medicine

there has been a huge increase in peoples ability to kill each other since Merlin's awakening. I wonder if Merlin, or any of the others that have access to owl's database, are going to try to introduce any new concepts or techniques to help save lives. I don't remember any discussion about ways to improve the healing arts. Since Merlin is able to gift Nanites to certain individuals that has been addressed for them but I would think that there might be some attempt to improve the healers ability to care for those that don't have nanites? what say you?

I think that medicine will follow a parallel track with advances in armaments and manufacturing, although I doubt if RFC will be able to dedicate much time to it in his story. As the Holy Writ is given broader and broader interpretation in Charis, there will be advances in the life sciences at the Royal College. Given the already good state of optics, IMO it won't be long before germs are "discovered" and their role in disease is deduced. After all, none of this negates the practical advice of Pasquale, it just gives an alternate explanation of why this advice is valid. Rather like many of the Jewish dietary laws being sound practice for more than religious reasons. A lot of advances in medicine can therefore be made with the explanation, "See, Pasquale knew what (she?) was doing, but we were too primitive to understand the reason behind her laws."
Again, I think advances in the life sciences, with resulting improvements in medicine, will be and probably already are being made, but IMO RFC will not have much room (nor, probably, much need) to work this into his story line.

Medicine and health care is already at 19th century levels, and has been since the Book of Pasquale was written. So it would be hard for medicine to improve to the same degree as military and manufacturing technologies have improved. Still, there will certainly be some improvement. As SCLibrarian notes, microscopes are already being used, so germ theory is inevitable once minds are open enough to consider it.

Off-topic and putting on my librarian hat, I have to ask about your username, SCLibrarian. Does it have any relationship to reality?

You beat me to it.

The only thing I can add is that Medical Technology, which is the next big step, would have to wait until the Proscriptions are discarded.

SWM wrote:Medicine and health care is already at 19th century levels, and has been since the Book of Pasquale was written. So it would be hard for medicine to improve to the same degree as military and manufacturing technologies have improved. Still, there will certainly be some improvement. As SCLibrarian notes, microscopes are already being used, so germ theory is inevitable once minds are open enough to consider it.

Off-topic and putting on my librarian hat, I have to ask about your username, SCLibrarian. Does it have any relationship to reality?

I agree, much of medicine improvement is going to have to wait for electricity and the discovery of radiation. I was thinking along the lines of germ theory, antibiotics. and other drugs such as anesthetics etc. I do think that with the microscopes as has been said germ theory at least is inevitable, as well as the understanding of how the other "curses" of Pasquale are caused. such as scurvy and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

mustangman wrote:I agree, much of medicine improvement is going to have to wait for electricity and the discovery of radiation. I was thinking along the lines of germ theory, antibiotics. and other drugs such as anesthetics etc. I do think that with the microscopes as has been said germ theory at least is inevitable, as well as the understanding of how the other "curses" of Pasquale are caused. such as scurvy and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Guys, they already have pretty decent anesthetics, and Fleming moss and a few other native plants provide a relatively effective base of antibiotics. They've also been able to see germs for a long time, and, thanks to the Writ, they know exactly what they are: demons loosed upon fallen humanity as a consequence of Shan-wei's Rebellion and the War Against the Fallen. They also know how to defend against them by using the dispensations granted by the Archangel Pasquale.

Where's the problem?

I am sure my wife will be greatly relieved to hear microscopial demons are at fault the next time she brings home a sore throat from school.
I'll make her some Pasquale tea.

runsforcelery wrote:

mustangman wrote:I agree, much of medicine improvement is going to have to wait for electricity and the discovery of radiation. I was thinking along the lines of germ theory, antibiotics. and other drugs such as anesthetics etc. I do think that with the microscopes as has been said germ theory at least is inevitable, as well as the understanding of how the other "curses" of Pasquale are caused. such as scurvy and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Guys, they already have pretty decent anesthetics, and Fleming moss and a few other native plants provide a relatively effective base of antibiotics. They've also been able to see germs for a long time, and, thanks to the Writ, they know exactly what they are: demons loosed upon fallen humanity as a consequence of Shan-wei's Rebellion and the War Against the Fallen. They also know how to defend against them by using the dispensations granted by the Archangel Pasquale.

Where's the problem?

Guys, they already have pretty decent anesthetics, and Fleming moss and a few other native plants provide a relatively effective base of antibiotics. They've also been able to see germs for a long time, and, thanks to the Writ, they know exactly what they are: demons loosed upon fallen humanity as a consequence of Shan-wei's Rebellion and the War Against the Fallen. They also know how to defend against them by using the dispensations granted by the Archangel Pasquale.

Where's the problem?[/quote]

only the same problem as every other area of knowledge on the planet, rote knowledge is not understanding. nor can they hope to go beyond the dispensations until the proscriptions are lifted. The writ is obviously a hugely informative work since it covers every aspect of life, I suspect it must be contained in several volumes. and since I cannot imagine that anyone has actually written the writ out per se I have not read it lol, so I have limited knowledge of what is contained in it. I work in the medical field so I was curious about these things. I have read the books several times and of course there is a ton of information in each book so I am sure I missed parts of it, but I do not remember reading about anesthetics, or other plants with medicinal value besides the fleming moss, I expected they were present but did not remember them. also I was especially curious about the ability to treat battlefield injuries, without a knowledge of ABO compatibility, electrolyte balance etc, there is a very limited amount that can be done for exsanguinating injuries and shock, besides just stopping the bleeding. i.e. blood transfusions and iv fluids would not be possible.

as far as what's the problem, no problem at all, I love the books and was only wondering, and anticipating advances in medicine would be introduced along with all the other advancements not a criticism just a question.

runsforcelery wrote:

mustangman wrote:I agree, much of medicine improvement is going to have to wait for electricity and the discovery of radiation. I was thinking along the lines of germ theory, antibiotics. and other drugs such as anesthetics etc. I do think that with the microscopes as has been said germ theory at least is inevitable, as well as the understanding of how the other "curses" of Pasquale are caused. such as scurvy and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Guys, they already have pretty decent anesthetics, and Fleming moss and a few other native plants provide a relatively effective base of antibiotics. They've also been able to see germs for a long time, and, thanks to the Writ, they know exactly what they are: demons loosed upon fallen humanity as a consequence of Shan-wei's Rebellion and the War Against the Fallen. They also know how to defend against them by using the dispensations granted by the Archangel Pasquale.

Where's the problem?

Well, do the dispensations include vaccination or blood-typing for instance? Both would make major differences to mortality and neither requires major technical advance, not to begin with at any rate. Come to think of it the thread a while ago about whether and, if so how, diseases were prevalent on Safehold never really came to anything.

SWM wrote:Medicine and health care is already at 19th century levels, and has been since the Book of Pasquale was written. So it would be hard for medicine to improve to the same degree as military and manufacturing technologies have improved. Still, there will certainly be some improvement. As SCLibrarian notes, microscopes are already being used, so germ theory is inevitable once minds are open enough to consider it.

Off-topic and putting on my librarian hat, I have to ask about your username, SCLibrarian. Does it have any relationship to reality?

Reply. Yep. Retired public librarian and now volunteer church librarian (Mauldin U. Methodist, Mauldin, SC). I've been adding the Safehold series to our church library's fiction collection as the books are published because they give insight (in a sort of alternate history way) to the issues that occurred during the Protestant Reformation. Both sides have those who feel they are sincerely carrying out the will of God, and both sides have those who are using the upheaval for personal gain. Also, it shows the problems that are inherent with any religious organization that has too much secular power. One of those "absolute power corrupts absolutely" things. The problem of equating the church, an institution established by God but run by men so subject to human frailty, with an infallible God is yet another issue that Weber addresses. Of course, I am also adding the books because they are really good reads, but that alone doesn't justify being included in our church's limited shelf space.
Okay, more than your wanted to know. Verbosity is us.