.
Then again, it made sense. These items were made of brass and silver, neither of which was cheap. And being entirely handcrafted by artisans who usually made jewelry, their cost naturally rivaled that of fine ornaments.
He looked at Perna. "Perhaps we could try making the barrels from glass and the needles from iron. That should significantly reduce the cost."
The latter blinked, her eyes wide with confusion, clearly having no concept of this idea.
Joseph exhaled. "It seems we need a dedicated medical equipment factory. Hmm, we'll use the mask factory as a foundation, have the Industrial Development Fund invest some money, and transform it into the 'Paris Medical Equipment Company.' Then, under this company, we'll establish a research and development laboratory specifically for new instruments. In fact, it's not just syringes; items like scalpels, tooth extraction forceps, stethoscopes, bone saws, and the like all have significant room for improvement."
Don't underestimate these medical instruments. If we can achieve technological leadership across all of Europe, the sales revenue will undoubtedly be astonishing.
Just like the 91-franc syringe Perna mentioned earlier. This contraption would easily fetch at least 400 francs if sold to the British, and they wouldn't dare complain about the price or haggle.
In later eras, multinational medical equipment giants casually made tens of billions of dollars in profit. But at present, this industry is still virgin territory, with immense untapped potential.
Joseph was about to continue discussing the establishment of the medical equipment company when Corvisart interjected, "Your Highness, what is this 'stethoscope' you just mentioned?"
Joseph paused, slightly stunned. 'Could this thing also be undiscovered?'
He asked the director, "It's a tool for listening to a patient's heart and lungs. One end is placed on the ear, and the other on the patient's chest."
Corvisart and Perna, like children hearing a fantastical tale, widened their eyes and shook their heads in unison.
Joseph sighed again.
'It seems a systematic plan for developing French medicine is needed.'
For example, the medical equipment company needs to be established as quickly as possible. Then, I'll explain all sorts of future medical instruments to the R&D staff, letting them gradually implement these ideas.
Then there are pharmaceutical factories. Currently, Paris only has one large-scale pharmaceutical factory, the one producing 'The Crown Prince's Blessing' — Salicin.
Initially, Joseph had Lamarck help establish this pharmaceutical factory solely to benefit the citizens of Paris, so the profit margins on the medicine were kept very low.
Even so, the factory's net profit last year reached a staggering 350,000 francs!
Most of this revenue, however, came from abroad. For instance, 'The Crown Prince's Blessing' sold for 1 franc per two tablets in the Germany region. Yet, the cost per tablet was only 0.8 denier, or 0.008 francs, resulting in a staggering profit margin of 6150%!
Because the price within France remained at 5 deniers for two tablets, drug smuggling proliferated along the French borders.
Meanwhile, Britain had begun counterfeiting Salicin two years ago, but due to a lack of purification technology, its efficacy consistently fell short of the French product.
If more types of medicines were put into production, it would immediately become a huge growth point for French national finances.
Joseph reined in his thoughts and first gave the two before him a rough explanation of the stethoscope's structure.
As the founder of the Percussion Method, Corvisart was already flushed with excitement. This tool was precisely what the Percussion Method urgently needed. It would be far more accurate than tapping a patient's chest with hands and relying on echoes to diagnose illness!
He immediately nodded vigorously. "This instrument, oh, this stethoscope, must be put into production as soon as possible! I swear, doctors all over the world are yearning for it!"
Joseph, however, gestured for him to calm down, then instructed, "Firstly, the Medical and Health Bureau needs to establish a preparatory committee. It's not just about syringes and stethoscopes; we have much to do in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, and this requires a dedicated committee to organize and advance these efforts."
Corvisart had already pulled out his notebook and quickly jotted down the Crown Prince's instructions.
Joseph continued, "Secondly, the Medical and Health Bureau must swiftly establish a 'Drug Standard Laboratory' to conduct double-blind experiments on all existing major medicines. Of course, your most pressing task at the moment remains the compilation of the 'Provisional Doctor's Operations Manual,' but the therapeutic medicines listed within it must be conservative. Better to have no recommended medicines than to list those whose efficacy is uncertain. Only after the double-blind experiments conclude should verified effective medicines be added to the second edition of the 'Manual.'"
Perna nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.
Though her paper on double-blind experiments had garnered considerable attention, it hadn't truly been applied much in medical practice until now. Finally, it could fulfill its intended purpose!
Corvisart, however, pulled a long face and said, "Your Highness, if we follow your requirements, there might not be much left to write in the 'Manual'..."
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