Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Perna bowed her head in nervousness and softly said, “Your Highness, it’s all my fault… I’ve recently neglected matters at the mask factory, which has led to the syringe being used only within the Military Medical University.”

Actually, it wasn’t entirely her fault. Since France went to war with the Anti-French Alliance, she had been busy on the front lines organizing professional field hospitals, even forgetting that she was in charge of a mask factory.

After all, she was just a 20-year-old young girl, quickly absorbing modern medical theories but not adept at management.

Joseph briefly inquired about the situation and nodded, “Going forward, there will be more work in compiling the Manual and matters at the Military Medical University, I’ll find someone else to manage the mask factory.”

Perna visibly breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to explain to Kovisat what a syringe was.

Kovisat’s eyes immediately brightened, “This is truly a great invention!”

“In the future, bloodletting… um, I mean, we’ll be able to administer medication to patients more effectively. This device should be immediately promoted nationwide.”

Although the French medical community had started gradually abandoning bloodletting due to Perna’s paper, Kovisat, being an old doctor, first thought of using syringes to draw blood without leaving a wound.

Then he remembered that the first author of Doctor Perna’s paper on “Bloodletting therapy not being helpful for treating diseases” was the Crown Prince, so he quickly corrected himself.

Joseph nodded, “Indeed, but not all medications can be administered via injection, especially herbal medicines. Determining which drugs can be injected and which cannot requires extensive animal testing and human trials.”

Perna quietly interjected, “Mr. Kovisat, the syringe is very expensive, I’m afraid it will be difficult to promote it widely.”

The Director of the Health Bureau hurriedly asked, “How much does it cost?”

“The syringe barrel is 63 francs, and the needle is 28 francs each.”

Kovisat smacked his lips, 91 francs each—certainly expensive. Nonetheless, he still insisted, “I believe doctors will definitely save money to buy one.”

Joseph had seen the production process of the syringe when treating Camellia previously, but didn’t expect the price to be so high.

But it made sense; the thing was made of brass and silver, so the materials weren’t cheap. Coupled with being entirely handmade, crafted by jeweler artisans, the cost was predictably close to that of jewelry.

He looked at Perna, “Perhaps we could try making the barrel out of glass and the needle out of iron. This should greatly reduce the price.”

She stared blankly, clearly having no concept of this.

Joseph took a deep breath, “It seems we need a specialized medical equipment factory.”

“Yes, using the mask factory as a foundation, the Industrial Development Fund can invest some money and turn it into the ‘Paris Medical Equipment Company.’

“Then establish a research and development laboratory under the company, specializing in the development of new instruments.

“Actually, not just syringes, devices like scalpels, tooth extractors, stethoscopes, bone saws, all have great room for improvement.”

Don’t underestimate these medical instruments; if we can achieve technical leadership in Europe, the sales figures will be extraordinarily impressive.

Just like the 91 francs syringe Perna mentioned earlier. Selling it to the British would have to fetch at least 400 francs, and don’t think it’s expensive, no bargaining.

In the future, the profits of those medical equipment giants are casually in the hundreds of billions of US Dollars. At present, this industry is still a virgin land with great potential to be explored.

Joseph was about to continue talking about establishing the medical equipment company, but heard Kovisat say, “Your Highness, what is the ‘stethoscope’ you just mentioned?”

Joseph was slightly stunned—could it be that this thing hadn’t been invented either?

He asked the director, “It’s a tool for listening to a patient’s heart and lungs; on one side you wear it on your ears, and the other side is placed on the patient’s chest.”

Kovisat and Perna, like children hearing an exciting story, widened their eyes and shook their heads together.

Joseph took another deep breath.

It seems a systematic plan for the development of French medicine is needed.

Such as a medical equipment company should be built quickly, and then the various medical instruments from the future should be explained entirely to the research personnel for them to gradually implement.

And there’s the pharmaceutical factory. Currently, Paris has only one sizable pharmaceutical factory, which produces “Prince’s Blessing”—Salicin.

Initially, Joseph had Lamark help establish this pharmaceutical factory just to benefit Parisians, thereby squeezing the drug profits very low.

But even so, the net profit of this factory last year was as high as 350,000 francs!

Hmm, the majority of the revenues come from abroad. For example, “Prince’s Blessing” sells in the Germanic Region at 1 franc for every two tablets. Yet each tablet’s cost is only 0.8 denier, or 0.008 franc, a profit margin of 6150%!

Due to the drug’s price in France still being two tablets for 5 denier, it has led to rampant drug smuggling across the French border.

And England started imitating Salicin as early as two years ago, but due to the lack of purification technology, its efficacy always couldn’t compare with the French products.

If more types of drugs are put into production, it would immediately become a significant growth point for the French treasury.

Joseph collected his thoughts and began to roughly explain the structure of the stethoscope to the two people in front of him.

As the founder of the “percussion method,” Kovisat was already excited with his face flushed. This tool was precisely needed by the percussion method. It was far more accurate than using hands to tap the patient’s chest cavity and judging by the echoes!

He immediately nodded vigorously, “This instrument, oh, the stethoscope, must be produced as soon as possible. I swear, doctors all over the world are looking forward to it!”

Joseph, however, signaled him to calm down, then instructed, “Firstly, the Health Bureau needs to organize a preparatory committee.”

“Not only for syringes and stethoscopes, but we have many things to do in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, and we need a specialized committee to arrange and advance these tasks.”

Kovisat had already taken out his notebook, quickly jotting down the Crown Prince’s commands.

Joseph continued, “Secondly, the Health Bureau must quickly establish a ‘Drug Standards Laboratory’ to conduct double-blind experiments on all existing major drugs.”

“Of course, your most pressing task is still to compile the ‘Quasi-doctor’s Operation Manual,’ but the listed therapeutic drugs must be conservative. It’s better to have no recommended drugs than to write down drugs you’re not confident about.

“After the double-blind experiments are completed, add the confirmed effective medications to the second edition of the Manual.”

Perna nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

Her double-blind experiment paper, although it caused quite a stir, had never really been used in medical practice. Now it could finally play its proper role!

Yet beside her, Kovisat was bitter-faced, saying, “Your Highness, if according to your requirements, there will hardly be anything to write in the Manual…”

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