The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 342 Searching for Cowpox
Smallpox, since its discovery, has been a sword of Damocles hanging over humanity.

Whether in the East or the West, people turn pale at the mere mention of it.

In ancient times, smallpox was one of the deadliest infectious diseases. Once it broke out, it often left nine out of ten houses empty and the land devastated.

During the turbulent years at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the shadow of smallpox was ever-present.

In the Ming Dynasty, smallpox was also known as "pox" or "rat's sores." It not only ravaged the common people but also ruthlessly devoured the ruling class.

Needless to say, smallpox outbreaks occurred in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, and even Beizhili.
Meanwhile, the Qing court outside the Great Wall was terrified of smallpox. Dodo, Yuetuo, Saharin, and others all died suddenly from smallpox.

Ligdan Khan, the last Great Khan of the Mongols, also died directly from smallpox.

Smallpox does not discriminate based on social status or political affiliation; it simply and equally reaps the lives of everyone.

Therefore, for the Han army, which aspired to conquer the world, preventing smallpox became a top priority.

Of course, smallpox is not the only plague; the key is to establish an effective epidemic prevention system.

The renowned doctors present were no strangers to the smallpox inoculation method that Jiang Han had mentioned.

Judge Zhang Jiyuan explained in detail:

"Your Majesty, I see."

"This condition of smallpox can indeed be divided into favorable and unfavorable smallpox."

The so-called "normal acne" and "malignant acne" are actually two clinical manifestations of smallpox, namely, smallpox and largepox.

Smallpox has mild symptoms and a low mortality rate, while largepox usually has severe symptoms and an extremely high mortality rate.

The key to smallpox vaccination lies in the smallpox vaccine, which is divided into two different types: seasonal vaccine and seed vaccine.

“The ‘Shi Miao’ is taken from the fresh scabs of patients with epidemic smallpox. It is highly toxic, and those who are inoculated are easily harmed, posing a great risk.”

“Seedlings are different.”

"You need to select acne scabs from those who have had acne successfully healed, grind them into powder, and use them for later use."

"When using, soak a clean cotton ball in the solution and insert it into the nose to induce pimples."

Zhang Jiyuan spoke eloquently, further elaborating on the method of storage:

"After selecting the smallpox vaccine, it needs to be wrapped in paper, placed in a bamboo tube, and marked with the date."

"It can be stored for thirty or forty days in the cold winter and about fifteen days in the hot summer."

"The longer it is stored, the weaker its efficacy becomes, and the less likely it is to cause acne."

"It is especially important to remember that expired vaccines should not be used, and only healthy individuals should be vaccinated."

The key to this method lies in the selection of smallpox vaccines, and the "mature vaccine method" is the safest method.

"I suggest that we first select ten doses of high-quality smallpox vaccine, inoculate ten people, and then select the scabs from those who have successfully developed smallpox."

"Then they were made into new seedlings and inoculated on 100 people; then those with lower virulence were selected and inoculated on another 1,000 people..."

"With such a process of selection, the virulence of the subsequent vaccinia vaccines will gradually decrease. Even if it takes a little longer, the recipients are more likely to survive."

Jiang Han nodded in agreement. The method of preparing seedlings that Zhang Jiyuan mentioned was the most advanced epidemic prevention technology of this era.

Essentially, it involves screening out strains with reduced toxicity but preserved immunogenicity through continuous multi-generation culture.

This also coincides with the preparation principle of modern live attenuated vaccines.

In clinical medicine alone, the development of Eastern medicine is far ahead of that of the West.

While Europeans were still foolishly believing in bloodletting therapy, doctors in the Ming Dynasty had already grasped the basics of modern vaccine preparation technology.

In fact, before the advent of cowpox in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Chinese technique of variolation had already spread to the world through various channels.

Japan, North Korea, Russia, Türkiye, and later Europe all directly or indirectly adopted this method, saving countless lives.

Voltaire, the French Enlightenment thinker, highly praised variolation in his Philosophical Letters, calling it "a great precedent and example of the most intelligent and polite people in the world."

When British physician Jenner invented smallpox vaccination, he explicitly admitted that his inspiration came from the Chinese concept of "fighting poison with poison" in smallpox vaccination.

The World Health Organization has also specifically pointed out that the ancient Chinese method of variolation played an indispensable role in eradicating smallpox.

It can be said that in the long journey of mankind to fight against smallpox, China's variolation technique is an indispensable milestone.

However, despite variolation being the most advanced disease prevention technology of the time, two to five percent of those vaccinated would still die due to a rebound in the virulence of the vaccine.

Ultimately, the original smallpox virus was simply too virulent.

Therefore, later generations invented the cowpox vaccination method, which fundamentally severed the direct link with the deadly smallpox virus.

Compared to smallpox virus, cowpox virus is almost harmless to humans. After vaccination, only one or two small pustules will appear locally, and the mortality rate is close to zero.

In addition to its advantages of mild side effects and wide applicability, the cowpox vaccination method quickly replaced the human variolation method and became the key to humanity's final victory over smallpox.

Jiang Han's first task for these imperial physicians was to thoroughly research the smallpox vaccination method and promote its application.

He plans to open a new department in the court specifically responsible for public health and medical affairs.

He hasn't decided on a name or structure yet, but he'll just refer to the National Health Commission and Health Bureau of later generations.

The smallpox vaccination method could serve as the first shot in making a name for this new department.

"Cowpox?"

The imperial physicians present were stunned upon hearing Jiang Han's idea.

In their view, the continuously improved variolation technique was quite mature and safe.

Cowpox, as the name suggests, should originate from cattle, right? What's the logic behind this, using animals to prevent human infection?

Using animal parts for human use sounds utterly absurd and goes against the established beliefs of these imperial physicians.

A murmur of discussion immediately arose in the hall, with everyone talking at once, wanting to get an explanation from Jiang Han.

Although they had just been amazed by the microscope, when it came to specific medical techniques, especially those involving human lives, they had to be extremely cautious.

Jiang Han didn't know how to explain it for a moment. He couldn't very well say that a god had entered his dream to impart knowledge and skills, could he?
After much thought, he could only claim that he had seen it on the grasslands when he went beyond the Great Wall in his early years.

However, this ambiguous answer alone was clearly not enough to convince these experienced imperial physicians.

The last great Khan of the Golden Family, Ligdan Khan, died of smallpox, didn't he?

If he really had such a secret technique, why didn't he use it beforehand?

Jiang Han was at his wit's end by the questions. He could only say that this technique was not widely known and was mostly practiced among the milkmaids at the bottom of society. The nobles disdained to do it, so very few people knew about it.

Hearing this, everyone nodded with some skepticism.

Jiang Han, fearing he would be exposed, quickly changed the subject:
"Believe me, smallpox vaccination is superior."

"Suitable for all ages, with very few contraindications, far fewer side effects than smallpox, and no need for long-term care..."

As they were talking, a young imperial physician couldn't help but interject and ask:
"Your Majesty, please forgive my intrusion."

"What kind of cattle do you mean by 'cowpox'?"

Jiang Han answered without hesitation:

"Of course, it's the cow. Didn't I say they're the slaves who milk them..."

But before he could finish speaking, he suddenly froze.

Something doesn't seem right. Where am I supposed to find cows?!
It's worth noting that cowpox was first discovered in British pastoral areas in history.

In contrast, traditional Chinese agrarian society was dominated by agriculture, and dairy farming was not widespread.

Yellow cattle and water buffalo are mainly used for plowing fields, and I've never heard of anyone using them specifically for milking.

Without being able to find cows infected with cowpox, he couldn't even obtain the original strain, let alone carry out large-scale vaccination.

Seeing the confused looks on everyone's faces, Jiang Han forced himself to calm down:
"No, no, I've misunderstood."

"Although cowpox was first discovered in dairy cows, it may not be found only in dairy cows."

“Other breeds of cattle may also be infected with cowpox, and it should not be difficult to find them if you look carefully.”

But just then, the young imperial physician who had just asked the question spoke again, delivering another blow to Jiang Han.

“Your Majesty, even if what you say is true, cowpox may exist in other breeds of cattle.”

"But there are still a few things that I don't understand."

"First of all, as you said, cowpox is as contagious as variolation."

“But cattle raising in the Central Plains is different from that in the northern and southern deserts. Most cattle are raised in a free-range manner, and usually only a few households have one cow.”

"So the question arises: where does this transmission originate? Where does it find a stable source of infection?"

"Furthermore, even if a cow has had cowpox, the virus is weak. What if the cow has already recovered on its own?"

"Furthermore, even if cowpox does exist, how can it be identified?"

"We have never seen cowpox before, so naturally we cannot recognize it. Does Your Majesty intend to set aside important military and political affairs and personally identify them one by one?"

He paused, then pressed on:

"Finally, how can Your Majesty be certain that what you have seen is indeed cowpox, and not a common disease in cattle?"

There's a saying that goes, "A small difference can lead to a huge error."

"Human life is at stake, Your Majesty must be extremely cautious!"

That question hit the nail on the head.

The discovery of cowpox in cows by Jenner in history was not accidental, but rather determined by the characteristics of the virus, livestock farming practices, and human activities.

As is well known, dairy farming is a relatively intensive method.

This environment is highly conducive to the spread of cowpox virus within the cattle herd.

In contrast, traditional Chinese cattle or water buffalo are mostly free-range, which greatly reduces the chance of virus transmission.

Secondly, dairy cows need to be milked twice a day.

During this process, milkmen have prolonged, extensive, and frequent contact with cows, which can lead to them contracting cowpox.

This is why cowpox has not been discovered in my country.

Free-range grazing prevents the large-scale spread of cowpox virus in cattle herds.

Without the high-frequency contact of milking, the probability of humans contracting cowpox from cattle is extremely low. Jiang Han looked at the meticulous young imperial physician and beckoned:

"What's your name?"

"Come forward and speak."

Everyone present tensed up upon hearing this. The young man had no sense of propriety; had he offended the king?
But the imperial physician was completely unfazed. He simply stepped forward, bowed, and replied:
"Your Majesty, I am Yang Jia, currently serving as a physician in the Imperial Medical Academy."

Jiang Han didn't make things difficult for him; instead, he nodded approvingly.
"Well thought out, that's good."

"How did you come up with the question just now?"

Yang Jia responded calmly:

"Your Majesty, treating the sick and saving lives is no different from other matters; it concerns life and death, and requires utmost caution."

"In ancient times, Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, encountering seventy poisons in a single day. This was through personal practice, observation, and recording of the medicinal properties."

"When Mr. Binhu compiled the Compendium of Materia Medica, he also extensively researched, clarified doubts and errors, and personally verified the information."

"My predecessors in medicine risked their lives to cure diseases and save lives in order to seek true knowledge."

"Therefore, I believe that any new method or prescription needs to be carefully observed and repeatedly verified."

"Only after understanding its principles and knowing its advantages and disadvantages can it be promoted throughout the world, so as not to fail the trust of the people."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han's eyes showed even greater appreciation:
"Not bad!"

"Yang Jia, right? You're quite interesting."

He patted Yang Jia on the shoulder and said seriously,

"It was I who was short-sighted."

"As you said, discovering cowpox is not easy; it requires finding someone who has long-term contact with cattle."

"Only when traces of infection are found in these individuals can it be confirmed that it is cowpox."

“If you look directly at the cow, it is not only difficult to find, but it is also easy to mix it with other diseases.”

"At present, it seems that the Ming Dynasty does indeed lack such conditions."

"Then let's just leave it at that, after all..."

Yang Jia was about to speak when Jiang Han raised his hand to stop him and continued:

"The most urgent task right now is to cast a wide net and find the exact diseased plant first."

"Otherwise, no matter how good the smallpox vaccination method is, it will just be empty talk."

"That's all for today. I will personally send a letter instructing local officials and garrisons to search carefully."

Jiang Han acted swiftly, sending out a series of official documents from the Prince of Han's residence to the three provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.

The command is also very simple:
When looking for cattle that are raised in herds and can produce milk, special attention should be paid to whether there is pox transmission in the herd;
Alternatively, one could directly seek out locals who have long-term contact with cattle and observe whether they develop symptoms such as blisters or pustules.

Although the order had been issued, Jiang Han was still a little apprehensive.

Although theoretically all cows can be infected with cowpox.

However, in China's traditional farming model, finding naturally infected cowpox is by no means easy.

Soon, officials and ordinary people from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces set out on a journey to find the cow that had contracted smallpox.

In Guizhou, after receiving the order, Shao Yong immediately mobilized officials, soldiers, and elders from various prefectures and counties to conduct a focused inspection of cattle in the local area.

The government officials went door-to-door to inquire, but most of the people were still confused.

Some officials reported all the sores and ringworm on the cattle as smallpox, and the various diseases they reported exhausted the local officials, but they got nowhere.

The turning point came from Yunnan.

After receiving the order, Li Zicheng, who was stationed in Kunming, did not blindly cast a wide net like Shao Yong.

After thinking for a long time, he decided to visit someone first—the Duke of Qian, Mu Tianbo.

The Mu family has guarded Yunnan for over two hundred years and knows the local customs and traditions like the back of their hand. It is the most reliable person to ask them about this matter.

Soon, he and his men knocked on the gate of the Duke of Qian's mansion.

Although Mu Tianbo has retained his status and mansion, he has long since lost his military and political power.

He almost completely cut off all contact with the outside world, staying indoors all day long, only knowing how to appreciate flowers and walk birds.

When Li Zicheng saw Mu Tianbo, he was even startled.

Nineteen is an age when one should be full of vigor and ambition, but Mu Tianbo looks old and lifeless.

Li Zicheng comforted him for a moment, then handed him Jiang Han's imperial edict, asking for his help.

Mu Tianbo took it, glanced at it briefly, and was quite surprised:

Looking for Niu?

"Aren't there cows everywhere in the countryside? Why make such a fuss?"

Li Zicheng then explained:

"The king has decreed that we are not looking for ordinary oxen, but rather for herds of cattle that are raised in large numbers or specifically used for milk production."

"It is said that the Imperial Medical Academy needs to prepare some kind of vaccine in order to prevent smallpox."

"Mass farming? A dairy-producing herd of cattle?"

Mu Tianbo murmured to himself, lost in thought.

Suddenly his eyes lit up, and he looked up and replied:
"I remembered!"

"There really are places like this in Yunnan!"

Li Zicheng quickly pressed for an answer:
"Where?"

"Dengchuan, Dali!"

Mu Tianbo affirmed.

“I remember it very clearly. The chieftain tribe of Dengchuan often presented a dairy product called ‘Rushan’ to the Duke’s mansion as tribute.”

"It is white in color like a fan, and tastes slightly sour. It is made from refined cow's milk."

"The chieftain of Dengchuan raised cattle to obtain milk, and his operation was quite large-scale."

The Dengchuan Tusi mentioned by Mu Tianbo is a Bai ethnic village located in Eryuan County, in northern Dali today.

Since the Han Dynasty, the local Bai people have raised a special breed of cattle called Dengchuan cattle.

Dengchuan cattle are also the only yellow cattle breed in China used for dairy production.

This type of cow is adapted to the dam area environment, has a long lactation period, and produces relatively high milk yield.

The Bai people have created a unique "milk fan" making technique by utilizing their breast milk.

The so-called "Rushan" is a dairy product made by fermenting, heating, stretching, and drying fresh milk. It is also a very distinctive local delicacy in Yunnan.

The book "Unofficial History of Nanzhao" compiled by the great scholar Yang Shen records that milk fan has the beautiful name of "crisp flowers and milk threads floating in the green cup".

Li Zicheng was overjoyed upon hearing this. He immediately wrote a letter and sent it by fast horse to Dali, ordering the garrison commanders Liu Ning and Yu Chengye to go to Dengchuan immediately to investigate the details.

Upon receiving the order, the two dared not delay. Yu Chengye personally led the team, traveling light and simply, straight to Dengchuan.

Upon entering the Dengchuan Basin, Yu Chengye immediately noticed the unusual nature of the place.

Just as Mu Tianbo had said, the local people here have a habit of raising cattle in large numbers, with almost every household raising four or five cows.

In some larger villages, hundreds of dairy cows are raised together, and the air is filled with the smell of cow dung and a faint milky odor.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Bai people were also known as Bo people or Bai people.

The local people were somewhat alarmed when they saw that a Han general was leading his troops.

To show his sincerity, Yu Chengye brought only a few guards into the village and found the local clan chief, Duan Rui.

The Bai people are considered "civilized barbarians" and have been deeply influenced by Han Chinese culture.

The clan chief, Duan Rui, was one of the best among them. He not only spoke fluent Southwestern Mandarin, but also passed the imperial examination and became a scholar.

After exchanging greetings, Yu Chengye politely explained his purpose:
"Chief Duan, I have brought troops here not to requisition grain or conscript men, so you can rest assured."

"By order of the King of Han, I have come here specifically to investigate a special bovine disease."

He inquired carefully,

"Chief Duan, along my journey, I have noticed that the people of your region have a habit of raising cattle in groups to obtain milk."

"May I ask, during your daily milking work, have any of your local men ever developed small blisters resembling pimples on their hands or arms?"

"Or have you seen similar lesions on cattle, especially near the humps?"

Duan Rui was taken aback. He never expected that this Han Chinese general had come all this way just to inquire about breasts.

He thought it over carefully and answered cautiously:

"The smallpox that the general mentioned has not been found on a large scale in our tribe."

"However, women who milk babies do occasionally develop small blisters on their hands."

“It doesn’t hurt or itch, and it will be fine in a few days. We just thought it was from working and never paid any attention to it.”

"Milk pudding... seems to have similar small rashes, but it's nothing serious."

Upon hearing this, Yu Chengye immediately straightened up.

Although he did not understand medical principles, the characteristics Duan Rui described, such as "blisters on the hands" and "healing on their own in a few days," were very similar to those described in the king's decree.

He suppressed his excitement and immediately pressed for an answer:

"Yes, yes, yes! It's very likely this!"

"Chief Duan, this matter is of great importance. Could you please gather the villagers who have these symptoms and guide us to check the cattle?"

"Once confirmed, my king will reward you handsomely!"

(End of this chapter)