Chapter 45: The Innocent Robinson

"I'm sorry. Regarding such ridiculous rumors, you can publish them in the newspaper to clarify, and I will also stand up and clarify. In the circle of California doctors, my words are relatively authoritative."

Robinson was apologetic, but also voiced his naivety.

“California has no government and we must save ourselves. Can we follow the example of the eastern region and conduct steam disinfection and quarantine observation one by one for outsiders coming to California?

Cholera is spread through miasma, which is recognized by the medical community. Steam disinfection and quarantine observation may have some effect. "

"Doctor Robinson, you are really naive." Liang Yao felt angry and funny, "California can't even build a steam engine, so how can we use steam for sterilization? As far as I know, New York, Boston and even the UK have done it What are the results of such measures?

Moreover, many people in San Francisco and Sacramento are now infected with cholera. What's the use of isolating foreign gold diggers? "

The eastern United States did implement relatively strict quarantine measures, but they did not achieve any results. Instead, the quarantine measures restricted trade between states, causing public dissatisfaction.

The United States has been in the midst of a cyclical economic crisis in the past few years, and the quality of people's lives has declined severely. It is expected that the government's ineffective quarantine measures have aroused public resentment.

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

Facing a layman's questioning of medical authority, Robinson certainly could not accept it. He immediately stood up and debated 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 neighborhoods and mining areas where he had counted the main cholera outbreaks.

He wasn't going to tell Robinson directly that cholera spread not through the air but through water.

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

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

Only in this way can the work of preventing and controlling cholera continue.

This method was a spatial statistics method used by John North during the cholera epidemic in London in 1854. The London authorities adopted his suggestion and shut down the water pumps in the cholera area. The cholera in London soon disappeared.

Although John North did not find the causative agent of cholera, he found the source of infection. For the prevention and treatment of cholera, finding the source of infection is enough.

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

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

After staring at the map for a long time, Robinson felt as if he had discovered a new continent. He excitedly grabbed Liang Yao's shoulders.

"Liang Yao, you are amazing! Now I understand how stupid my previous approach was. I should focus on finding the source of infection instead of treating the 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 maintained medical authority, he was not stubborn or stubborn. 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. A layman is not bound by inherent rules and can see things more clearly than us experts."

"It is indeed a water source. Captain Sven and his sailors also have very poor hygiene habits and come into contact with a lot of people, but they have been drinking wine as water, so now they are also infected with cholera. If according to the theory of miasma, they would have been infected long ago died."

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

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

Robinson hoped to inform the eastern authorities of this important discovery so that they could effectively prevent and 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 pleading tone, hoping to get Liang Yao's permission.

"Whatever, I'm just concerned about the cholera situation in California right now."

"Of course, of course." Robinson was as excited as a child. "Knowing the source of cholera, we can cut off the source, but this requires your help. Only you have the ability to do this."

"I can do this."

Liang Yao nodded and agreed. He would do it even if Robinson didn't say it. It would not be good for him if cholera spread in California.

He also needs a healthy and stable California.

If he can successfully prevent cholera, his reputation in California will also increase.

California’s limited medical resources can also be taken advantage of.

“However, in addition to isolating the source of infection, we also need to treat patients who have already contracted cholera and cannot abandon them.

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

Liang Yao pointed to San Francisco on the map.

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

My suggestion is to convene a citizens' committee meeting in your name and call on doctors from various gold mining companies to join the hospital to treat cholera patients.

Patients need to be concentrated, and doctors must also be concentrated, so that it will be more efficient. Of course, I mean the real doctors from various gold mining companies, not those who fish in troubled waters.

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

The simple Robinson also thinks this is a good idea, but it may be very difficult to implement it in practice.

"These doctors are employees of various gold mining companies. If you want to hire them, you need to pay a huge penalty for breach of contract. Moreover, they are different from me and the salary they ask for is not low." Robinson looked embarrassed, "and we need to convince the leaders of various gold mining companies, which is not an easy task."

"I will solve the problem of breach of contract and salary of doctors. They can become my employees. I will pay their salary and they will assist you in treating patients." Liang Yao looked at Robinson, "As for whether you can convince them, it depends on your ability, Dr. Robinson."

In front of Liang Yao, Robinson felt ashamed. Liang Yao had found the source of cholera for him, and provided money and land. He did his best to prevent and control cholera without caring about personal gains and losses.

He had no reason to shirk his decision, so Robinson gritted his teeth and agreed: "I will convince those doctors and the leaders of the gold mining companies."