97. How Do You Perform Auscultation? (3)
The explanation on auscultation was almost over.
I glanced around the lecture hall again. Quite a few students looked curious, but they seemed to understand things better than I expected. Thank goodness.
“Any questions?”
“One question.”
We were nearing the end of the class when a graduate student sitting in the front row raised their hand. Wasn’t her name Anne? I acknowledged her with a nod.
“Yes.”
“You just showed us that heart earlier—where did you get it from?”
“Oh, I bought it.”
Anne furrowed her brow.
“Where?”
“The execution grounds.”
“Wouldn’t a pig or cow’s heart work?”
I scratched my head. What is she talking about?
A cow or pig’s heart looks different from a human’s. I haven’t studied it in detail, but obviously, the size alone is different.
“Are you planning to be a veterinarian?”
Laughter rippled through the lecture hall, and Anne closed her mouth with an awkward expression. There’s no reason anyone would study animal hearts for this.
“Um… isn’t using corpses for lectures somewhat ethically questionable?”
“Well, to answer seriously… the person who donated their body did so for the sake of scholarship. Always show gratitude.”
Anne frowned even more.
“But you said it came from the execution grounds. Did they willingly donate?”
“So we should be even more grateful.”
I turned away from Anne.
“Anyway, let’s stop worrying about dead people. Any other questions?”
After a moment, Oliver raised his hand.
Oliver is a sharp student, though it’s a shame he never applied for grad school.
“Do we need to auscultate every patient?”
“That’d be ideal. It’s good practice for patients who might have issues with their heart or lungs. Auscultate all hospitalized patients.”
Oliver nodded.
“If there are no further questions, let’s wrap up here. Great job, everyone.”
I placed the heart back into its glass jar. Istina approached the podium, and I handed her the jar containing the heart.
She carefully took it.
“Amazing lecture!”
“Thanks?”
“I wish I’d known this sooner.”
I nodded.
“Well, yeah—but there was no paper on circulation yet, right? That paper had to spread through academia first before I could teach people methods like auscultation.”
It’s not like everything can be revealed at once. Background knowledge needed to circulate too. Istina thought for a moment and nodded.
“Ah, I see.”
“There’s a process to these things, so it couldn’t be helped.”
Still, glad the class went well.
As soon as I returned to the research lab, I started writing the manual. Exactly what I explained in class. It wasn’t complicated—just conveying how to auscultate the heart and lungs.
I sat gripping my pen. All I had to do was write down what I taught today.
“Teacher, you look busy today.”
“I’m always busy.”
“Even busier than usual.”
“I’m writing a manual.”
“What’s it about?”
“Auscultation.”
“Oh, listening to heart sounds?”
“Yeah, that.”
“Oh, I always thought you used that rubber tube because everyone else does too. But someone told me otherwise—that most people just press their ears directly.”
“I invented it.”
“You made it to avoid pressing your ear?”
I gave a vague nod.
“Well… partly. But honestly, you don’t hear clearly enough by pressing your ear directly. An actual stethoscope is much better.”
Mint laughed.
“What a gentleman.”
“It’s necessary, okay?”
“Sure, sure.”
I resumed writing. Five auscultation points for the heart, several for the lungs. Since I’ve already gone over this, a few pages should suffice.
Mint stared at me for a while, then crossed her arms.
“No one really cared about that stuff, right? Even if it felt a little weird… if it’s for diagnosis, it makes sense.”
“But creating a safe environment where patients feel secure is also important in treatment. Plus, reducing physical contact has its own significance.”
I bent my head back to the writing, and Mint sighed softly.
“Forget it. We’re not getting anywhere.”
“What kind of response were you expecting?”
“You’re taking my joke too seriously.”
“Huh? Which part of what you just said was a joke?”
“Ugh. When will you finish?”
“Maybe two or three hours?”
“Perfect dinner time.”
Mint stretched out her legs and sprawled across the lab sofa. I looked at her.
“Don’t you have anything to do?”
“Not particularly.”
Why doesn’t Mint have anything to do?
I thought about it for a moment but couldn’t figure out any clear reason. Mint’s grades weren’t stellar but were decent enough.
I don’t know if there’s anything odd about her personality, but she hasn’t caused any significant problems at the academy either.
Some people are just like that.
Maybe she’s a bit introverted?
Half the manual was done.
Professor Croftler of the Academy was once again staring at something Asterix had written. This time, it was more like a promotional pamphlet.
It wasn’t a paper this time but a practical guide explaining techniques—specifically, how to use sound to assess internal bodily conditions.
Professor Croftler couldn’t help but scratch his head. Starting with the idea that the sounds heard are from closing valves…
It seemed obvious after careful thought, but it had only been a year since the structure and function of the valves were accurately understood.
Professor Croftler briefly felt a pang of regret. The heart was once his field of study too.
Why didn’t Professor Croftler think of the idea that heart sounds come from closing valves? Well, no one had thought of it until now.
“Right, Anne?”
“What?”
“That heart sounds come from closing valves. Blood flow or muscle movement alone wouldn’t produce sound.”
“That’s true. Valve closure.”
“That explains the rhythm of heartbeats perfectly, doesn’t it? Why they go boom-boom, boom-boom in pairs.”
Though he wanted to say he was tired of marveling, he still found it incredible each time. Professor Croftler marveled again today. How did this guy come up with such ideas?
“Anne.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s do a dissection. If we open up a heart, maybe we’ll better understand what this professor is talking about.”
“Should I borrow a stethoscope?”
“Would he really lend something so crucial?”
Professor Croftler hesitated.
If it were another professor, they’d never give away such an important invention before publishing a paper…
But would Professor Asterix be different?
Considering how he freely shared the blue mold strain, maybe he’d lend it without hesitation. Then again, given his erratic behavior, he might be surprisingly picky.
“Anne. Go check.”
“Yes.”
“If he won’t lend it, steal it.”
Anne nodded.
Worth a try, considering professors making unreasonable demands isn’t exactly new.
The next morning.
I looked at Erzabet sitting on the bed. A week had passed. I wonder if there’s been any improvement in her symptoms?
It doesn’t seem like it.
“Miss Erzabet, congratulations on your discharge.”
“Yes.”
Though it was discharge day, she looked worried. Of course, it’s time to make a decision now. She hasn’t answered yet.
“Have you made your decision?”
Erzabet thought long and hard.
“Well…”
Despite taking her time, I could guess what she was thinking. There was a book on her bedside table, after all.
She’s going to enroll in the academy.
“I’m planning to enroll in the academy this time.”
“Good choice.”
“To be honest…”
“Yes.”
Erzabet glanced around nervously, as if worried someone might be watching her.
Of course, there’s no real reason for that in a hospital ward. But it reflects her psychological state.
Afraid to say it aloud, or perhaps wanting to hide her thoughts from someone.
“It feels so good knowing I won’t be returning to the mansion. Hard to explain exactly why, but just thinking about it calms me.”
“That’s understandable.”
I decided to let it slide. Not wanting to go home is reasonable, and there’s no need to elaborate further.
Erzabet nodded. The young lady rolled up her hospital gown and handed it to me. Why is she giving it to me? Still…
“I’ll clean it later.”
“Congratulations on your discharge, and welcome to the academy, Miss Erzabet.”
