Doctor Goes Back to Joseon - Chapter 38: The Epidemic is Shared [3]

The cowpox method was not only preventive but also the only known treatment.

Or rather, the only existing one.

‘It was Jenner who discovered this phenomenon… thanks to the milkmaids, wasn’t it?’

Smallpox was a fearsome disease worldwide.

Naturally, it attracted the attention of many medical scholars, but Jenner had the fortune of turning an observation into a groundbreaking solution.

He realized that milkmaids, who milked cows, seemed immune to smallpox.

While the phenomenon may have existed since people began milking cows, it was Jenner who paid attention to it.

Though his method—injecting cow pus into humans—seemed crude, it was the only available option at the time.

‘It turned out to be both safe and effective by chance. Now, I’m using it like this.’

Kang-hyuk drew the cow’s pus into the syringe without wasting a drop.

The rapid pace of medical progress worried him for a moment, but that thought quickly passed.

The present, uncertain as it was, took precedence over any possible future.

‘First, I need to inject the patient who arrived earliest.’

There might be some resistance, but he could easily dismiss it as just a shot.

In their current suffering, they wouldn’t have the energy to question it.

-Creak.

Kang-hyuk carefully opened the storeroom door and stepped inside.

“Cough, cough.”

Coughs echoed ominously from different corners.

This room, reserved for the most serious patients, felt particularly oppressive.

‘Whew, the smell.’

He waved his hand as he approached the first patient.

Even with anti-inflammatories, the fever hadn’t abated; their face was flushed red.

‘They’re worse than before.’

The illness had progressed quickly, not surprising since he hadn’t done much beyond giving them anti-inflammatories.

“Hey, how are you?”

“Ugh… it hurts…”

The patient gasped out a response, their lips cracked and bleeding.

Signs of dehydration.

“This isn’t good.”

He wished he could intubate the patient and use a ventilator.

Anything to help them breathe better.

‘But that’s impossible here…’

Shaking his head, Kang-hyuk handed the Yanggyeoksan decoction prepared by Heo Jun to the patient.

“Hold this in your mouth and spit it out.”

“Yes…”

To his relief, it didn’t seem too painful. The patient rinsed their mouth.

“Now, drink this.”

He passed them the Seonbang Hwalmyeong-eum, a potent medicine made with rare ingredients like rhubarb, honeysuckle, and frankincense.

He could only hope its effect matched its fragrance.

“Yes.”

“Good, you’re drinking well.”

“Ugh…”

“Now, I’m going to give you a water injection.”

“A water injection?”

“Yes, it’s a good thing, so stay still.”

Kang-hyuk rummaged through his medical bag, pulling out a small IV set.

It was only 500 ml, and there was just one available.

Far too little to combat dehydration properly.

‘Better than nothing.’

In a worst-case scenario, he could use boiled water made by Yeon and Dolseok, though that carried significant risks of contamination.

‘Well, let’s start with this.’

Sighing, Kang-hyuk inserted the large IV needle into the patient’s hand.

“It’s… big, isn’t it?”

“Bigger needle, better effect. Look away.”

“Okay.”

He steadied the needle on the back of the patient’s hand, taking a moment to collect himself.

‘The last time I did this myself was during my internship.’

As a professor, Kang-hyuk never administered shots; that was a task for interns.

By the time doctors reached their first residency year, injections were typically delegated to newcomers.

‘Whew.’

His life in Joseon had him doing all sorts of things he hadn’t in years.

Thankfully, the patient’s veins were prominent and easy to access.

-Snap.

With the sound of skin being pierced, a drop of blood appeared at the needle’s tip, confirming the placement.

“Ugh…”

The patient winced.

Anyone who’s ever had an IV in the hand knows how painful it can be.

Kang-hyuk kept his face neutral as he connected the IV line.

“Alright, that’s one done. Now, one more. Keep looking away.”

“Yes…”

It was time for the real injection.

Kang-hyuk injected the pus he’d extracted from the cow into the patient’s arm.

“Ouch. What… is that?”

“Hm.”

It wasn’t just a prick; the injection felt different.

A tricky situation, but one he could handle.

He was persuasive and skilled at deflecting questions.

“Medicine.”

“Oh.”

The vague response seemed to satisfy the patient.

They were too exhausted to question further.

“Next…”

He glanced around the storeroom.

Even here, reserved for the sickest, there were too many patients.

‘At least I have enough syringes.’

He couldn’t give injections to the less severe cases just yet.

That would have to wait until morning when his supplies would replenish.

For now, he needed to prioritize the critical ones.

“Rinse your mouth with this, drink this, take this, and then get this shot.”

Kang-hyuk worked systematically, administering Yanggyeoksan, Seonbang Hwalmyeong-eum, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and the cowpox pus.

Soon, every patient in the room had been treated and had drifted off to sleep.

‘If I keep this up, I’m going to collapse.’

Even as a professor who had spent many nights performing surgeries, doing everything alone was exhausting.

‘This isn’t an internship… what is this?’

Grumbling, he exited the storeroom.

Heo Jun sat in the main hall, possibly meditating or asleep.

Yeon and Yeoju had fallen asleep leaning on each other.

Only Dolseok remained awake.

“Sir, you’re back?”

“Yeah. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“The patients keep asking to be let out.”

Dolseok, with his muscular arms, held the door shut as complaints came from within.

“What? Why?”

“To go to the washroom, go home… all sorts of reasons.”

“Hm.”

Kang-hyuk glanced at the room.

It wasn’t large, and over ten people were crammed inside.

No wonder they felt stifled.

‘But it can’t be helped.’

They needed guards sent by Magistrate Kim Yoon-gil for a proper solution.

Nearby homes would need to be used to spread out the patients.

“I’ll take a look.”

“Are you sure? You haven’t rested at all.”

“I’m used to it. You should get some sleep.”

“How can I sleep when the master is awake?”

Kang-hyuk chuckled and patted Dolseok’s head before walking into the room.

Pretending to do something might help calm the patients.

“Staying in here is really that difficult?”

He threw the door open, startling the room’s occupants.

Packed tightly, they all turned to look at him, faces full of frustration but silent.

This small village hadn’t seen many noble faces, let alone someone of Kang-hyuk’s status.

Even with their discomfort, they wouldn’t dare complain.

Sensing the tension, Kang-hyuk spoke again.

“If you wander outside, the village and your families will be at risk.”

“…”

The room remained silent.

It was hard to understand, and fear of Kang-hyuk’s rank kept them compliant.

Expecting no reply, he continued.

“I’ll treat you here, so come forward, one at a time.”

Hearing the word “treatment,” some stepped forward.

Despite their grumbles, Kang-hyuk was a renowned doctor.

Grievances aside, treatment was a priority.

“Your mouth looks fine. Pustules are forming. Take this.”

“You have a lot of vesicles. You can’t eat, right? Rinse with this, then drink this.”

The patients in this room were in better condition, so the check-ups didn’t take long.

Thankfully, Heo Jun’s brewed medicine hadn’t run out yet.

Though by tomorrow, supplies would be tight.

“Now, go to sleep.”

“Yes, doctor…”

Kang-hyuk left as abruptly as he had entered.

He didn’t want to risk anyone demanding to leave.

“Whew.”

Though it was summer, the early morning air was refreshingly cool.

As he took a deep breath, Dolseok approached, yawning.

“You should sleep.”

“You should rest too, sir. I need to guard the door.”

Dolseok pointed to the room Kang-hyuk had just visited.

He could hear whispers inside—people plotting to sneak out.

“Really… I should’ve sent Yeon.”

“To speak with Magistrate Kim?”

“Yeah. She and Makbong would’ve been better.”

“That hurts my feelings, sir.”

A woman’s voice startled him, and he turned.

Yeon had woken up and walked over.

“You heard?”

“Yes.”

Her face, illuminated by the moonlight, looked even more beautiful than usual, especially with her pouting lips.

“Well…”

“You know I’m faster, right?”

She was genuinely upset.

No man is ever fully equipped to handle an angry woman.

It was better than dealing with tears, but still difficult.

Kang-hyuk scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

Dolseok chuckled at his master’s predicament.

“I know, I know.”

“Then why do you think I’m less capable than Makbong?”

“Well…”

Kang-hyuk tilted his head, then opened his eyes wide.

“You’re faster. You’d probably be back by now.”

“Don’t try to flatter me.”

“Are you going to hit me?”

“It’s not impossible.”

“But I’m a noble. Dolseok, what are you doing?”

Under normal circumstances, Dolseok would intervene with a loud “Hey!” but now he just watched with his hands behind his back, whistling.

“I’d lose to Yeon.”

“This rascal.”

Kang-hyuk couldn’t scold him further because Yeon was moving, shifting her stance.

That stance was synonymous with her famous swift, “Eek, Ek” moves.

She wouldn’t actually strike him, but if she did, it would hurt.

-Creak.

Just then, the door opened slightly, and someone darted out.

“Hey, someone’s out! Stop them!”

At Kang-hyuk’s command, Yeon moved like lightning.

Her earlier stance paid off as she pounced on the escapee.

The man hit the ground, taken down by her flying kick to the waist.

In the meantime, Dolseok and Kang-hyuk closed the door again.

“Ow…”

The man groaned in pain.

It was the guardian of the first patient, now also a patient himself.

“You get punished for trying to sneak out after being told to stay.”

Kang-hyuk clicked his tongue as he approached.

The man grimaced and spoke.

“I’ve been saying I need to use the washroom! Isn’t that allowed?”

They had a chamber pot inside, so he must have meant a larger necessity.

An absolute no-go—he couldn’t risk him spreading the virus outside.

“No.”

“Why not… Ugh.”

Suddenly, his body relaxed, possibly from the earlier blow, and he went limp with a relieved expression.

A terrible stench soon filled the yard.

‘Great.’

Yeon and Dolseok probably hadn’t built up immunity yet.

‘Do I have to clean this?’

There was no other choice.

Kang-hyuk muttered angrily under his breath.

“Makbong, you better run fast, really fast.”