Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 608 - 75 Backup Therapy Method_1

Chapter 608: Chapter 75 Backup Therapy Method_1

"Searle Syndrome was first discovered by Dr. Searle in the year 6945. At that time, it was the only known case in the world. Later retrospective studies in medical history identified forty-two similar cases. From 6945 to 7682, six more patients were diagnosed, bringing the total to forty-eight. No new cases have been recorded since 7682." Risha spoke while everyone studied the items she displayed in the air, "Among these forty-nine patients..."

"Wait, wasn’t it forty-eight?" Even though they were supposed to be studying, Pannis, Vivian and Freya were actually frustrated by numerous unfamiliar words in Ancient Goblin Script. Lina and Catherine were just watching from the side, then hearing Risha’s words, Lina couldn’t help but to ask, "You just said there were forty-eight cases, why is it suddenly forty-nine?"

"It’s now forty-nine cases." Risha gave a nod in Vivian’s direction, before continuing, "Out of the forty-nine cases, due to the advent of the Whole Body Regenerative Auto-treatment Device, the cure rate for patients diagnosed after 7431 is 100%."

"Is that treatment device available here?" Finally hearing something relevant, Catherine looked up hastily, staring at the semi-transparent Risha, "If so, are we allowed to use it?"

"It’s the Whole Body Regenerative Auto-treatment Device. I’m only the controller of the information processing terminal. The data bank doesn’t contain any records about the list of central devices. I’m sorry." Risha once again spoke with regret, "As for permissions, since you have access to use me, you certainly have the rights to all the devices within the center."

"Would Cyrie know about the record of list of the devices?" Catherine asked.

"Cyrie?" Risha answered affirmatively, "All state reports from every terminal ultimately end up at Cyrie, so she’s sure to know."

"Let’s ask later, big sister." Freya shook her head at Catherine, saying seriously, "Let’s review these materials first. Once we understand the nature of the disease, even if the treatment device isn’t here, perhaps we can come up with a solution ourselves."

"I’m afraid it’s not that simple." Pannis pointed at the floating text in the air, "Look here, here as well, and here, these three articles all mentioned the Whole Body Regenerative Auto-treatment Device. According to the authors, all other treatment methods had failed, and only a full body recovery through the device was possible. Risha, continue please, we are listening."

"According to Dr. Searle’s records, Searle’s Syndrome is a type of progressive, systemic neurodegenerative disease. First, the motor nerves are affected, and when they degenerate, the body becomes paralyzed, losing the ability to move. This is then followed by a semi-stable period, the length of which depends on the individual’s health condition and may last for several years or even decades, or sometimes just a few days." Risha introduced the topic based on the information in the database, "After the semi-stable period, the syndrome progresses to its second stage. The degeneration shifts from the motor nerves to the plant nerves, slowly eroding them, eventually leading to the individual’s death."

"What are motor nerves?" Vivian glanced up from the materials, "And plant nerves? They sound like something only plants would have."

"Motor nerves are the part of your nervous system that can be consciously controlled. For instance, if you want to raise your hand, you have to tell your muscles to do it via your nerves. That’s the function of the motor nerves." Risha replied, "But you can’t control your heart beating or your intestines’ peristalsis, as these organs are autonomously controlled by your body, just like a plant. That’s why they’re called plant nerves."

"But we can control our heart rates, and influence their pace." Pannis probed, "It seems contrary to what you’ve told us."

"Records show that a small number of energy-sensitive individuals can influence the autonomous functioning of their organs using their internal energy." Risha affirmed, "However, this has nothing to do with the nervous system. You can use energy to slow down your heartbeat, but when you withdraw that energy, your heart rate will return to its original pace. In reality, you’re merely interfering with it, not controlling it."

"Alright, that makes sense." Pannis sighed, "Go on, what is the cause of this disease?"

"Parasitic organism?" Vivian abruptly pointed at the text floating in the air and asked, "This phrase means a parasitic creature, right? Does that mean there’s something else living inside me, leading to my current condition?"

"Yes, a parasitic organism," Risha confirmed. "Searle Syndrome was thought to be caused by an unexplained degeneration of the nervous system. However, in the year 7391, Dr. Hawk inadvertently discovered that the disease is actually caused by a parasitic creature. These creatures are sparse in number, their bodies straddle the line between physical and Energy creatures but lean more towards the latter, making them nearly impossible to detect. Their larvae nest in the locations where the nervous systems of more fragile intelligent beings -- usually other larvae -- are concentrated. For us, this could be the brain but is more likely the cervical spine. They then anchor themselves there. We have yet to understand why they nest in such places; however, according to Dr. Hawk’s hypothesis, it might be because they need to feed off of a certain non-physical energy flow within the nervous system. This one-sided leaching gradually kills off the nervous system of the host, leading to palsy and eventually the disease’s stability phase. If the host’s Vitality is strong enough and can sustain itself for long enough, the parasitic larvae would mature and leave on their own. Despite the irreparable damage to the motor nerves, at least the vegetative nerves won’t continue to be damaged. However, if the host cannot last until the parasite matures, the parasite will leave after the host’s death to find a new body to nest in."

"Well, I didn’t fully understand, but I think I grasped the main point." Vivian was surprisingly calm, appearing as though she was not the patient in question. "So, even without the aid of the Whole Body Regenerative Auto-treatment Device, if we remove the parasite, I can be cured, right?"

"Nerve degeneration is irreversible," Risha shook her head. "According to the records, even if you remove the parasite, the dormant vegetative nerves can’t be revived."

"But at least, it can prevent the so-called vegetative nerves from being affected, right?" Vivian remained the most composed among them. Her keen mind quickly seized the crux of the matter. "The disease won’t deteriorate further, buying us time to find other treatments. Even if there are no other treatments, I can at least maintain my current condition, right?"

After a moment of silence, Risha replied, "Based on the data, the feasibility is very low. The parasite is difficult to observe, let alone isolate. Conventional treatments entail replacing the entire nervous system using the treatment device, effectively removing and killing the parasite. To date, we have not discovered a way to remove the parasite without replacing the nervous system. If the users have knowledge of such a method, please document it in our database as soon as possible."

"I understand," Vivian turned around, giving a smile to Catherine and Lina. "You see, there’s no need to be so tensed up. Having understood the gist of it, even if we really can’t find the Whole Body Regenerative Auto-treatment Device, there are alternative approaches to alleviate the condition. At worst, I can maintain my current state and continue living my life, albeit a little tougher. So pack away those sad faces–looks like you’ll have to put up with me for life, haha."

"Don’t oversimplify this," grumbled Freya, staring at Vivian with grave concern. "Even though we are sensitive to energy, making it easier for us to find Energy creatures, do you have any idea how complicated the nervous system is? Our Mechanic Guild once tried to implant artificial nervous systems in puppets. We deployed all the resources of the Tower of Colossus and even enlisted a Mage Demigod each from the Kingdom of Mages and Elven Forest, but we still failed. The complexity of the nervous system is far beyond human comprehension, just dissecting the tissue is headache-inducing, let alone ensuring your safety."

"But this is still a viable backup plan, you can’t deny that," countered Vivian. "Of course, it would be better if we could find that treatment device. Risha, I suppose the treatment device’s tongue-twisting name was just made up by its creator, wasn’t it? Sure enough. Having a backup plan would provide us with a more solid foundation, wouldn’t it? Otherwise, everyone’s just going to feel anxious."

"There is some truth to that. I can’t deny it," grumbled Freya while rubbing her temple. She leaned against the back of her chair, looking utterly drained. "Goblin Script is truly a headache, as is their technology. I’ve read through all the materials but understood next to nothing."

"There are a lot of things I don’t understand either," admitted Vivian. "I can translate most words and understand their meanings, but when strung together, they make no sense to me. Academic terms are even worse, I don’t even know how to translate those. Is this the difference between two generations of civilization?"

"Just like when we read your papers?" Perhaps Vivian’s words had some truth to them, and Lina and Catherine began to regain their usual calm. With her mood lightened enough to crack a joke, Lina teased Vivian, "I think even your expressions resemble mine when I read your papers."

"Wait till I come and punch you later," Vivian sneered at Lina before turning to Pannis, who was still engrossed in the text, "Pannis, can you understand this?"

"Actually, I don’t understand either," answered Pannis, "But I discovered an interesting detail."(To be continued. If you like this novel, please visit qidian.com and vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can visit m.qidian.com to read.)