Crusade against the Pope

Chapter 203: Studying Medicine Can Save People
On the table was a book with yellowed pages and its cover had fallen off, leaving only the thick leather-wrapped back of the book, on which the Greek title "Αποκλυψι" could be vaguely seen.

Flipping open the thin parchment pages, the dense handwriting on them is all handwritten, and the ink has become a little dark. The edges of the pages are slightly curled, which shows that this book has gone through a hundred years of wind and rain and carries the weight of history.

This is the last book of the Christian New Testament and tells of end-time apocalypses and symbolic visions.

[When the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals, I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, 'Come!' I looked and saw a white horse, and he sat on it with a bow and a crown. He conquers and will conquer again.]

—Revelation 6:1-2
The content recorded in this Book of Revelation is quite different from that of later generations, but the interpretation of the four horsemen is very similar.

……

While Isabella was dealing with the old princes and nobles of Jerusalem, Gyris was in Cyprus, fulfilling the promise he had made to Antony.

Island nations lack room for maneuver, not only for insurgents and revolutionaries, but also for tyrants and oppressors.

After Isaac's death, the island of Cyprus was liberated.

It seems that we are returning to a life of a small country with few people, laissez-faire, and "paradise".

This situation was naturally unacceptable to Garys.

The reason he came here was not simply to overthrow Isaac.

Guéris wants to reshape the island's society and make it the pearl of the eastern Mediterranean.

The church, which is spread all over the island and has a huge influence, has become Gellis's big hand, helping him change the island's political structure and lifestyle according to his will.

Garys wants to spread his knowledge of curing diseases and saving lives.

He wants to heal people, no matter if it is a spiritual illness or a physical suffering, Garys will heal them!

Anthony, now Archbishop of Cyprus, looked at the scene with doubt.

It was noon now, and the March sunshine was already somewhat warm when it shone on people.

On a farm outside the port city of Limassol, Gellis, who had performed miracles before, was showing him another miracle.

The Holy One of Jerusalem declared that he would eradicate smallpox before he eradicated leprosy.

smallpox?

There are indeed no verses related to smallpox in the Bible, but Anthony knows that everything in this world is the will of Jehovah. But Garys said that he could eradicate smallpox?

I will send pestilence into the land and pour out my wrath and blood on it, to cut off from it man and beast.

—Ezekiel 14:19
However, when Anthony expressed doubts a week ago, Gaillis responded with words from the Bible.

At that time, it was not on the farm, but in the cathedral in Paphos. The sunlight shone through the colored glass onto the statue of Christ, making it shine brightly.

Gailis uttered a phrase that Anthony was familiar with:
"If you diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in my eyes and give ear to my commandments and keep all my statutes, then I will not put on you any of the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord your healer."

When he said this, in Anthony's eyes, it was as if Christ behind him also agreed.

This is what Moses said to the Israelites after they left Egypt.

This passage expressed God's promise to the Israelites, promising that if they would obey His words and laws, they would be free from the diseases that the Egyptians suffered from.

This is not only a guarantee of physical health, but also a call for the Israelites' faith and loyalty.

In Gillis's case, although the words remain unchanged, the meaning of the words is different.

[Listen carefully to my commandments and keep all my statutes]

Garys' words contain awe and understanding of the world.

Wash your hands, drink cold water, stay away from rats and mosquitoes, don't eat rotten food, don't eat any raw meat...

Only two tablets of Moses have survived, and the commandments and laws of Gelis are little more than a booklet.

It details what we should pay attention to in life and briefly explains the principles.

For example, the explanation for not eating any raw meat is: there are worms in raw meat, and worms have eggs. Some eggs are visible to the human eye, while some are invisible. Those eggs can easily hatch into worms in the human body, eating human flesh and blood and breaking through the intestines and stomach.

Many people did not believe what Gillis said, but he did indeed catch worms from livestock and fish, and showed the worm eggs, which were so tiny that they could be easily overlooked by the human eye, to others.

Cyprus has a unique advantage.

Cyprus has a long history of glass manufacturing since the Phoenicians pioneered glass crafting in the eastern Mediterranean in 1500 BC.

By the 1st century AD, Roman craftsmen had discovered how to use manganese to bleach glass, creating "burning glass" that was strong enough to focus fire.

In the 10th century AD, Islamic scholars further developed optical knowledge, especially Ibn al-Haytham, who described the optical principles of lenses in his Book of Opticks and explained the phenomena of refraction and reflection of light.

So, under Gary's hands, a primitive "microscope" with 50 times the magnification was born.

With this level of magnification, it is difficult to see even the arrangement of plant cells, let alone bacteria. But it is enough to allow people to see the full picture of some tiny parasites and realize that there are still rich organisms at a level that is beyond the reach of the human eye.

Garys handed Anthony and the glassmakers a key to the microscopic world.

To this day, Anthony can still recall the awe he felt when he saw the full picture of the parasite.

That was what Garys found in pig feces. After being dyed, it could be seen a little more clearly. Although the more detailed appearance could not be seen, it was indeed a living creature!
According to Gillis, this parasite is one of the causes of dysentery in humans.

Therefore, any feces must be properly handled, especially pig feces, so as not to pollute water sources.

When eating meat, you must cook it carefully.

As for some other slightly larger insects, Anthony could clearly see their terrifying mouthparts, suction cups, claws, etc.

Anthony was frightened at the thought of those terrifying creatures with bared fangs and claws, and when he looked at Garys, he couldn't help but feel more awe.

Since there are parasites in the world that are difficult to see with the naked eye, it seems that the even smaller "elves" mentioned by Gellis may really exist.

It won’t be long before the door to the microscopic world is completely opened in the hands of those glass craftsmen.

Based on the concept of "tiny elves", Garys explained to Anthony what bacteria, viruses and immunity are.

When Gillis mentioned immunity, he used another phrase from the Bible: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you?

It seems that everything was predicted in advance.

Those ancient prophets and apostles heard Jehovah’s teachings, but found it difficult to understand Jehovah’s original intention.

Until today, until the Holy Word walks the earth again, until Garys reinterprets the Bible word by word.

Only then did the ignorant people of the world realize how close they were to the truth of the world.

However, due to ignorance and delusion, it is difficult to recognize the true face of the treasure mountain.

However, even so, Anthony was still a little worried.

After all, Garys, this is to use the concentrated liquid from the cow and apply it directly on the human wound!

Anthony finished the memories in his mind and focused back on the present.

The midday sun seemed to illuminate everything on the farm.

A farmer brought a cow, and the cow seemed to have some pox on its body.

Andre, a fierce general of the Cyprus Liberation Front, was sitting on a bench at this moment.

Garys stood beside him and ordered Andre to take off his clothes from his right arm and disinfect the area with alcohol.

In this situation, not only Anthony was worried, even Andrew, who was vaccinated, felt a little uneasy.

"People get smallpox, and cows get cowpox. The 'little elves' of the two are similar, but cowpox is not smallpox after all, and it does not cause much harm to humans."

"When the part of the Holy Spirit that resides in you sees the cowpox, through its battle with the cowpox spirit, He also realizes the harm of smallpox."

"In your later life, when tiny spirits of smallpox invade your body, the part of the Holy Spirit that protects you will kill them before they can cause any harm."

After hearing this, Andre's complexion only improved slightly.

Garys used alcohol cotton to carefully disinfect Andre's right upper arm.

Then use a sterilized lancet to gently make a small cross-shaped cut on the skin surface at that location.

Then he applied the cowpox paste taken from a nearby cow onto the cut skin.

"You may experience redness, swelling, warmth, and even mild discomfort at the site of the cut over the next few days. Usually, a small blister will form at the site, which will eventually turn into a scab."

Having said this, Garys and the Paladins behind him showed Andre the marks left by the vaccination, indicating that those symptoms were normal and not to worry.

As early as in Transjordan, Gailis had already carried out a vaccination campaign, and the targets of the vaccination were more than a thousand expeditionary forces, including Isabella.

"Once this drill battle in your body is over, you will be safe from smallpox for the rest of your life."

Having said this, Gellis disinfected the lancet and called the next person to come over for vaccination.

Today, Garys is no longer as poor as he was before.

A variety of carefully crafted medical devices, some simple medicines, and the birth of distilled alcohol gave him the confidence to cure many diseases.

The sunlight shone on Garys's golden hair, making it shine as if it was coated with a layer of golden halo.

Seeing this scene, Anthony could not help but make the sign of the cross on his chest and chant the holy name.

If it is said that the Heavenly Brother Jesus can heal the ailments of mortals simply by touch, this is demonstrating the Lord’s authority.

Then, the existence of Garys and the way Garys heals diseases are manifestations of the wisdom of the Lord. This wisdom is selfless and boundless, and is imparted to the world through Garys' selfless "love".

This kind of "love" is the underlying color of a true prophet.

It can be said that Gelis was a Jerusalemite, not an Athenian.

There was no place for slaves in the Athenian paradise, but in the Jerusalem paradise there was a banquet for beggars and the poor.

The Athenian philosophers regarded slaves as talking property, while Gelis regarded the poor and the suffering as his brothers.

This empathy for suffering is the distinguishing mark of prophets and saints.

Anthony could not help but recite the new creed.

"…I believe that the holy body has witnessed the torrent of history, witnessed the rise and fall of empires, and the fall of kingdoms. Now, this holy body has returned to the world, reincarnated as a sufferer through the Holy Spirit, bringing new revelations."

“I believe in the Child of God, the Risen Brother, who was born again from the dead and who walks the world with the power of the Holy Spirit, proclaiming the new Gospel…”

……

In April 1188, the County of Tripoli was established under the rule of Botlenk.

An old woman was lying on a recliner in front of Gellis.

Garys looked at the old woman's kind face and hesitated. He didn't know whether he should go for treatment.

Gellis did not stay on the island of Cyprus for too long until he was sure that the situation in Cyprus had been settled.

After being able to establish a parliamentary system covering the entire island by imitating the model of the Transjordan territory under the advice of his subordinates Paladin and Archos.

He left the island and went to the nearby County of Tripoli.

In fact, he didn't need to interfere too much in the affairs of Cyprus. Isaac had already massacred the nobles on the island in the "Senate" before.

The remaining nobility or landlord class were simply unable to resist the unified Cypriot Church.

Today, Anthony has been promoted to Archbishop of Cyprus, and Archios has also taken over a diocese.

As one of the drafters of Geris' theology, Archos has a deep understanding of Geris's thoughts. His theoretical level is sufficient to stand out in this era.

Therefore, Gairis took the opportunity to become a hands-off boss and rushed to the County of Tripoli to carry out his missionary work.

Now, Garys has recorded his missionary experience.

Garys's pre-missionary research also identified his own advantages and developed the expertise of various religious predecessors since ancient times - practicing medicine.

Garys's practice of medicine is not random; it is a well-trained one. It is a semi-profession he had done in his previous life and a skill he learned at Bethune College.

This is called being unethical and well prepared! Using the medical knowledge of later generations, they cheated and attacked at this juncture in the 12th century!

Coupled with Gary's extraordinary body control and reaction speed, there is basically no surgical operation that the ancients could perform that Gary cannot do.

Of course, whether or not a person can be cured is another matter.

After several weeks of practicing medicine at a low cost, Gairis's reputation became known in the Botlen County of Tripoli.

So much so that some people with truly difficult and complicated illnesses would seek help from Garys in the hope that he could help treat their illnesses.

The old woman lying in front of Gailis was called Fatima and was about sixty years old.

Her long hair had been dyed silver-white by the years, and was draped over her shoulders in a thick and disheveled manner. Her face was covered with traces of time, and the deep wrinkles told the story of her life.

"Grandma, are you sure?"

"I've already told you about this method. Although it is theoretically feasible, the risks are still too great."

After asking these two questions, the old Arab woman nodded. Compared with the potential risks of surgery, she was now willing to give it a try for the possibility of seeing the world clearly again.

When Garys had been examined earlier, it was discovered that her lens was cloudy and she was diagnosed with cataracts.

This eye disease was not without treatment in the Middle Ages.

Acupuncture is an ancient ophthalmic surgery that can be used to treat cataracts in the hands of Arab doctors.

In this procedure, your doctor uses a thin metal needle to penetrate the cornea and gently push the cloudy lens to the back of the eye to clear the part that obscures your vision.

To be honest, Garys believes that the risks and benefits of this surgery are not proportional.

Because even if it succeeds, it is almost impossible to restore the vision to the level of a normal person.

Older patients or those in poor health are also less likely to recover after surgery.

However, if it fails, the patient's life may be lost due to various complications.

But since the old lady begged so much, Gailis could do nothing.

He called out to Paladin beside him and asked Alexandros to help him get the surgical equipment and prepare to start the first eye surgery in his life.

To be honest, this type of surgery is not an experience gained in later generations, but something I learned from Dr. Abdullah after arriving in Transjordan.

Alexandros brought the treatment equipment prepared by Gellis, including the needles, the frame to fix the head and eyelids, and ether in a glass bottle.

Ether, also known as diethyl ether, was widely used as an anesthetic in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Knowing how ether was prepared was nothing to Gellis.

Of the chemical anesthetics known to Gillis, ether was the easiest to prepare.

After all, all you need to make ether is ethanol and sulfuric acid.

Ethanol is alcohol. As for sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide can be obtained by burning sulfur, and then sulfur trioxide can be obtained by using a catalyst, and then sulfuric acid is generated under the action of water.

Using ether to perform local anesthesia on the eyeball is a very risky thing, but since Fatima is willing to accept it, Gailis agrees.

"Turn over, head down, and remember not to move easily. Everything that follows is very dangerous."

Gellis dropped ether on a cotton ball and then gently placed the cotton ball close to the eye, allowing the ether gas to evaporate around the eye, avoiding direct contact with the eyeball.

This set of operating methods, if thrown into later generations, would be enough to get your medical license revoked, but who can blame the glorious 12th century?

As time passed, Gailis asked softly, "How is it? Do you feel anything?"

“A little bit.”

Gellis nodded, then dipped in some more ether and continued to fumigate for a while.

When the time was almost up, Garys immediately started his operations.

This type of local anesthesia lasts for a very short time, and it is difficult for Garys to say how effective it is, so we must hurry.

Just as the operation was about to begin, someone suddenly kicked the door open and shouted arrogantly into the room:

"Gallis! Your illegal practice of medicine has been exposed! Come with us now!"

"If you don't know what's good for you, don't blame us for being rude!"

When the guards finished shouting and found Garys next to the operating table and looked at him, they saw a hint of anger on Garys' face and his whole body began to turn red.

Just now! It was almost like that! If Garys had been frightened like this when he was inserting the needle into the old woman's eye, the operation would have definitely gone wrong!
Gailis didn't even bother to comfort old lady Fatima. He put down the surgical instruments in his hand and walked up to the two guards who broke in.

He clenched his fists tightly and looked down at the two men.

When these two guards first broke in, they were careless and didn't take Garys seriously.

But when Gellis stood up and revealed his 1.80-meter height, they found themselves shorter than him.

Then Garys' broad chest and strong pectoral muscles did not seem like the thin doctor that was originally imagined.

Even Garys's upper arm muscles, which were tense because of his clenched fists, gradually began to appear too thick, perhaps thicker than both of their necks.

After this punch, I'm afraid both of them will need to see a doctor.

One of the guards, upon noticing all this, swallowed and changed his tone.

"Um...are you Dr. Gillis?"

"Yes, I am. What can I do for you?"

"You are practicing medicine illegally. The Lord's Court has asked us to arrest you. Come with us now!"

The guard's tone had become relatively softer, at least no longer arrogant.

But even so, Gailis still stretched out his two hands, grabbed the collars of the two men on the left and right, and lifted them up by their feet off the ground.

Two people weighing 250 pounds in total are no burden to Garys!

"Can you say that again?"

"It's just... someone reported you for practicing medicine illegally, so the Lord's Court wanted to invite you to come over and clarify the matter."

With his feet off the ground and trying to break free to no avail, the guard even used honorifics!

　I actually went to Bethune College before, alas...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)