Chapter 10: The Murderous Hospitals of the 19th Century

Additionally, there were six female nurses, all of whom were young ladies from noble middle-class or bourgeois families, possessing an air of refinement. They were not hired staff but volunteers, drawn to this foul-smelling hospital to care for patients out of kindness or faith in God. However, these nurses had no experience in nursing whatsoever; they were even unaware of the most basic practices of disinfection and sterilization. Zhu Jishi personally witnessed one petite and charming nurse using a dirty cloth stained with blood to wipe a pair of forceps and several scissors. However, these nurses had no experience in nursing whatsoever; they were even unaware of the most basic practices of disinfection and sterilization. Zhu Jishi personally witnessed one petite and charming nurse using a dirty cloth stained with blood to wipe a pair of forceps and several scissors.

"A little bit dirty." Zhu Jishi offered a rather unflattering opinion

This hospital contains many absurd medications, such as ketchup! It is said to be able to treat over thirty diseases. I really wonder what those time travelers who have never studied medicine would think if they fell ill and saw a doctor feeding them ketchup as a cure. Additionally, boiled water with just a hint of sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid has also become a miraculous remedy, capable of treating as many as thirty-one diseases. Furthermore, petroleum surprisingly is considered a "universal remedy"... Using petroleum for treatment, do these European doctors think of patients as Transformers?

In addition to the "special medicine" that contains opium, there are many drugs made from alkaloids extracted from plants, such as emetine, quinine (used to treat malaria), cinchonine (also extracted from the Cinchona species), atropine, and so on. Most of these are toxic, and improper use can certainly be fatal. However, there are also beneficial substances, such as berberine, which is famously known as berberine! However, it is not the more effective hydrochloride form of berberine, so there are no injectable preparations available. However, there are also beneficial substances, such as berberine, which is famously known as berberine! However, it is not the more effective hydrochloride form of berberine, so there are no injectable preparations available

Yes, you can call me Jason

"Alright, Jason, I am glad you could come here. I am Frank Hahn, the dean here; just call me Frank," he said, as a greasy large hand wiped itself on a gray lab coat, which was likely once white but now stained with blood and oil, before firmly shaking Zhu Jishi's right hand.

... ...

"That's great, can you assist with childbirth?" After receiving a positive response, Hahn took a look at the medical license from Zhu Jishi and exclaimed, "Wow, you are actually licensed! This is fantastic; our Oumen Hospital now has two licensed physicians. By the way, Tatar, what is your name?"

About half an hour after their first meeting, Frank Hahn had already taken Zhu Jishi on a tour of this hospital, which exuded a terrible odor, introducing all the doctors and nurses to him—though there were not many in total. The sponsor here, Mr. Omen, should actually be called "Mr. Stingy," as the hospital's monthly budget is less than £200. Frank Hahn and Tushen are the hospital's "contractors." Including Zhu Jishi, he has hired five doctors, one midwife, and one pharmacist, but only Zhu Jishi holds a legitimate medical license. The other four doctors are working without licenses, and the only pharmacist, Mary Hahn, who is Frank Hahn's wife, is also unlicensed. As for the midwife named Janet Lee, she too lacks a license—there was no certification for midwives in this era. However, their salaries are not less than that of Zhu Jishi, the licensed physician, all earning a weekly wage of £3.

Although he had been somewhat mentally prepared, when Zhu Jishi saw the dilapidated large building situated between two factories that continuously emitted unpleasant odors (which seemed to be a dyeing factory), he still found it difficult to associate it with a hospital or anything of the sort

"Jason, what do you think of this hospital?" After showing Zhu Jishi around the hospital, Frank Hahn, with a pipe in his mouth, asked Zhu Jishi cheerfully

Jason Zhu retrieved his medical license

Yes, I am a surgeon, Zhu Jishi admitted with a stiff resolve

Although there was some disdain for Zhu Jishi, the charming smile of Madame Duran remained, and she provided Zhu Jishi with a detailed account of the situation at Omen Hospital. This Omen Hospital is referred to as a "charity hospital," with its operating funds sourced from several textile factory owners, among whom one named Peter Omen contributed the most, thus the hospital was named "Omen Hospital." This Omen Hospital is referred to as a "charity hospital," with its operating funds sourced from several textile factory owners, among whom one named Peter Omen contributed the most, thus the hospital was named "Omen Hospital."

The main color of the house is gray, resembling the sky over London's industrial area, as if it has not been cleaned. Later, Zhu Jishi learned that when this hospital was newly constructed, the exterior walls were actually white. The glass in more than half of the windows was already shattered, barely covered with cardboard. Mrs. Duran informed him that those windows were broken during the riots in the industrial area of London in September. Such disturbances by the working class were quite common in Europe during the first half of the 19th century. Mrs. Duran informed him that those windows were broken during the riots in the industrial area of London in September. Such disturbances by the working class were quite common in Europe during the first half of the 19th century

Is this really a hospital

The upper-middle class, who are capable of affording medical expenses, generally request the services of highly skilled physicians to visit them, and sometimes they also seek treatment at well-rated private clinics. They typically do not go to charitable hospitals that only provide free medical services for the poor due to the rather poor conditions there

Zhu Jishi almost witnessed the deadly pathogens of tuberculosis, cholera, plague, typhus, smallpox, yellow fever, and so on, all thriving joyfully here

"Come with me," Mrs. Duran smiled charmingly at Zhu Jishi, then took out a handkerchief to cover her nose. To be honest, the smell here is truly unbearable. If one were to take a closer sniff, they could distinguish the odors of decay, rancidity, feces, and the definitely toxic industrial waste emitted by the surrounding factories. The stench made Zhu Jishi feel dizzy and disoriented. With his medical knowledge, he concluded that this hospital was nothing more than a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria.

As for the medications provided by this charitable hospital, they are certainly not free. This is the primary source of income for Director Frank Hahn. However, the quantity and variety of medications remain quite limited, with most being ineffective, such as a syrup that is said to treat tuberculosis. The "Universal Pharmacopoeia" purchased by Zhu Jishi states that this syrup can alleviate the pain of pulmonary tuberculosis, but in reality, it merely contains some opium paste—opium during this era was considered a panacea in Europe, with large blocks of opium paste found in all pharmacies and hospitals. Moreover, it is likely that more than half of Western medicines contained opium as an ingredient! Additionally, the production of Western medicine during this time had not achieved true industrialization; many pharmacies and hospitals were producing and selling Western medicines independently, with little oversight. Consequently, everyone was inclined to add opium, this "remarkably effective" universal remedy, to their concocted medicines.

Additionally, Mrs. Duran informed Zhu Jishi that these "charity hospitals" established by capitalists or the church do not charge medical fees. The operational funds of these hospitals primarily come from donations, and sometimes they also rely on selling medicine to supplement their income. The beneficiaries are not individuals from the middle or upper classes like her and Isabel, but rather the lowest strata of society, who, in fact, do not have the ability to pay for medical services.

"Tatar? My goodness, he is really a Tatar!" The hospital director, Frank Hahn, a coarse and burly man with a face full of flesh, scrutinized Zhu Jishi for quite a while, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Great, wonderful! Finally, we have a doctor who can stay in this godforsaken place for a while. Hey, Tatar, I heard you are a surgeon?"

Jason ... ... Zhu? Is Zhu a surname?

On the afternoon of October 15, 1842, which marked the thirtieth day since Zhu Jishi arrived in this era, he finally received an opportunity for an interview with the help of Isabel. However, accompanying him to the "Charity Hospital" known as "Omen Hospital" located in the industrial district of London was Mrs. Duran, Isabel's sister (one could not expect the noble and beautiful Countess to personally visit such a filthy and foul-smelling place in the industrial district of London, where various pathogenic germs floated in the air). She reassured the somewhat anxious Zhu Jishi.

Rest assured, the interview is merely a formality; Isabel has already spoken with Mr. Omen, the boss here