dognovel Chapter 435 Plague (2)
Chapter 435 Plague (2)
"How did people get rid of fleas and rats in ancient times without insecticides?"
She muttered to herself, tapping her fingertips on the table.
I suddenly remembered using wood ash to repel insects in the orphanage when I was a child, and I also remembered the record in "Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces" that "sprinkling lime on the ground can ward off dampness and filth" - the alkalinity of wood ash can inhibit flea activity.
Lime can dry out the environment and reduce hiding places for rats.
She immediately added on the paper: "1. Wood ash is laid in the refugee camp and changed daily;"
2. Dig shallow ditches around the camp and fill them with lime to prevent rats from entering;
3. Instruct the refugees to boil their clothes and then dry them in the sun (boiling water can kill flea eggs).
Next comes isolation, which is the core of epidemic prevention in both ancient and modern times, but it was also the most difficult part in ancient times.
Modern isolation involves "early detection, early isolation, and early treatment," and includes negative pressure wards and professional medical care.
However, Cangling's previous isolation measures only involved "throwing patients out of the camp" and letting them fend for themselves, which instead caused the epidemic to spread.
When Shi Wanxia recalled the tragic situation of the plague in Shanxi during the Wanli era, where the government sealed off the doors of patients' homes, leading to the tragic deaths of the entire family, she couldn't help but clench her pen tightly.
"We must establish quarantine zones, rather than simply abandoning the area."
She drew three boxes on the paper, labeling them "Suspected Case Area," "Confirmed Case Area," and "Healthy Area":
“The suspected disease area admits people with fever and rashes, the confirmed disease area admits people with critical symptoms, and the healthy area admits uninfected migrants.”
“Each district was separated by a bamboo fence, with soldiers stationed to guard it—not to prevent refugees from escaping, but to prevent the spread of the epidemic.”
Then came treatment and supplies.
Modern medicines include streptomycin and gentamicin, but Cangling only has herbal remedies.
She pulled out the book "Treatise on Plague" from her desk, which recorded that "Forsythia and Isatis root can clear heat and detoxify, while Angelica and Safflower can invigorate blood and remove blood stasis." Although they cannot directly kill the plague bacillus, they can alleviate symptoms and enhance the patient's resistance.
She wrote: "The Imperial Hospital was ordered to prepare 'Heat-Clearing and Detoxifying Decoction' and distribute it daily to the refugees in the suspected and confirmed disease areas; the refugees in the healthy areas were to drink boiled mugwort water daily to enhance their resistance."
Finally, there was the disposal of the body.
In modern times, corpses are wrapped in sealed bags, burned, and then buried deeply. However, in ancient times, people believed in "peace in the earth," and burning corpses would inevitably cause resistance.
After pondering for a long time, Shi Wanxia recalled Wu Lien-teh's method of disposing of corpses from the Northeast plague in the late Qing Dynasty—persuading the government to enforce the cremation on the grounds that "cremation can eradicate the root of the plague."
She wrote on the paper: "Those who die in the confirmed disease area should be cremated in a deserted place outside the city, with the ashes buried three feet deep and lime scattered around them;"
"If any refugees resist, explain the consequences: if the corpses rot, fleas will spread, and the whole family may get sick."
Just as he finished writing the last stroke, the study door was gently pushed open, and Cui Zhihao, dressed in a moon-white gown, walked in.
His brows were furrowed with seriousness: "Wanwan, His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the side hall. He has something important to discuss—we have discovered that there may be someone behind the epidemic."
Shi Wanxia followed Cui Zhihao into the side hall, where she saw Crown Prince Shen Yanzhou standing in front of the map, his finger pointing to the location of the refugee camp in the south of the city.
He was dressed in a light blue casual suit, but without a crown, and his hair was slightly disheveled, clearly indicating that he had also been up all night.
"Late summer, come and see."
Xiao Jingyan turned around and handed her a secret report. "Zhao's men have found out that the earliest 'epidemic deaths' in the refugee camp were not due to natural infection."
"Three days ago, three strange men sneaked into the camp and threw several dead rats into the haystack at night. The next day, some people fell ill."
Shi Wanxia's heart sank. She took the secret report and read it carefully. The report said that the three men spoke with a northern accent, wore coarse cloth short jackets, and went west of the city afterwards.
The western part of the city is home to Dehetang, the largest herbal medicine merchant in the southern part of the city.
“There are even more suspicious ones.”
Zhao Hu added, "We checked Dehetang's accounts for the past half month and found that they had started stockpiling large quantities of medicinal herbs such as forsythia, isatis root, and mugwort as early as a month ago, and now the market price has increased tenfold."
“Yesterday, someone saw the manager of Dehetang meeting privately with Wang Qinian’s steward.”
Shi Wanxia instantly pieced together the whole story: someone deliberately released dead rats carrying fleas into the refugee camp, causing the plague;
At the same time, they hoarded medicinal herbs, raised prices, and made huge profits; then they took advantage of the refugees' fear of the epidemic and their dissatisfaction with the government's "lockdown" to incite them to riot.
As for the purpose, perhaps it was to take advantage of the chaos to create disorder and shake the foundation of the Crown Prince (Shen Yanzhou is in charge of disaster relief in the southern city, and if the epidemic gets out of control, he will be held responsible).
"Your Highness, the most important thing now is to stop the refugee uprising."
Shi Wanxia said urgently, "I just received news that someone in the refugee camp is spreading rumors that the government is going to 'burn down the camp to silence them,' and that His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't care about their lives. Hundreds of refugees have gathered at the camp gate, trying to rush into the city to seek a way to survive!"
Shen Yanzhou's expression changed drastically: "The Imperial Guards have been sent to guard the city gates, but there are too many refugees. If we forcefully stop them, it may escalate the conflict."
“Once they storm the city, a million people in Chuzhou will face the risk of an epidemic.”
“I’ll go and persuade them,” Shi Wanxia blurted out.
Cui Zhihao immediately objected: "No! The refugees are agitated, and there are many infected people in the camp. It would be too dangerous for you to go."
"Only I will go."
Shi Wanxia looked at the two of them with a firm gaze, "I am a good official in their hearts. I can explain the epidemic to them and promise them the prevention and control measures."
“If I don’t go, they won’t know the government’s plans and will only be used by the instigators.”
She paused, then picked up the sheet of paper filled with epidemic prevention measures from the desk. "Your Highness," she said, "please immediately order the transfer of grain from the Eastern Palace granaries to the area outside the refugee camp."
"Order the Imperial Medical Academy to immediately prepare a 'heat-clearing and detoxifying decoction'; and send soldiers to build an isolation bamboo fence."
“These things must be done before I can persuade the refugees, so that they will be convinced.”
Shen Yanzhou looked at her, and after a moment nodded emphatically: "Alright! Commander Zhao, you take fifty Imperial Guards and escort Lady Shi to the refugee camp. Make sure she is safe."
"Any rioters who dare to harm her will be killed without exception!"
He then looked at Cui Zhihao, knowing he was worried about Miss Shi, but given the current situation...
"Huai'an, don't worry, go and urge them to make the arrangements as quickly as possible, just as Miss Shi wrote on the document!"
Cui Zhihao was reluctant, but Shi Wanxia took Zhao Hu out the door directly, so he had no choice but to do as she said for Shi Wanxia's sake.
The drizzle was still falling, and the refugee camp on the outskirts of Chuzhou City looked like a dilapidated ruin.
Hundreds of refugees gathered at the camp gate, most of them pale and emaciated. Some were holding sick children in their arms, while others were carrying sticks and stones. Their eyes were filled with fear and anger.
Inside the camp gate, several men dressed in shorts were standing on an earthen slope shouting: "Look everyone! The government is only guarding the city gate, not giving us any food, and they even say they're going to burn down the camp!"
"This is going to kill us all! We might as well rush into the city, grab some food and medicine, and at least survive!"
"Charge! Charge into the city!"
The refugees were incited, raised their sticks and shouted, and were about to break through the camp gates and confront the imperial guards outside.
Just then, Zhao Hu led fifty imperial guards through the crowd, and Shi Wanxia, dressed in a plain cloth dress and holding the epidemic prevention policy in her hand, walked step by step to the refugees.