I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 207

< The Storm of London (2) >

Mid-19th century.

Overall sanitation in Europe hadn’t improved significantly compared to the Middle Ages.

Awareness of the importance of hygiene was spreading, but the problem was the rapid industrialization that drove people into cities.

No matter how much cleaning was done, areas would revert to a pigsty in a matter of days, making it nearly impossible to keep the streets clean.

London, one of the world’s leading metropolises, was no exception.

The areas where wealthy people lived were incomparably cleaner and more sanitary than medieval Europe, but the districts where poor laborers lived remained a challenge.

John Snow, selected by Killian as the leading authority in medical and nursing colleges, believed that this situation needed urgent improvement, and he emphasized the importance of hygiene in education.

However, his theories were diametrically opposed to the prevailing beliefs in the British medical community at the time.

Naturally, his classes caused a significant stir in the British medical world from the outset.

“Currently, countless diseases are spreading in London every day, causing widespread suffering. The authorities and health committees are making preparations, but unfortunately, judging by the results so far, they haven’t been very effective. What is the reason for this?”

John Snow repeatedly asked the nursing students attending the class.

“I’m not looking for the right answer, so don’t feel pressured and speak freely.”

Even so, when no one answered, John Snow sighed softly and pointed to one of the female students sitting in the front row and asked.

“You there, student. What is your name?”

“Florence Nightingale, sir.”

“Yes, Miss Nightingale, why do you think that even though the health committee is working so hard, epidemics are only growing in scale and not being completely eradicated?”

“I believe it’s because the fundamental sanitation of the city isn’t improving. No matter how intensively we clean wealthy areas, diseases ultimately arise in unsanitary places. Unless unclean areas disappear from London, I believe these epidemics will continue to occur.”

“Good point. But we need to consider the essence of that sanitation. It’s good to emphasize hygiene, but if the approach is wrong, no matter how much money is invested and manpower is deployed, we won’t achieve the desired results. Now, everyone, pay attention here.”

John Snow wrote down the epidemic prevention rules announced by the health committee and *The Lancet*, the leading medical journal in the British Empire, on the blackboard.

“What they commonly argue is clear: diseases spread through bad air and odors. This is the theory called miasma theory [the belief that diseases are caused by ‘bad air’ emanating from decaying organic matter]. This theory almost dominates the medical world like a law now.”

Nightingale tilted her head at Snow’s seemingly sarcastic remarks.

As far as she knew, miasma theory was already regarded as an established truth in the medical world.

“But this is a theory with too many logical flaws. The reason why epidemics periodically spread in London is because health authorities are investing money in the wrong areas and failing to provide fundamental solutions.”

“Professor! But hasn’t miasma theory been proven to be true in many cases? When I do medical volunteer work, I always start by cleaning the patients’ rooms, and this has always been very effective.”

“Miss Nightingale, were you cleaning the patient’s surroundings to remove the odor?”

“Yes. I thought that if the odor entered the patient’s respiratory system, it would cause the disease, so I cleaned the surroundings to prevent any dirty air from spreading.”

“Keeping the patient’s surroundings clean is always the right choice. But what we need to consider here is whether the patient’s condition improved simply because the odor disappeared. What disappeared by cleaning the surroundings was not just the odor, was it?”

Nightingale was skeptical of John Snow’s words, but since her theoretical understanding was still developing, she decided to continue listening to the professor’s explanation.

“Let’s take an example. Most gases that directly affect the human body produce the same symptoms in most people. Anesthetic gas is a good example. When inhaled, most people show the same symptoms and the same reactions. The same goes for gases that cause people to suffocate. But odors are different. If the odor that transmits the disease is the same as anesthetic gas, why do the symptoms appear differently in each person? And why does cholera, a typical disease that spreads through this miasma, destroy the digestive system rather than the respiratory system?”

“······.”

“And if the odor is the source of the disease, doctors who believe in miasma theory cannot properly explain why London’s cleaners are still alive and well. So I…”

Thud!

“That crazy John Snow! What on earth is he doing at an educational institution with royal patronage!”

Before he could continue his explanation, a group of middle-aged men burst into the classroom, creating a commotion as the door was flung open.

“Oh my, you’ve come in force. But did you obtain permission to enter the school?”

“We’ll sort that out later! Right now, the priority is to stop your reckless behavior! Do you even realize what you’re doing?”

“I wonder if you gentlemen are aware of your actions. You are currently trespassing on an educational institution established by His Royal Highness and disrupting classes. If I call the police, who do you think they will arrest?”

“Haa… there’s no need for lengthy discussion. Do you know who this person is? This is John Simon, a renowned physician who made a name for himself at King’s College London and is this year’s Chief Medical Officer for the City of London. Disrupting classes? This is a legitimate task for our committee, which is responsible for London’s health!”

“It seems that someone reported me after my last lecture to the medical students. But I have already received permission from His Highness, the founder of this institution, to lecture on any content in my classes. If you wish to complain, direct your grievances to His Highness.”

Looking around, Snow recognized John Simon, the Chief Medical Officer for the City of London, the directors of the health committee, and even the editors of the medical journal *The Lancet*.

The fact that they had come to argue so vehemently made Snow’s head ache.

In fact, he knew that something like this was inevitable from the moment he agreed to become an educator at Killian’s request.

John Snow, who denied miasma theory in the current British medical community, was in a position akin to Galileo, who challenged the geocentric theory [the belief that the Earth is the center of the universe].

“His Highness probably wasn’t aware that you would attempt to teach such outlandish content! We wouldn’t care if you believed and argued it in private. But have you considered the potential harm to society if you inject this misinformation into the education of doctors and nurses who will be responsible for London’s health in the future?”

“Many young medical professionals with sound theories will enter society.”

“You truly don’t understand, John Snow! That’s not the point!”

“Enough. I’ll call the police if you continue to make noise. You can either be escorted out by the police, leave now, or complain to His Highness to dismiss a quack. I must continue the class.”

“Hmph, this stubborn fool… Fine. Then I’ll report this matter directly to His Highness and recommend your dismissal, so just wait and see!”

Just as the uninvited guests, who had arrived so suddenly, were about to leave in a huff.

“If you have something to say, say it here now.”

A frosty voice echoed, followed by the sound of measured footsteps.

“······?”

“Who… could it be?”

Everyone’s eyes widened as they recognized the figure who had appeared without any prior announcement.

The members of the committee, who had been about to storm out, swallowed their saliva and froze in place.

The prospective nurses, who had been watching the medical staff’s argument with bated breath, hurriedly rose from their seats and bowed their heads.

Simon, the Chief Medical Officer of London, and John Snow, the head of the school, straightened their clothes and greeted him – the chief director who founded this institution, and a prominent member of the royal family.

Killian, the Prince Consort of the British Empire, was present.

* * *

“Let’s hear what this commotion is about during a sacred class.”

The committee members, startled by the sharp voice, looked back at Simon, the Chief Medical Officer for the City of London, who was their spokesperson.

He, having been chosen to lead, opened his mouth hesitantly.

“As the person in charge of the health of the City of London, I received a report that John Snow was conducting education that could undermine the future medical system of London, and I came urgently to investigate.”

“Undermine the medical system of London? How?”

“He is denying the established miasma theory and promoting an unverified and unconventional theory…”

“That’s something I heard an explanation from John Snow about in advance, and I found it to be reasonable, so I approved it. Are you questioning my judgment?”

“Yes? Ah, no, no. That’s not what I meant… John Snow may have presented false information to His Highness to promote his theory…”

“John Snow has also served as the royal physician to Her Majesty the Queen. Are you suggesting that our royal family is easily deceived by a fraudulent doctor?”

The committee members, their faces paling, slowly distanced themselves from Simon, bumping into each other and shaking their heads frantically.

“How could that be? That’s not what we meant…”

“And if you had any concerns, you could have formally submitted your opinion after class. Instead, you rebuked my appointee in front of so many students, which can only be interpreted as intentional.”

I even invited guests to showcase the advanced medical system of the British Empire, and this is the mess these fellows have created. What a disappointment. I didn’t bother to hide my displeasure, regardless of their feelings.

“It would be understandable if this were elsewhere, but to act so presumptuously in a royal educational institution named after Her Majesty the Queen and myself… I was unaware that the health authorities of the British Empire held such power. Do I need your permission to run this institution in the future?”

“Ah, no. That’s not what we mean, Your Highness! The situation is so chaotic right now that we took measures to prevent the commotion from escalating, so we were impolite. I apologize!”

“The situation is chaotic? What does that mean?”

“That is…”

When Simon glanced at the committee members, they nodded in agreement.

Simon took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and said in a low voice.

“It appears that cholera has broken out in the city of London. It’s not yet confirmed, and we are mobilizing all our resources to investigate whether this will develop into a large-scale epidemic. A report was scheduled to be submitted to the government by tomorrow, but in this situation, John Snow is teaching in a way that completely contradicts the quarantine guidelines of the authorities…”

“…Cholera?”

The large-scale London cholera outbreak, which is well-known even in modern times, occurred in the 1850s, but was there a significant epidemic before that?

Well, since cholera epidemics had been breaking out periodically since the 1840s, it’s not surprising that cholera is epidemic in London at this time.

Moreover, considering the causes of cholera, a large-scale cholera epidemic may have occurred more quickly in London, where industrialization has been further accelerated due to my influence.

That’s why I instructed Rothschild to completely overhaul the water and sewage systems, but I never anticipated that things would erupt before the construction even commenced.

Suddenly, I heard Bismarck muttering behind me in a worried tone.

“There are rumors that cholera has broken out on a large scale in Russia, claiming at least hundreds of thousands of lives…”

Hundreds of thousands of people died in Russia?

Then, if we stabilize this situation quickly, it will demonstrate that the British Empire has a response capability far superior to that of Russia.

After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I lightly clicked my tongue at Simon, who was still bowing his head, unsure of what to do.

“The situation was urgent, so your judgment must have been clouded. I will not hold you responsible in this instance.”

“Oh, really?”

“But ensure that you distinguish between right and wrong this time so that this does not happen again.”

“If you mean distinguishing between right and wrong…”

I looked back at John Snow, whose expression had noticeably changed at the mention of cholera, and raised my voice so that everyone in the room could hear.

“I will provide a platform for you to prove whether John Snow is preaching false theories that are deceiving students or not. Of course, I won’t be using your manpower or resources, so you can continue with your current efforts. The validity of each theory will become apparent when this cholera outbreak is over. John Snow, are you willing to accept this challenge?”

“If you provide me with support, I will repay you with results.”

“Yes, good. However, it will be difficult for you to do it alone, so you will need an assistant. Let’s see…”

Looking around, I noticed someone sitting at the front of the lecture hall who seemed perfectly suited for the task.

“Florence Nightingale, please assist Professor John Snow so that you can thoroughly verify his theory.”

“…Yes? M-me…”

“You simply need to follow Professor John Snow’s instructions, so it won’t be too difficult. Furthermore, witnessing, hearing, and experiencing this firsthand will greatly contribute to your development as a great nurse, so do your best.”

The health committee seemed to have much to say, but they dared not raise any objections and merely rolled their eyes.

I had already declared that I would not use the budget or manpower allocated to them, so what could they do even if they were dissatisfied?

Anyway, a dream team of John Snow, the pioneer of modern epidemiology [the study of the spread and control of diseases], and Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, versus the London City Health Authority, which adheres to miasma theory.

The outcome is so predictable that there is nothing to boast about.

Still, once this is resolved, the medical system of the British Empire will take another significant leap forward.

Unlike Russia, which suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties, the reputation of myself and my medical staff, who contained cholera with minimal deaths, will be greatly enhanced.

This will result in saving the lives of countless British citizens and soldiers in the future.

To that end, I inwardly thanked our health authority committee, which volunteered to be the stepping stone.