Doctor goes back to Joseon

Chapter 88: Advisor of Heo Jun [3]

 

The theme seemed to be a tad bit appropriate for the first class.

It was about the anus, not the leg or the arm.

Ganghyuk tried to read the audience, as he thought it would be improper

However, it was his groundless anxiety.

The audience were all passionate to learn, and they were ready to learn no matter what Ganghyuk taught.

Moreover, it was related to the disease of the famous lord Ryu Seongyong.

As a matter of fact, some of them had the same problem.

They sat on the thick cushions.

‘They all look focused. This is good.’

Ganghyuk continued to teach, smiling.

“The anus is the opening where the gastrointestinal tract ends and exits the body. The anus starts at the bottom of the rectum. Tough tissue called fascia surrounds the anus and attaches it to nearby structures. Circular muscles called the external sphincter ani form the wall of the anus and hold it closed. It is quite strong so we can hold our stools for a while even when we felt the inclination to release them.”

Ganghyuk made a fist and tried to put his finger into the hole of the fist.

Of course, it did not go in, some of the audience nodded in response.

Makbong showed an obscene smile.

‘Is he crazy?’

He seemed to think about some other thing.

Ganghyuk looked at Heo Im who sat beside Heo Jun.

Two of them stared at Ganghyuk without moving, trying not to miss anything he would teach.

“We did not treat such an important organ properly.”

More specifically, all of them, except Ganghyuk and his fellows…

Dolseok and the others had already practiced washing with water and sitz bath.

Even the Flail and other bandits learned how to treat their anus, and they did not use hays or straws to wipe it out.

‘They all followed my instructions well. I asked them if they wanted to have another operation, and they voluntarily followed.’

They knew the pain of being operated and learned how to keep it healthy.

Ganghyuk showed the materials he brought.

“For example, you wipe it out with straws or these leaves.”

Heo Im raised his hand. When Ganghyuk nodded, he opened his mouth.

“Sir, is that wrong?”

“Eum. That is a good question. Stand up.”

“Yes, sir.”

Heo Im stood up according to Ganghyuk’s command.

“You may use it for wiping it out.”

“Yes, sir.”

All the people used such materials at that time.

Heo Im was no exception.

“Have you had blood or pain?”

“Ah…I have. Sir.”

“Many times, right?”

Heo Im hesitated but he nodded his head soon.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. That is not natural, right?”

“Eum”

“When we have blood from other places, we make a fuss, but why do we ignore the blood when it comes out of anus? It is a very important organ that allows us to discharge bodily waste.”

Ganghyuk told him to sit down and gave him the book Yeoju painted.

“The things in the book are the results of such behaviors.”

Heo Im blinked his eyes looking at the various disease that could occur in the anus.

There were pictures of hemorrhoids, fistulas, and fissures.

The final page was Ryu Seongyong’s anus which had the terminal hemorrhoids.

Heo Im who had seen many terrible wounds as an acupuncture therapist moaned.

“Heo…”

“Why are you moaning. I would like to see it too.”

The people who were in the back row wanted to see it, too, and there was a fuss.

Ganghyuk shook his hands to stop those passionate students.

“I will give enough time for you to see. For now, we will have to pause.”

With the remark of Ganghyuk, Heo Jun came to him.

He was deeply moved by the lesson.

He learned the function of the blood vessel, neuron distribution, and the structure of muscles in his first class.

He was surprised at the depth and width of Ganghyuk’s knowledge of the human body.

“Your knowledge is as deep and wide as the ocean.”

“You are exaggerating.”

“No, no. I have not thought that there were so many muscles and blood vessels in the anus. If we can distribute this method widely, more people can be saved.”

Heo Jun felt sorry for the patients who could not benefit from this operational method.

He was looking at people’s bottoms as if he tried to find a prospective patient.

It seemed he would have his first operation soon.

If he wanted to do an operation by himself, Ganghyuk wanted him to perform it with utmost perfection.

‘We can make some tools, too.’

Ganghyuk did not want to do the operation alone.

Dolseok and Yeoni could do the operation with good apparatus.

He did not have the means to make the tools.

‘I am in Hanyang now and it is the palace though.’

There was a saying that people should go to Hanyang and horses should go to Jeju.

As the king was in Hanyang, all the talents in Joseon gathered in Hanyang.

Thus, the best blacksmiths in Joseon are in Hanyang.

“Take a look at the book and let’s make tools for the operation.”

“Ah! The things you carry in your bag.”

Heo Jun exclaimed pointing the home visit bag.

His face was filled with wonder and gratitude. It was because of the closed environment in Joseon.

In the 16th century, people in Joseon did not share their skills.

The only thing they shared was Confucianism.

They thought sharing skills would mean giving up his trade.

If we look up old books, we could see how strict they were in skill sharing.

There was a story of a blacksmith who could coat colors on silver to make it look gold.

The government office wanted to know the secret and tortured him to death, but he did not release his secret.

In this era, Ganghyuk shared his skills and said he would make tools for others.

To Heo Jun, Ganghyuk was a saint.

“Wow, you made a difficult decision”

“No. Not at all.”

It was nothing special for Ganghyuk.

The tools in the bag were products of average quality.

The home visit bag included some tools normally unexpected in the home visit bag, but that was its strength. They were a bit better than a normal home visit bag.

‘Even if they have the same tools, they cannot do the operation like me.’

He could have the skills after receiving systematic education. He studied medicine for six years. He worked as an intern for a year and as a resident doctor for four years. After that, he finished a year of fellowship. They called fellowship slavery. It was true, he worked like a slave during the fellowship.

Not all people who finished those training could do the operation like Ganghyuk.

Ganghyuk had talent and made incomparable efforts to be a peerless doctor.

“Can you find someone who can make these tools? I think we need the best blacksmith to make it.”

“Yes. There are many smiths in the palace. I know some chief smiths. I will call them if you give me a few days.”

It seemed blacksmiths have a hierarchy too.

Heo Jun mentioned chief smiths.

‘Chief smiths! They might be better than ordinary smiths then.”

Ganghyuk nodded his head with a satisfied smile.

“I see. They might have some questions.”

Ganghyuk found some of them raising their hands, while they were conversing.

Heo Im was one of them, and his eyes were simmering like stars.

Ganghyuk could read his passion from within his eyes.

‘It is enjoyable.’

In his time, Ganghyuk liked teaching too.

It was partly because he could show off his skills in the class.

However, it was also true that he liked the act of teaching itself.

“What do you want to know.”

Heo Im hesitated to talk.

He behaved like a girl who met her idol star.

Ganghyuk liked his attitude.

The first impression was always important.

When the first button was in the right place, it might go well for the last button.

‘Yes, students must respect his professor.’

Ganghyuk looked around his fellows.

They were not moved by his lecture.

They have practiced hemorrhoids operation too many times so everything was familiar to them.

Ganghyuk did not like their apathetic attitude.

“Eok”

He hit the head of Dolseok, and he looked back without knowing the reason.

“Why are you hitting me?”

Ganghyuk felt a little sorry for him.

He hit Dolseok without a special reason.

However, Ganghyuk was a clever man and he could find a good excuse.

“Go around and teach them. You have had many operations with me. Tell them your experience.”

“Ah…Yes, sir.”

As Dolseok accepted his excuse without a complain, he felt sorry for Dolseok some more.

‘I will give some fried chicken to him later.’

Ganghyuk thought while watching Dolseok telling his experience to other students with Yeoni, Yeoju, and Makbong.

Heo Im who overcame his hesitation finally asked.

“Sir…It is the place for stool.”

“Yes.”

“I would like to ask about the quality of the stool. I think if the stool is soft, it will not damage the anus too much. How can we make the stool soft?”

“Heo.”

His question exceeded his expectation.

It is a very important issue actually.

Eating and toileting were the most important things in nursing.

When a new patient was admitted, nurses always told the patients to take care of their diet.

“Is my thought wrong?”

When Ganghyuk’s face was changed, Heo Im asked with worries.

He did not have any intention to offend him.

He was afraid if he trod on his teacher’s shadow.

“No, no.”

Ganghyuk shook his head.

He gathered all the people who were in the room.

“Come here. Heo Im asked a very important question.”

“Yes, sir.”

They did not know why he called them, but they all gathered in front of Ganghyuk without a second thought.

Ganghyuk waited till everyone including Heo Jun gathered in front.

“The stool is the aggregation of the food waste, secretion, and germs to digest food. It is changed according to what we eat.”

“If we eat white rice, the stool hardens. Because it does not leave much waste, and so germs cannot eat it much. Therefore…”

Ganghyuk was trying to explain the importance of dietary fiber.

While they were all absorbed in the class, a group of people approached the room.

One of them was walking with an out-toed gait. To have such a gait in the palace meant he must be a member of the palace’s royal family.

He pointed to the building where Ganghyuk explained dietary fiber.

“Isn’t that the Naeeuiwon?”

“Yes, your highness.”

“I heard Kim Kyehan was injured. Is it critical?”

“As far as I know, he is recovering.”

“Then, is there any other patient?”

“I will see, your highness.”

The man shook his head.

“No. I will go and see. Just guide me.”

“Yes, your highness.”