< Episode 19: Germination... Carcinogenesis? (12) >
Sejong, who had rushed out of the Pyeonjeon (Hall of Private Audiences) upon hearing the report that "the Crown Prince has harmed himself!", encountered Hyang just as he turned the corner of the hall.
"Hm? Father? Where are you going in such haste?"
"Crown Prince!"
Upon seeing Hyang, Sejong rushed over and examined his body from head to toe.
"Father, why are you acting like this?"
"Phew~. You're not hurt anywhere."
After breathing a sigh of relief, Sejong glared at Sangseon who had hurriedly followed behind.
"What? The Crown Prince harmed himself?"
"I also just received the report..."
As both Sejong and the ministers glared at him, Sangseon turned his gaze to the internal official who had reported to him.
"Official Oh! What is the meaning of this!"
At Sangseon's rebuke, the problematic Official Oh glared at the official standing beside Hyang.
"Official Kang! You speak up! Wasn't it you who told me! I am innocent!"
At Official Oh's words, Sejong and the ministers all turned to glare at the official standing next to Hyang. Just at that moment, Queen Soheon's voice was heard.
"Your Majesty! What is the meaning of this! The Crown Prince harming himself!"
With the King, the Queen, and even the ministers all glaring at him, the face of the problematic Official Kang turned deathly pale.
"You wretch! Confess immediately why you spoke such words that should never have even crossed your mind!"
At Sejong's thunderous command, Official Kang prostrated himself on the ground and opened his mouth.
"Your Majesty! I have never spoken falsehoods!"
"Never spoken falsehoods?"
At Official Kang's words, Sejong looked at Hyang. As Sejong, the following ministers, and even the Queen all turned to look at him, Hyang wore an awkward expression and spoke.
"It seems Official Kang misunderstood the treatment I received."
"Treatment? Misunderstanding?"
Seeing Sejong's face clearly showing he understood nothing, Hyang turned his head back.
"Please come forward."
"Huh? Yes! Your Highness!"
At Hyang's summons, an elderly man emerged from among the party that had followed and performed a deep bow before Sejong.
"This humble one greets His Majesty!"
"Who are you?"
"I am called Soedol, and I tend to the royal livestock on Neobeol Island."
"Soedol?"
"It's a name I was given because I was told to raise cattle well."
Even as he listened to Soedol's answer, Sejong's expression showed he still didn't understand. Eventually, Sejong turned back to Hyang.
"Crown Prince, explain the circumstances. Leave nothing out!"
"Yes, Father. Actually, while reading medical texts that came from China..."
According to Hyang's explanation, the events unfolded as follows:
-In the medical texts from the Song and Yuan dynasties brought from China, there were records of implementing something called the 'human variolation method' to prevent smallpox. Confirming that not only Chinese medical texts but also those of the Western barbarians described this method, he investigated further, but both Chinese and Western medical texts stated that the human variolation method had a very high probability of failure. The human variolation method involved collecting pus from someone recovering from smallpox and either injecting it with a needle into the body of someone who hadn't yet had smallpox, or having them inhale powdered scabs through their nose.
This was naturally a high-risk method. Material collected from someone who appeared recovered but wasn't fully healed inside showed little effect, and in the opposite case, the person would immediately contract smallpox and face a life-or-death crisis.
While reading through medical texts describing the dangers of this method, Hyang found a peculiar passage in a Western barbarian medical text:
-Among the herdsmen who raise cattle, there are quite a few who do not contract smallpox, and their commonality is that they had contracted cowpox while tending cattle infected with cowpox. This seems worth investigating further.
Upon finding this passage, Hyang immediately headed to Neobeol Island to verify the facts.
Arriving at Neobeol Island, Hyang immediately summoned the herdsmen. Indeed, while the herdsmen's faces were heavily wrinkled from hardship, all except one were relatively clean.
"Among those gathered here, those who have suffered from smallpox, raise your hands."
At Hyang's words, only that one person raised his hand.
"Did you suffer from this after becoming a herdsman?"
"No, Your Highness. I had this condition before entering the pasture."
"Who is the oldest among you?"
At Hyang's question, the one who stepped forward was Soedol.
"Has smallpox never circulated on Neobeol Island and its surrounding areas?"
"No, Your Highness. It has circulated at least once a year."
"Then why?"
Hyang stopped speaking. The old man named Soedol standing before him had a look suggesting he knew something.
"You know something, don't you? Is there some secret technique?"
"It's not quite a secret technique."
According to Soedol's explanation, it was as follows: Soedol's family had been raising royal livestock since the time of King Gongmin of Goryeo. When Soedol reached a certain age, he too began raising cattle.
Then one day, a cow that Soedol had particularly doted on suddenly contracted cowpox. Cowpox was not a fatal disease for cattle, but occasionally unlucky cows would die when the inflammation on their udders became severe.
While caring for the cow for several days without sleep, Soedol contracted cowpox. Already exhausted, Soedol had to suffer through fever for several days. However, Soedol's father looked at him with a rather calm expression.
"You brat, now the smallpox deity will never visit you in your lifetime."
After rising from his sickbed, Soedol asked his father the reason for those words. In response to Soedol's question, his father answered simply:
-I don't know the reason, but if you catch cowpox and recover, the smallpox deity doesn't come.
"Is that so. If you knew that, why didn't you tell physicians or officials? Then many people wouldn't have contracted smallpox."
At Hyang's question, Soedol answered with a bitter smile.
"Do you think I could have just let it pass while wearing human skin? Of course I told a physician. But I was only cursed roundly and chased out. They asked how a disease that only lowly cattle catch could ward off the smallpox deity."
"So you alone avoided the smallpox deity?"
"I too am human... I couldn't bear to see my family become pockmarked. So..."
Soedol trailed off, but Hyang could infer what came next.
"You made everyone here forcibly contract cowpox?"
"That is correct, Your Highness."
At Soedol's answer, Hyang clenched his fist.
'The clinical trial has safely concluded! Even if I can't have it, I should! No, if I stop now, I'll be the world's biggest coward!'
"That secret technique, I need to receive it as well."
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!"
The internal officials and guard warriors who had followed were terrified at Hyang's words, but he paid them no mind.
"We must return to the palace soon, so hurry. Is there a cow infected with cowpox?"
"Since there are children who need to receive it every year, we always keep at least one deliberately infected... but..."
"That's perfect!"
"...And that is how I came to receive the cowpox pus."
Having finished speaking, Hyang examined Sejong's face. Sejong's face had turned pale, and Queen Soheon was on the verge of fainting. This was because no parent could remain sane upon hearing that their son, who had left in perfect health that morning to pay his respects, had returned having received something called cowpox they had never heard of in their lives.
"You brat!"
Sejong shouted and raised his hand high, and Hyang immediately dropped to his knees.
"Father! How many people die from smallpox each year? If we can save those who are dying, what is the problem!"
"That doesn't mean you should be the first to step forward! You are the Crown Prince!"
"Where is there nobility and baseness in human life! And when there are already perfectly healthy people right there, what is there to fear!"
At Hyang's answer, Sejong placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.
"Phew~. You brat... They say if you stay quiet even for a day, do you get boils or something? Haa~."
Sighing deeply again, Sejong turned to look at Soedol.
"Alright. What happens if one receives cowpox like that?"
"For about five days, your body will run a high fever, so you must not move around. Also, several boils will appear on the shoulder where the cowpox needle was administered, but you must never pop them and should wait naturally until scabs form. After about ten days, you'll be able to get up."
"Is that so? Captain of the Royal Guard!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Imprison this man! However, do not torture him, and provide him with three proper meals a day."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Having given the order, Sejong glared at Soedol.
"If even the slightest abnormality appears in the Crown Prince's body, I will immediately behead you. However, if things turn out as you say, I will bestow a great reward upon you."
At Sejong's words, Soedol performed a deep bow and was led away to prison by the guards.
Watching Soedol disappear into the distance, Sejong looked at Hyang who was still kneeling and pointed his finger as if about to say something. But forcing back the words that had risen to his throat, Sejong turned away.
"Since you'll have to suffer for the next few days, go inside and rest. Internal officials, attend to the Crown Prince with your utmost care."
"We obey your command."
The internal officials who received Sejong's command dragged Hyang toward the Donggungjeon (Crown Prince's Palace). Following this, Sejong commanded the ministers.
"Ministers, return to the Pyeonjeon first. I will enter after briefly checking on the Queen's condition."
"We obey your command."
As the ministers who had performed their ritual bows disappeared into the distance, Sejong looked at Queen Soheon.
"Are you alright?"
"I am fine, Your Majesty. How are you feeling?"
"Phew~."
Sejong answered with a long sigh. He looked toward the Donggungjeon and continued speaking.
"Whether that brat will be a blessing or a curse for this Joseon, I cannot determine. Sometimes he seems like a sage with no equal under heaven, and other times he's like a lightning-bare rascal who wouldn't be satisfied even if rolled up in a straw mat for a hundred days..."
* * *
Meanwhile, sitting in his room, Hyang examined a medical text written in Latin and chuckled.
"The smallpox vaccination method was originally known to Jenner..."
The medical text titled 'Observations on Disease' was recorded by an unknown Italian monk.
-There are herdsmen who show symptoms similar to cowpox infection after tending cows infected with cowpox. According to observation, those showing such symptoms did not suffer from smallpox even when smallpox epidemics occurred. This is of interest, but it may be a mere coincidence. Especially according to doctrine....
The monk who wrote the medical text ended with a negative passage citing Catholic doctrine. In other words, the author, the monk, had reached the same conclusion as the Korean physician.
'How can a disease of humans be prevented by a disease of cattle?'
Having seen that physicians of both East and West reached the same conclusion in the medical texts he had dug through for references, Hyang muttered.
"Was it Teacher Sampopheon who said that? Newton wasn't the only one who saw apples fall. But only Newton left his name in history because of whether he took one step further or not..."
Hyang chuckled as he chewed over Teacher Sampopheon's words.
* * *
Just as Soedol had said, Hyang began developing a fever that night.
"Internal officials and royal physicians, do not let a single moment pass without checking and recording the Crown Prince's condition!"
By Sejong's order, the internal officials and royal physicians stuck close to Hyang's side, observing his every movement.
The royal physicians observing Hyang's condition reported to Sejong and the ministers every morning and evening.
"According to the royal physicians, it matches exactly what that Soedol fellow said, so doesn't that mean Soedol's words are true? What do you all think?"
At Sejong's question, the ministers fell into thought. After some time passed, Left State Councillor Lee Won spoke.
"Since His Highness the Crown Prince's condition almost exactly matches what Soedol said, I believe this means the secret technique Soedol spoke of has efficacy."
"It would seem so. Then this means smallpox can be prevented... How about implementing this nationwide?"
At Sejong's proposal, Right State Councillor Jeong Tak expressed his opposition.
"I believe there are problems with unconditionally implementing this targeting all the people of the country. It could still be a mere coincidence."
"That fellow Soedol and his clan have demonstrated this over dozens of years, and you call it a coincidence?"
"The numbers are too small."
"Hmm..."
After contemplating briefly, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"If the Crown Prince is completely cured, let us administer the cowpox needle to the palace servants and then the people of Hanyang. The population of Hanyang is sufficient to determine truth from falsehood."
"We obey His Majesty's command."
At Sejong's order, the ministers answered in unison. For them, there was no reason to oppose.
< Episode 19: Germination... Carcinogenesis? (12) > End
ⓒ Gukppong