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Foundation course at the medical University
“After the foundation course at the medical
university, the two friends effortlessly passed to
the next grade. The class had shrunk to thirty
students by then and today they were to have their
first practicum. Professor Hache was standing on his
platform and was wringing his hands in anticipation.
“Gentlemen, we always begin the second year with a
practical demonstration of blood-letting. This will
be performed by me personally on a person who has
been declared incurably ill. Don’t worry, there is
no Black Death involved.”
“What is the Black Death?” asked Michel pointedly.
“It’s a nick-name for the plague, my dear fellow,
but don’t keep interrupting me. I hope for all of
you that you won’t faint, because it is a bloody
business. I’ve gotten used to it.” His colleagues
carried in a woman with a seriously yellow
complexion, who was tied to a chair; she was too
weak to sit up. The patient could no longer look
straight ahead and her eyes wandered in all
directions. For the rest there was not much to her
and she was uttering uncontrolled sounds. She was a
poignant case and a commotion started in the room.
“I understand you feel compassion for her and you
undoubtedly think I’m being somewhat heartless,”
said the professor, “but this experiment is in the
service of science and the end justifies the means.
Moreover, I assure you that this lady will receive
some financial compensation.” The bully moved closer
to the guinea pig and picked up where he left off.
“There are two ways we can perform bloodletting. The
first one is to cut into a blood vessel,” and he
pointed to a suitable spot on the patient’s forearm.
“The second method is to place leeches.” He took a
number of glass pots out of his pockets and showed
various specimens.
“Today, I will demonstrate only the first one; these
little creatures are already sated anyway. For the
first method, the patient needs to squeeze a stick
in his fist. This causes the veins to swell and
speeds up the process of the phlebotomy.
Unfortunately, this lady is too weak for this and we
will have to cut deeper,” and he brought the lancet
out of his doctor’s bag.
“Are there any volunteers to try this with me?” he
asked. No one dared say yes, so he appointed someone.
“Mr. De Nostredame, would you be so kind?” His
student obediently got up and walked towards him.
“Make a cut right here, lengthwise,” his teacher
commanded while handing him the blades.
“Shouldn’t I wash my hands first?” Michel asked.
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