Bear School Astartes-Chapter 842 - 825: Containment Measures

"Typhus?"

Hippocrates vaguely heard Lann’s murmur and repeated it.

His eyes were eager and intense as he looked at Lann.

"You’ve seen this disease before?"

More than just seen it.

Lann thought to himself.

He had even personally treated this disease.

On Kefalonia Island, this acute infectious disease nearly destroyed the entire island.

It’s actually not difficult to treat this infectious disease, but saying "not difficult to treat" applies to the context of modern medical and chemical systems.

The treatment for this disease mostly requires highly effective synthetic chemical potions.

After a few courses, most can recover safely, maybe leaving a few scars from the rashes on the skin.

But in the current era...

Lann frowned and shook his head heavily.

"I can’t treat too many people. Under the current conditions, curing this disease is very difficult. I’ve only treated less than ten people before."

"What did you...?" Hippocrates’s eyes widened, and even the wrinkles on his bald forehead deepened due to his shocked expression.

Socrates and Aspasia’s expressions were not much different from his.

"You say you’ve successfully treated a plague before?!"

In this era, it was almost akin to a divine miracle, like being favored by the gods!

"It was just less than ten survivors, nothing to be so surprised about."

Lann said with a frown.

"No! No, no! The significance is not that simple..."

Aspasia pursed her lips and paced excitedly, as if Lann’s deeds had sparked some inspiration in her thinking.

And Hippocrates’s excitement was even more evident.

"Treatment? No one asked you to treat!" He too placed his hands on the table, leaning forward and staring into Lann’s eyes.

"Although it’s harsh to say, the main work in dealing with epidemics should be focused on ’isolation’! Treating those already sick is something to be done only when resources allow. This choice is made to save more people."

"Sounds like you might be onto something?"

Lann was somewhat interested in the progress of this Western medical pioneer before him, so he gestured with his hand invitingly.

Hippocrates was not coy either; from the earlier conversation, he affirmed that Lann was an insider like him.

Even if Lann was exaggerating about ’treating the plague,’ exchanging some experiences could still be beneficial.

"I have now discovered that the people in Athens least affected by the plague are the blacksmiths."

Hippocrates explained his finding earnestly, although even he himself did not fully understand it.

"But I don’t know why this is? Why are only blacksmiths so safe during a plague?"

Because of the sterilization and disinfection effect of high temperatures, even just standing near the flames, the content and activity of pathogens in the air drop sharply.

Such knowledge is known to any student who has done biological experiments near an alcohol lamp in Lann’s homeland.

But in the ancient Greek world at the dawn of civilization, it was an inexplicable phenomenon, often attributed to the ’blessing of the Fire God.’ 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"If it’s just about stopping the plague, I have a feasible plan now."

Lann said clearly and methodically.

Mentos was mentally organizing the pathogenic pathways of typhus and quickly arranging preventive measures.

"Burn the corpses of patients, including their clothing. This disease is spread through contact between the sick and healthy individuals, as well as by a type of bug on the patients."

"We’ve already begun doing this, although the progress isn’t optimistic."

Phidias hurriedly wrote down Lann’s words on a clay tablet, speaking regretfully.

In the current cultural atmosphere, hastily cremating bodies is nearly a desecration, so even now, although many corpses have been burned in Athens, large areas of black smoke gather in the sky, not dispersed by the wind.

But that was just desperate families cremating their own relatives’ bodies.

A large number of bodies remain during rituals, becoming sources of infection.

"Not just the bodies and personal items, I think we’ll also need to burn wormwood, aromatics on the streets... even the vomit and excrement of the sick need to be burned once."

Flames, the power of purification.

Such imagery exists in many civilizations.

Hippocrates treasured Lann’s words, recording them on the clay tablet.

This was not only because Lann ’claimed’ to have cured a plague before, but also because these prevention measures coincided with some vague ideas that had already emerged in Hippocrates’s mind.

However, before Lann spoke, his logic and knowledge reserves were insufficient to sort out and list them.

"Yes, yes!" Hippocrates muttered excitedly as he wrote, "We can stop the plague! With our knowledge and experience!"

After completing the measures available to curb the epidemic, Lann turned, shifting his gaze from Hippocrates to Aspasia.

"I really don’t know what you were arguing so fiercely about earlier. Must stopping the plague and political propaganda be mutually exclusive?"

"Change your mindset, Aspasia, and Socrates."

Lann pointed to his temples for the two.

Aspasia inclined her head slightly and turned her head, indicating that despite being an outstanding politician, she still felt an inherent resistance when criticized.

This resistance was slight but still present.

Socrates, on the other hand, was different... this short, stout man with abundant hair nearly overflowed with eagerness, the excitement of curiosity evident when he heard he needed to change his thinking.

Lann felt that his curiosity about ’death’ might overwhelm his fear of it even in the last second of his life.

"Political propaganda doesn’t always have to promote political ideals and visions throughout. Can’t it intersperse with some information on stopping the plague?"

"Gather the masses, then light fires and burn wormwood around the rallies. Allow waves of hot air and smoke to pass over the crowd there to listen to the speeches. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Those who come to hear your political messages will show healthier outcomes during the plague, becoming living examples of your propaganda."

"The participatory atmosphere in Athens is indeed strong, but I dare bet that more people are interested in health than in politics right now."

The political propaganda Lann had witnessed was far more diverse than that of these Athenians.

Linking political propaganda with real benefits is a simple method.

But in the current situation, it’s certainly effective.