I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 975 Medical Revolution and Medical Industry

Perna lowered her head nervously and whispered, "Your Highness, this is all my fault... I have neglected the mask factory recently, which resulted in the syringe being tested only within the Military Medical University."

Actually, it’s not her fault. Ever since the war between France and the anti-French alliance began, she had been busy setting up professional field hospitals on the front lines, and even forgot that she was also in charge of a mask factory.

After all, she was just a 20-year-old girl. Although she accepted modern medical theories quickly, she was not good at management.

Joseph briefly asked about the situation and nodded, "In the future, there will be more and more things to do in compiling the Manual and at the Military Medical University. I will find someone else to take charge of the mask factory."

Perna was visibly relieved, and then briefly explained to Kvisat what the syringe was.

Kvisat’s eyes suddenly lit up: “This is a great invention!
"In the future, bloodletting... well, I mean, in the future, we can inject drugs into patients more effectively. This kind of equipment should be promoted throughout the country immediately."

Although the French medical community had begun to gradually abandon bloodletting therapy under the influence of Perna's paper, as an old doctor, Corvisat's first habit was to draw blood with a syringe without leaving wounds.

Then he remembered that the first signatory of Dr. Perna's paper on "bloodletting is not helpful in treating diseases" was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so he quickly changed his words.

Joseph nodded. "That's true, but not all drugs can be injected, especially herbal medicines. We need to conduct a lot of animal and human experiments to know which drugs can be injected and which can't."

Perna whispered, "Mr. Kvisat, the price of the syringe is very expensive. I'm afraid it will be difficult to promote it on a large scale."

The director of the Medical and Health Bureau hurriedly asked, "How much does it cost?"

"The syringe is 63 francs, and the needle is 28 francs each."

Corvisat smacked his lips. 91 francs a piece was indeed expensive. But he still insisted, "I believe that doctors will definitely save money to buy one."

Joseph had seen the syringe production process when he treated Camelia last time, but he didn't expect the price to be so high.

But it makes sense, this thing is made of brass and silver, the materials are not cheap. Plus it is all handmade, the craftsman is a jewellery maker, the cost must be close to the jewellery.

He looked at Perna: "Perhaps, we can try to make the syringe out of glass and the needle out of iron. This should reduce the price a lot."

The latter stared blankly with his eyes wide open, obviously having no idea what was going on.

Joseph exhaled: “It seems that we need a professional medical equipment factory.

“Well, let’s use the mask factory as a basis, let the Industrial Development Fund invest some money, and change it to ‘Paris Medical Devices Company’.

“Then we set up a research and development laboratory under the company to develop new equipment.

"In fact, it's not just syringes. There's a lot of room for improvement in things like scalpels, tooth extraction forceps, stethoscopes, bone saws, and the like."

Don’t underestimate these medical devices. If they can achieve technological leadership in Europe, their sales will be absolutely astonishing.

Just like the 91 franc syringe Perna mentioned earlier, this thing would cost at least 400 francs to sell to the British, and don't think it's too expensive and don't bargain.

The profits of the multinational medical device giants in later generations are easily hundreds of billions of dollars. At present, this industry is still a virgin land with great potential to be tapped.

Joseph was about to continue talking about establishing a medical device company when he heard Kvisat say, "Your Highness, what is this 'stethoscope' you just mentioned?" Joseph was slightly startled. Could it be that this thing has not been invented yet?
He asked the director, "It is a tool for listening to the patient's heart and lung conditions. One side is worn on the ear, and the other side is placed on the patient's chest."

Kvisat and Perna opened their eyes wide and shook their heads like children who heard a new story.

Joseph exhaled again.

It seems that a plan for the systematic development of French medicine is needed.

For example, a medical device company must be established as quickly as possible, and then the developer must explain all the various medical devices of the future to the R&D personnel and let them gradually implement them.

There are also pharmaceutical factories. Currently, there is only one pharmaceutical factory in Paris that produces "the blessing of the crown prince" - salicin.

At first, Joseph asked Lamarck to help build this pharmaceutical factory just to benefit the citizens of Paris, so he kept the profit margin of the drugs very low.

But even so, the factory's net profit last year was as high as 35 francs!
Well, most of the revenue comes from abroad. For example, the price of "The Crown Prince's Blessing" in Germany is 1 franc per two pieces. The cost of each piece is only 0.8 denier, which is 0.008 francs, and the profit is as high as 6150%!

Since France still sells two 5-denier tablets, drug smuggling is rampant at the French border.

The UK started imitating salicin two years ago, but due to the lack of purification technology, its efficacy was never as good as the French product.

If more types of medicines were put into production, it would immediately become a huge growth point for France's finances.

Joseph gathered his thoughts and first gave the two people in front of him a brief explanation of the structure of the stethoscope.

As the founder of the "percussion method", Kovisat's face was flushed with excitement. This tool is exactly what the percussion method needs. It is much more accurate than tapping the patient's chest with your hands and judging the condition by listening to the echo!

He immediately nodded vigorously and said, "This instrument, oh, the stethoscope, must be put into production as soon as possible. I swear, doctors all over the world are looking forward to it!"

Joseph signaled him to calm down, and then ordered: "First, the Medical and Health Bureau needs to set up a preparatory committee.

"We have a lot to do in terms of medical devices and medicines, not just syringes and stethoscopes. This requires a special committee to arrange and promote it."

Kvisat had already taken out his notebook and quickly wrote down the Crown Prince's instructions.

Joseph continued, “Secondly, the Medical and Health Bureau must set up a ‘drug standard laboratory’ as soon as possible to conduct double-blind experiments on all existing major drugs.

"Of course, your most urgent task at present is to compile the 'Operation Manual for Prospective Doctors', but the therapeutic drugs listed in it must be conservative. It is better not to recommend drugs than to write drugs that you are not sure of.

“After the double-blind experiment is completed, the drugs that are proven to be effective will be added to the second edition of the Manual.”

Perna nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

Although her paper on the double-blind experiment caused quite a stir, it has actually never been used in medical practice. Now it can finally play the role it should have!

Kvisat, who was standing by, said with a bitter face: "Your Highness, if we follow your request, I'm afraid there will be nothing left to write in the Manual..."

(End of this chapter)