Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 838 - 464: National Affairs, Prevention and Treatment of Plague_2

Chapter 838: Chapter 464: National Affairs, Prevention and Treatment of Plague_2

"In the distant East, there are actually nine types of dangerous plague!"

Alisa murmured to herself, her eyes filled with concern. She tightened her grip on her lover’s arm, her voice anxious.

"Xiulote, are there other dangerous plagues? If these extremely poisonous plagues spread to the Alliance, what should we do..."

"The essence of the plague is tiny life forms. With millions of lives in the world, the dangerous plagues naturally far exceed nine types! However, the nine that we currently need to be concerned about are the priority."

Xiulote smiled faintly, comforting his beloved.

"Alisa, the reason I brought you here to oversee the Kingdom’s medicine is to treat plague prevention as the most important task! The major affairs of the country lie in the prevention and control of plagues. You don’t need to be overly anxious; regarding these nine types of plague, I also have divine enlightenment and bestowed methods to counter them!"

After speaking, Xiulote frowned slightly, pondering for a while.

Based on the types of plague pathogens, these infectious diseases can be classified into bacterial and viral. The bacterial ones include typhoid, rat plague, cholera, diphtheria, malaria; the viral ones are smallpox, measles, epidemic mumps, yellow fever.

For bacterial diseases, the best countermeasure is naturally antibiotics. However, in this era, due to inefficient cultivation techniques, lack of purification technology, and insufficient observational accuracy, it is absolutely impossible to produce high concentrations of antibiotics. But low-concentration penicillin solution can be attempted to produce. This is not for practical antibacterial use but to cultivate bacterial strains generation after generation.

To obtain genuinely effective penicillin, one must screen the penicillium strains for a long time. This is because penicillium frequently secretes simultaneously, both non-toxic antibacterial penicillin and toxic antibacterial penicillium. Crude penicillin can either cure diseases or be fatal, depending on luck. If non-toxic penicillin is mixed with a high proportion of toxic penicillium, it can instantly be a deadly poison!

The trial production of usable penicillin does not require many personnel but demands a very long time. Historically, after Fleming discovered penicillin, he cultivated penicillium for about ten years. He screened it generation after generation under a microscope, finally obtaining suitable penicillin strains, providing the foundational strains for large-scale penicillin industrial production.

"First task. Nashu, arrange several capable candidates to collect different types of penicillium from rotting grains and fruits. Then, cultivate the penicillium using sweeter fruit juices. Once the amount of penicillium accumulates to a certain extent, mix it with oil. Extract the lower water layer, then absorb it with charcoal powder, and then..."

At this point, Xiulote paused for a moment. He knew that penicillin dissolves in water and can be absorbed by charcoal powder. What next for further extraction?... The young man was unsure and thought for a bit, giving vague instructions.

"...then wash the charcoal powder separately with pure boiled water, acidic spring water, and alkaline ash water. Steam these waters to crystallize them, test the antibacterial properties with spoiled meat, and test toxicity with small animals... Retain antibacterial strains with low toxicity and cultivate them again..."

"...??? Your... Your Highness?"

Upon hearing this, Nashu slightly opened her red lips, her gaze turned utterly bewildered, as if her mind was being toyed with...

"Ahem!"

Xiulote lightly coughed, pondered, and said again.

"When you have some free time, come to me alone. I’ll do it with you once... Later, select some patient and meticulous female workers, asking them to repeatedly do this work... for ten or twenty years!"

"Ten or twenty years?"

Alisa opened her bright eyes wide, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

"Yes, this is a very slow endeavor, success or failure depending on the Goddess of Destiny’s blessing. Preliminary results always require ten to twenty years. If Losano can produce pure glass, it could speed up significantly."

Xiulote finished speaking, smiled, his eyes showing longing. If qualified penicillin could be obtained within several decades, it would truly be the Goddess of Destiny’s gift! After a moment, he collected his thoughts and ordered again in a stern voice.

"Second task, organize the Alliance’s various medicines, test their treatment capabilities for common plagues, and document them for reference. For example, tobacco can treat colds, peyote can deal with body inflammation... They all have certain antibacterial effects! The Alliance’s Priest inheritance includes over 800 kinds of medicinal materials, mostly herbs, requiring detailed research and organization."

"At your service, Your Highness!"

Nashu nodded solemnly. Organizing all medicines and recording them in books is a complex and sensitive major project. Fortunately, the Priests, considering His Highness’s reputation, should not pose too many obstacles.

Central and South America’s isolation from Eurasia holds many magical plants, and herbal medicine thrives. Among thousands of plants, there must be medicines to counter various infectious diseases. However, systematic exploration and organization are needed. Historically, it was also South American indigenous Witch Doctors who first discovered that the bark of the cinchona tree could effectively treat malaria.

"Hmm... cinchona tree... We must begin the exploration of coastal areas soon, heading to the Inca!"

Xiulote mentally noted. Then, he looked serious and issued instructions solemnly.

"Third task, compile the first edition of the Priest’s Manual for handling plagues!... Plagues grow on patients and can rapidly spread to others or flow into rivers and lakes. Therefore, when encountering infectious diseases, firstly isolate and treat patients and strictly bury excrement. Regardless of close relationships, others should avoid contact with patients, drink boiled water, wipe out disease-transmitting mosquitoes and rats... In severe cases, burn corpses and patient clothing. Deploy guards to cover mouth and nose with fine cloth and lock down the affected area. Even, if necessary, take decisive actions!..."