1850 American Gold Tycoon

Chapter 45 The Naive Robinson

"I'm sorry. You can clarify in the newspaper about such absurd rumors, and I will also stand up and clarify. In the circle of doctors in California, my words are quite authoritative."

Robinson was sorry for that, but also expressed his naivety.

"California has no government, we have to save ourselves, can we imitate the eastern region, steam disinfection and quarantine observation for foreigners coming to California one by one?
Cholera spreads through miasma, which is recognized by the medical profession. Steam disinfection and quarantine observation may be effective. "

"Doctor Robinson, you are really naive." Liang Yao felt annoyed and amused, "California can't even make a steam engine now, so what steam is used for disinfection? As far as I know, New York, Boston and even the United Kingdom have all done it." What is the result of such measures?

And now that many people in San Francisco and Sacramento are infected with cholera, what's the use of isolating gold diggers from outside? "

Stricter quarantine measures were indeed implemented in the eastern United States, but they did not achieve any results. Instead, the quarantine measures restricted the trade between states and aroused public dissatisfaction.

The United States has been in the Great Depression, which is a cyclical economic crisis, and the quality of life of the people has declined severely. It is not surprising that the government's ineffective quarantine measures have aroused public dissatisfaction.

"Doctor Robinson, the miasma theory is untenable. First of all, your thinking is wrong."

Faced with a layman's questioning of medical authority, Robinson certainly couldn't accept it. He immediately stood up and had a debate with Liang Yao, trying to maintain the authority of the miasma theory.

Liang Yao was too lazy to argue with Robinson, and took Robinson directly to his new study. On the wall of the study was a map of the San Francisco and Sacramento areas. The map marked the main cholera outbreaks and mining areas he had counted.

He did not intend to tell Robinson directly that cholera spread not through air but through water.

Facts speak louder than words. Let Robinson find the answer from this map by himself, which is far more convincing than telling Robinson himself.

Furthermore, he not only had to convince Robinson, but also to break the authority of the miasma theory, so that other doctors in California also recognized that cholera was water-borne.

Only in this way can the work of cholera prevention and control continue.

This method is the spatial statistical method adopted by John North during the London cholera in 1854. The London authorities adopted his suggestion and shut down the water pumps in the cholera area, and the cholera in London soon disappeared.

Although John North did not find the pathogen of cholera, he found the source of infection, which is enough for the prevention and treatment of cholera.

The causative agent of cholera, Vibrio cholerae, was not discovered until 1883.

"Water source, water source! This is a great medical discovery!"

Staring at the map for a long time, Robinson excitedly grabbed Liang Yao's shoulder as if he had discovered a new continent.

"Liang Yao, you are so amazing! I now understand how stupid the previous approach was. I should focus on finding the source of infection instead of treating patients! This discovery can save thousands of people. people!
You are right, the rationality of the miasma theory is indeed open to question! "

Although Robinson upholds the authority of medicine, he is not a stubborn and obsessed person.He is willing to accept the truth and apologize to Liang Yao.

"I'm sorry Liang Yao, I was wrong. Authority is not necessarily right. Laymen are not bound by inherent rules, but they can see it more clearly than us professionals."

"It is indeed a source of water. Captain Sven and his sailors have very bad hygiene habits, and the people they come into contact with are also very complicated, but they have been drinking wine as water, so they have not contracted cholera now. If according to the miasma theory, they would have die."

Liang Yao accepted Robinson's apology and gave another example.

"May I write to inform the authorities in the East of this discovery? Cholera is also very serious in the East."

Robinson hopes to inform the eastern authorities of this important discovery, so that the eastern authorities can effectively control cholera in the eastern region.

It's just that Liang Yao discovered the source of cholera infection, not him, so he asked Liang Yao in a begging tone, hoping to get Liang Yao's permission.

"Whatever, I'm only concerned with the cholera situation in California right now."

"Of course, of course." Robinson was excited like a child. "If we know the source of cholera, we can stop the source, but this requires your strength. Only you have the ability to do this."

"I can do that."

Liang Yao nodded and agreed. Even if Robinson didn't tell him, he would do it. The spread of cholera in California would not be good for him.

He also needs a healthy and stable California.

If he succeeds in combating cholera, his popularity in California will also increase.

California's limited medical resources can also take advantage of this opportunity.

"However, in addition to isolating the source of infection, we also need to treat patients who have contracted cholera, and we cannot give up on them.

I don't have exact data on how many patients there are in Sacramento, but San Francisco now has at least 700 patients who have contracted cholera, and I have gathered them, but I don't have enough doctors. "

Liang Yao pointed to San Francisco on the map.

"I vacated several buildings here, which were originally good business shops, but the health of the people of California is far more important than making money, and I plan to set up a hospital here.

My suggestion is to convene a citizens committee meeting in the name of you and me, and call on doctors from various gold digging companies to join the hospital to treat cholera patients.

Patients need to be concentrated, and doctors must also be concentrated, so as to be more efficient. Of course, I am referring to the real doctors of various gold rush companies, not the people who fish in troubled waters.

Dr. Robinson, you have said that you are very influential in the circle of doctors in California. "

Simple Robinson also thinks this is a good idea, but it may be very difficult to implement it.

"These doctors are employees of various gold digging companies. If you want to hire them, you need to pay huge liquidated damages for them, and they are different from me. The salary is not low." Robinson showed embarrassment. The leader of the company, this is not an easy task."

"I will solve the liquidated damages and wages of the doctors. They can become my employees, and I will pay them. They are responsible for assisting you in treating patients." Liang Yao looked at Robinson, "As for whether you can persuade them, it depends on you." You are capable, Dr. Robinson."

In front of Liang Yao, Robinson felt ashamed. Liang Yao had already found the source of cholera infection for him, and he had paid for the land. He was doing his best to prevent cholera, regardless of personal gain or loss.

He had no reason to shirk, and Robinson gritted his teeth and agreed: "It's up to me to convince those doctors and the leaders of the gold digging companies."

(End of this chapter)