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A novel by Eric Melma |
Page 26 |
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Contagious plagueHe wrote down the
symptoms of the extremely contagious disease and
left without being able to do anything substantial.
During the days that followed, the physician visited
several plague sufferers, who were initially taking
shelter in spiritual peace with God. Wherever he
came in, there was always some anxious priest who
would be taking confession and promising the patient
a place in the hereafter. Medical help,
unfortunately, took second place. Ignorance is a
cardinal sin, Michel realized more than ever.
However, the abundance of superstition, the abuse of
power and the ignorance stimulated him to attempt to
discover the cause of the disease by using his
common sense and to find a solution for it. He
distinguished two types of plague: the one with
lumps forming on the outside of the body and the one
affecting the lungs. After examining the symptoms of
the disease, he could see the importance of hygiene,
which, in the Jewish religion had been traditional
for centuries. An interesting case in Milan
confirmed his findings. The archbishop had ordered
to brick up the first three houses that had been
attacked by the plague, with the residents inside.
As a result of this, Milan was protected from a
further outbreak. This harsh management had shown
that contagion was being passed on invisibly.
Nostradamus began to introduce quarantine for new
cases, during which time no healthy citizens were
permitted to have any contact with the patients, who
were still being provided with food and water. This
method began to yield some good results. The
researcher also had the idea that the disease could
be carried by the wind and he therefore distributed
masks among the population in a neighboring village
that had not been contaminated with the plague yet.
The residents were spared from the epidemic and
Michel began to suspect the existence of bacteria.
He then began to advise everyone to take a bath in
warm water once a week if at all possible and to
wash their hands with soap before each meal. He also
stimulated them to regularly brush their teeth, for
example with chewed up licorice root, to rinse the
mouth with honey water or wine vinegar, to clip
their finger nails and cut and wash their hair,
moustaches and beards. Everyone also had to change
their clothing and thoroughly clean it by washing
it, preferably in hot or boiling water. Despite the
essential pioneer work, he nevertheless remained a
voice calling out in the wilderness, until Pope
Clemens VII heard about the willful plague fighter
and invited him to his private quarters in Avignon.
The pope asked him how he should protect himself
against a future outbreak of the plague and Michel
advised him to at least withdraw into his residence.
When the epidemic reached the neighborhood of the
religious leader about a month later, he spent
several weeks in solitude. Because of the isolation
he stayed alive and Nostradamus gained some fame.
The plague, meanwhile, was raging through all parts
of the country and exacted a terrible toll in all of
Europe. The overpopulated areas were hit the hardest.
Armies of well-trained, strong soldiers fell apart
after a few days of the epidemic, and local wars
were lost before being fought. Quacks tried to take
advantage of the panic situation and make a quick
fortune. The young doctor worked day and night and
treated thousands of people. After four years, the
plague had finally spent its fury and Nostradamus
returned to Montpellier to finally complete his
studies. François had graduated by then and,
surprisingly, had left France. The caretaker told
him strict measures had been taken against the
reformed, the humanists and all dissidents. Even
scientists with sharp tongues were no longer welcome
in the country. In spite of this, François had the
good fortune to be employed as a physician by the
viceroy of Piemonte. Michel once again attacked his
studies, but he came upon a lot of incomprehension
among his former teachers regarding his progressive
ideas. His theoretical and practical knowledge was
so impressive, however, that the teachers could not
deny him his doctor’s title a year later. The
unconventional physician gave lectures at this
university for a short time, but his treatment
methods ultimately caused too much consternation.
The director-in-chief took action; the culprit was
admonished and thereupon left the university. Tried
and tested, Michel returned home to Saint Rémy and
there decided to resume his practice.
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