The first day of the short trip to Strasbourg caused Jero Bonaparte to "lose" more than 20 million francs. Although this money was used to train qualified military commanders, Jero Bonaparte always had an indescribable feeling that it was as if all this had been arranged in advance by Renio.
That evening, Jero Bonaparte wrote to the Ministry of War, requesting that its financial departnt allocate funds to the Strasbourg region, and at the sa ti dispatch a group of mathematicians from Paris to Strasbourg.
Whether it’s the artillery or "civil engineering" departnt, mathematics is indispensable, and compared to the strong academic atmosphere of Paris, the mathematicians in Strasbourg are not up to par. Moreover, the professors at Strasbourg’s universities were already nearly bald from being overworked by two military schools.
If the newly established military college also invites professors from Strasbourg University of Technology to work part-ti, unless the university dissolves on the spot and all the professors are incorporated into the new military academy, it would be impossible to et the requirents.
Jero Bonaparte also understood that this letter would definitely provoke opposition from so military bureaucrats within the Ministry of War, among whom might very well be generals who had previously supported him.
For conservative military commanders, any reform is a clash with the old system, which naturally incites their opposition.
The tragedy of reform is none other than this.
At this point, Jero Bonaparte can only rely on his prestige at its peak to continue pressing forward with the reforms. As long as military reforms show results, he can gain the sa esteem as his uncle Napoleon.
Folding the letter, Jero Bonaparte handed it to Mornay, commanding him to imdiately head to Strasbourg’s telegraph office and transmit it by telegraph to the Ministry of War.
Mornay took the letter and left the hotel under the cover of night to go to the telegraph office, leaving Jero Bonaparte alone in the room again.
Alone standing by the window, Jero Bonaparte gazed at the sly full moon on the horizon, feeling a sense of alienation from the world.
Subrged in the tides of history, Jero Bonaparte knew that each of his steps was writing new history, yet was unsure if he could cut through this new history and pave a broad path for France.
"Let it be!" Jero Bonaparte murmured vacantly, before turning away from the window and lying on the bed with his hand under his head.
After sending the letter via telegraph to Paris, Mornay returned to the hotel to report to Jero Bonaparte, only to find him already asleep. He shook his head and quietly left the room.
Early the next morning, a noise ca from Jero Bonaparte’s room.
"Achoo!"
With a sneeze, Jero Bonaparte sniffled, having caught a cold due to the temperature difference between day and night in Strasbourg and leaving the window open the previous night.
Luckily, 1851 wasn’t an outbreak year for cholera, otherwise, he’d consider taking willow bark to see if he could endure it.
Nonetheless, Jero Bonaparte felt his nose was sowhat blocked, so he urgently summoned Mornay and instructed him to find a doctor to treat him.
Mornay took a carriage to a private clinic in Strasbourg to "invite" a doctor for Jero Bonaparte. After examining him, the doctor imdiately pulled out his dical bag and prepared the dicine.
Looking at the prepared, thick, healthy-colored dicine, Jero Bonaparte couldn’t help but feel nauseous.
Mornay, with an unsure expression, asked, "Is this dicine really effective?"
"Rest assured! These have been tested extensively!" the doctor confidently responded.
Watching the confident doctor, Jero Bonaparte gritted his teeth and drank it down.
The mont the dicine entered his throat, Jero Bonaparte felt an indescribable bitterness, as if bitter lon juice was being poured in.
"Water! Water!" Jero Bonaparte croaked.
The doctor calmly took out a small bottle and poured a glass of colorless, transparent liquid for Jero Bonaparte. Jero, eyeing the doctor, was reluctant to drink the unknown liquid.
"What’s wrong? Are you afraid it’s poisoned?" the doctor inquired.
Jero Bonaparte shook his head, while Mornay explained for him, "The Governor doesn’t like drinking water that hasn’t been boiled!"
In the 19th century, when pathological knowledge was not yet widespread, not many monarchs were willing to drink boiled water [except for coffee and the like; most monarchs preferred wine]. Jero Bonaparte’s behavior was sowhat out of step with most monarchs.
The doctor looked at Jero Bonaparte in surprise, showing a curious smile, "Governor, do you also believe that cholera bacteria exist?"
"Water!" Jero Bonaparte dry-heaved twice, without answering the doctor.
The doctor handed the water to Jero Bonaparte, saying considerately, "I boiled the water and sterilized the bottle!"
This ti it was Jero Bonaparte’s turn to be surprised. He took the distilled water from the doctor’s bottle and drank it all, finally feeling much better in his throat.
"Cholera vibrio?" Jero Bonaparte, having recovered his voice, asked the doctor once more.
"Governor, are you not aware of the debate at the recent health conference?" The doctor also showed a look of surprise.
Jero Bonaparte turned his gaze to Mornay, who explained to Jero Bonaparte.
It turned out that not long ago, to cope with the impact of cholera, an international sanitary conference of a semi-official nature was convened in Paris, led by Britain.
"At that ti, you were dealing with other matters, and for such things, we thought it best not to disturb you!" Mornay said to Jero Bonaparte.
Since the international sanitary conference was held in mid-August, Jero Bonaparte was managing military affairs at the ti, and all minor matters, except major ones, were assigned to various departnts for handling.
Sothing like the international sanitary seminar, having a semi-official character, was not worth troubling Jero Bonaparte with.
Hearing Mornay’s explanation, Jero Bonaparte finally understood what was going on. He turned his gaze to the doctor and said, "Did you attend that conference as well?"
The doctor nodded and couldn’t help but exclaim, "That conference really benefited greatly!"
"Could you tell about it?" Jero Bonaparte showed so interest.
Since Renio had not yet arrived, listening to the doctor’s experiences was also a kind of amusent, just to pass the ti.
The doctor recounted two views proposed at the international sanitary seminar regarding cholera: one was the "cholera vibrio" introduced by anatomists from Florence, and the other was the popular "miasma theory" from England.
"So, do you support the cholera vibrio?" Jero Bonaparte responded to the doctor.
The doctor nodded and said, "I have dissected corpses of cholera patients and discovered this thing under the microscope!"
Jero Bonaparte gave the doctor a thumbs up. No matter the era, there are always unsung heroes who silently lead the progress of their ti.
Jero Bonaparte also believed that any technology or developnt was not accidental. It was a "truth" derived from thousands of experints, and similarly, it would not be only one person who discovered this truth.
So people are destined to remain anonymous for various reasons.
"I also support the cholera vibrio!" Jero Bonaparte said to the doctor as well.
"Governor, since you support the cholera vibrio, why haven’t you taken action?" The doctor questioned Jero Bonaparte.
"Bold!" Mornay imdiately reprimanded the doctor.
The doctor continued in his own way, saying, "I have seen many people waiting to die due to lack of treatnt for cholera. It is really due to the monarch’s inaction that they face such dilemmas!"
"Sir, we are already actively developing a vaccine for the cholera virus!" Jero Bonaparte responded in a calm tone, "I believe it won’t be long before we succeed!"
"No... that’s not enough!" The doctor shook his head and replied to Jero Bonaparte.
"What do you think the governnt should do better?" Jero Bonaparte asked the doctor again.
"I believe cholera should not only be treated but also prevented! We must not only prevent cholera but also other diseases!" The doctor elaborated to Jero Bonaparte, "When our healthcare system responds to sudden diseases, its speed is exceptionally slow! Ultimately, it is because we have too few hospitals and too few qualified doctors!"
"Sir, France is already actively addressing this matter!" Jero Bonaparte could only respond to the doctor formally.
In the 19th century, as long as charitable hospitals could save lives, it was considered a success.
"It’s not enough!" The doctor shook his head sincerely and said, "France should establish more community hospitals and equip them with sufficient caregivers. Caregiving should not be underestimated. I have seen many people beco critically ill again due to inadequate follow-up care..."
The doctor spoke to Jero Bonaparte one by one, and Jero Bonaparte listened attentively to the doctor’s words.
Although many issues were rely the doctor’s wishful thinking (such as hospitals should forgive those who cannot afford treatnt, constructing more national hospitals), there were still so that were useful (such as establishing care hospitals, isolating patients, and the issue of public drinking water).
"Thank you very much for your suggestions! I will seriously consider all your advice and then carefully plan the future construction of France’s healthcare system."
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