Brother Wallington became Yozef’s adoring slave, once he was convinced by the first microscopes of the existence of a whole new realm of creatures previously unknown. He was endlessly enthralled by the multifaceted protozoans, while the two medicants were interested in bacteria. Wallington’s total acceptance of the concept of invisible-to-the-naked-eye creatures helped convince the other staff at the abbey.
During the following months, Yozef’s discussions with Diera introduced an array of new ideas, some of which were adopted immediately, some slated perhaps to the future, and others proved impractical, either technically or because there was no scaffold of current Caedellium knowledge and custom to hang them on. Among those immediately workable, or with some reasonable development, were stethoscopes, Ringers solution, plasma for blood loss and shock, hypodermics, the possibility of blood transfusions (though only considering AB factors, not +/-, so only in emergencies), and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The last innovation met with significant trepidation, because it was viewed by many common people and even some medicants as reviving the dead, a power appropriate only for God—or possibly the Evil One, to create his demonic agents.
Once Yozef convinced Diera of the possibility of microorganisms as a cause of corruption, the St. Sidryn's medicants began using Yozef’s suggestions about the surgical environment. He also suggested stronger acidic solutions once he remembered that an early antiseptic was carbolic acid, phenol by chemical composition. No Anyar versions of phenol were identifiable, and the easiest source Yozef could remember was the distillation of phenol from coal tar, a process not immediately possible. As substitutes, he suggested acetic acid (vinegar) and boric acid made from the mineral borax, available locally. In neither case could Yozef give advice on concentration, other than low, but Diera didn’t seem concerned about figuring out optimal concentrations.
He also championed ethanol. Since it was already being distilled as part of the ether production, source wasn’t a problem. He remembered it needed to be 70 percent ethanol in water to kill germs—something to do with attacking cell membranes more efficiently at that concentration, not that he tried to explain cell structure.
He didn’t witness the introduction of more stringent asepsis, but from the Beynoms’ older son, Cadwulf, Yozef learned details of the storm ignited in getting medicants to change long-established traditions, especially the older medicants and those feeling threatened by an off-islander’s strange ideas. In the end, all but the most close-minded medicants admitted that the new aseptic conditions reduced infections, and only one medicant was so stubborn that Diera finally decertified him as a medicant anywhere in the district.
Similar discord occurred in other Keelan Province districts before increased aseptic procedures spread to other provinces. The information dissemination was fueled by Diera sending reports to abbeys throughout Keelan to medicants she believed would be most open-minded about this flood of novel procedures and knowledge. From there, the knowledge spread throughout Caedellium, and the reputation and rumors about Yozef Kolsko added to those already circulating about ether.
Yozef tried to be careful with what he revealed to Diera, for fear that too much information would raise worries as to who, or what, he was. Whenever the probing of Diera or the other medicants approached dangerous ground, he feigned ignorance. One strategy he adopted was to pretend some tidbit of knowledge just occurred to him, but that this was all he knew. While this didn’t satisfy the more insistent inquisitors, it usually ended a delicate line of probing. The inadvertent side effect, and one to which Yozef was oblivious until it was too late to squash rumors, was that Yozef was literally “hearing” the information. These whispers had consequences in times to come.
Chapter 18: Supplicant to Tycoon
In the months since his arrival on Anyar, Yozef had had no expenses. The abbey provided food, clothing, and shelter, and Carnigan paid at the pub. Introducing ether for anesthesia gave Yozef his first independent income.
Abbot Beynom first mentioned charges for the ether. “All of our patients are expected to pay for their treatment, assuming they can afford the payments. If not, the payment is reduced or forgiven. The poppy extract had gotten so expensive that the abbey tried to absorb all of the cost, but that was becoming more difficult even before the Narthani cut off trade. Now, poppy extract is virtually impossible to obtain, no matter the price. It’s only reasonable that the cost of the ether should be included in what the patient pays.”
The abbot raised an eyebrow at Yozef. “Do you have any thoughts about what the cost should be? It should cover the production and a small income for yourself.”
“Sorry, Abbot. I’ve no idea about Caedellium or Keelan money. I would depend on your advice.”
“I wondered about that myself,” Sistian smiled. “It’s quite simple. There are a few differences among the provinces, but most use the same system as Keelan.”
The abbot reached into his desk and withdrew a small clinking sack from which he took out a handful of coins and spread them out on his desktop.
“There are four coins, two silver and two gold. The small silver is one krun, large silver five kruns, small gold twenty kruns, and large gold hundred kruns.”
Yozef had seen the coins in the pub but hadn’t noticed details until now. The sizes seemed standardized, and each coin had a number stamped on one side and a six-pointed star on the other.
“What do the numbers and symbols stand for?”
Sistian picked up a hundred-krun gold and pointed to the number. “The coins are made in Orosz City, the center of Orosz Province. Clans or individuals can take gold and silver there to be turned into coins. That’s to assure all coins are the proper size and weight. The number identifies a specific batch of coins, in case there’s a problem.” He turned the coin over. “The star is a general symbol of Caedellium. Coins from other parts of Anyar are sometimes used, though people are cautious about using them because we can’t be sure of the value of the gold and silver they’re made of. A few clans also have their own coins, but Keelan and most clans use the common krun coins made in Orosz City. There are also small copper coins for values less than a small silver one krun coin, but those aren’t made in Orosz City.”
“What does a krun or a hundred kruns buy?”
“One krun would buy a loaf of bread, a hundred krun a good set of clothes for a common clansman, and an average horse might cost five hundred krun.”
“So, Abbot, what would you suggest for the price of the ether?”
Sistian tilted his head up and stroked his beard. “Well, you’ll be selling mainly to abbeys in those small dark bottles. From what Diera says, there should be enough in each bottle for at least ten treatments. Let’s see . . . I think twenty krun per treatment would be reasonable, which would make it two hundred krun for a bottle.” He paused, switching stroking hands. “There’re fifteen abbeys in Keelan, so if each one bought one bottle, that would be three thousand krun.” He stopped speaking, his eyes widening.
“My word, Yozef. I hadn’t realized, but the numbers might get quite high. I’d check with Diera, but our medicant facility is one of the larger, so we would use more bottles than the smaller abbeys. Also, as I remember you saying, the ether goes bad after a few months, so . . . let’s say an average of ten bottles per abbey per year.” He stopped, eyes widening more. “That’s thirty thousand krun a year! And the other provinces will use ether as soon as they hear of it and see it working for themselves!”