Chapter 116: 115, St. Mary’s Medical School In London, Major Opportunity With Penicillin
After eating, Fang Wen and Lin Shuiwang talked, while Tu Zai’s wife accompanied Lin Shuiwang’s mother upstairs.
Tu Zai came over with a bottle of wine and a few dishes.
He put down the items and prepared to leave, but was stopped by Fang Wen.
The three sat together, and Lin Shuiwang opened his bottle of treasured fine wine, pouring a cup for each.
The wine was fresh red like cherries.
Fang Wen picked up the wine cup in surprise to look at it.
Lin Shuiwang said proudly: “This is our Min Nan fine wine, brought from domestic through connections, not wine.”
“Red and green wine?” Fang Wen remembered; in the future with developed internet, he knew this bit of knowledge.
“Yes. It’s most suitable to drink this kind of wine when it’s cold; London’s weather in February is also suitable. Try it.”
Fang Wen sipped a small mouthful.
It was a bit sour and sweet, yet with the lingering aftertaste of wine.
Compared to other yellow wine, it had a unique flavor.
He thought of a poem.
He couldn’t help reciting a line: “Last year you raised the vetch plate, at night pouring Min wine red as cinnabar. This is Su Shi’s poem, about red and green wine.”
“Is that so.” Lin Shuiwang was surprised.
Tu Zai nodded: “I’ve heard the wine sellers on the street mention it; they have another wine label.”
The three didn’t toast; just like a casual gathering, they drank when they wanted and ate when they wanted.
After finishing a cup and eating some braised beef and peanuts, Fang Wen got to the main topic.
“I got some news domestic: the United Kingdom has a medicine that can treat gunshot wounds. I want to get it back, produce it domestic, so injured soldiers on the battlefield can get timely treatment.”
Lin Shuiwang nodded: “This is a great good deed benefiting countless families. I’ve heard that on the battlefield, if you get injured, lightly the wound rots and requires cutting out the rotten flesh with a knife; severely, saw off the wounded part. Those soldiers missing arms or legs came that way. And that’s for those who were treated; if not treatable, they can only wait to die—the pain is unbearable to witness.”
Lin Shuiwang’s words were cruel, making Tu Zai instantly lose his appetite.
Tu Zai put down his wine cup: “If Mr. Fang is doing this good deed, count me in; it’ll also accumulate some virtue for my family.”
Fang Wen nodded and continued.
“The situation now is that I don’t know the development of this medicine; we need to find someone to investigate if it has undergone clinical treatment and if there’s a mass production process.”
“So what do we do?” Lin Shuiwang asked.
Fang Wen took out a notebook and ink pen, wrote an English name, tore it off, and handed it to Lin Shuiwang.
“First check this person.”
Lin Shuiwang nodded: “I have connections. Tonight I’ll take you to a place.”
Fang Wen checked the time; it was already past 12 noon. With a 7-hour time difference, Shanghai was 7 p.m., almost time to send a telegram.
He stood up proactively, excusing himself as tired from the morning flight journey, wanting to rest in his room.
Lin Shuiwang knew this was to report safety domestic and cooperated to end the talk.
Back in the room, Fang Wen first sorted the military industry information brought from Berlin.
He took out all the information from the two suitcases and stacked it neatly.
There were hundreds of pages, all German information; currently couldn’t find someone to translate, but could notify domestic in advance to seek translators proficient in German.
Putting all the information into a canvas bag, Fang Wen took out the telegraph machine to send a telegram domestic.
【Arrived in London, things progressing smoothly, no need to worry.】
【Also, obtained important military information from Berlin, need German translator, best one proficient in military terminology.】
Eight p.m., Shanghai Airport.
Kuang Mingzhu put down the headphones and looked at the translation she had copied with her right hand.
Her husband went to Europe once and accomplished so many big things.
One heavy airplane aside, now important military information from the Weimar Republic.
She imagined her husband’s thrilling experiences in Europe, thinking she must handle the follow-up work for him.
Before going to Kolkata, she also needed to settle the translation matter.
She thought of going through Yue Jinping to the German advisory group for a translator; there must be suitable people.
But thinking of Yue Jinping’s warning, she felt it improper.
Where else had people proficient in German?
Kuang Mingzhu thought; Shanghai hid dragons and crouching tigers, with various bookstores and publishing houses, also people translating German books.
Pan Jiafeng’s uncle ran a printing and copying shop; perhaps he knew people in this area.
Immediately, Kuang Mingzhu had Qiu Ju go find Pan Jiafeng.
After a while out, Qiu Ju brought back Pan Jiafeng.
Hearing the mistress mention needing a German translator, Pan Jiafeng thought of someone.
“Mistress, I know one, surnamed Lin, now teaching in Shanghai; in spare time also translates some German architecture materials, very proficient in German.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll leave this to you.”
“Master’s matter is my matter; I’ll definitely handle it. Tomorrow I’ll go to my uncle and have him help make the request.”
London time, seven p.m.
After dinner, Fang Wen, Lin Shuiwang, and Tu Zai went out together.
They walked from the Limehouse street head to the end, turning into an alley.
Then entered a hidden place through a small door in the alley.
They walked in the corridor; doors on both sides were blocked by cloth curtains.
Noisy voices came from behind the cloth curtains, with coughing sounds occasionally.
A strange smell permeated the air.
How to describe it? Like a faint urine stench mixed with fragrance.
“What is this place?” Fang Wen asked.
“For smoking opium.” Lin Shuiwang explained in a low voice.
At this time, someone lifted the cloth curtain and came out.
A tall British man in a suit.
He walked straight outside.
Taking advantage of the gap with the cloth curtain lifted, Fang Wen looked inside.
Several people lay on beds smoking from opium pipes, puffing clouds and mist.
But most were foreigners; few Chinese people.
Lin Shuiwang continued explaining: “For us Chinese to gain a foothold in Limehouse, just clustering isn’t enough; we need to dare to fight and strive. Those who can fight and strive formed gangs; we pay a little protection fee for safety. Their main ways to make money are smuggling and opium dens. But now, opium, our people touch it less; locals are increasing.”
Fang Wen understood; for finding people, going through Limehouse gangs was indeed faster, as gangs had wide connections with all sides.
He followed Lin Shuiwang deeper into the opium den.
There, a group of Chinese people were unloading cargo, stacking boxes of unknown contents into a pile.
Probably smuggled goods.
At this time, Lin Shuiwang suddenly raised his voice: “Brother Iron Dragon, long time no see; I’m here to visit you.”
The shirtless strong man turned, smiling: “You’re not running ships to find a wife; what are you doing here?”
He also noticed Fang Wen and Tu Zai.
Tu Zai he knew; Fang Wen he hadn’t seen, and immediately said coldly.
“Who is this?”
“From domestic, pilot, sank Japanese warships.” Lin Shuiwang replied.
“Oh. I remember. Heard about it recently.” Iron Dragon showed an appreciative expression. “Come, to my office to talk.”
The group entered Iron Dragon’s office; Lin Shuiwang got straight to the point.
“We want to find someone. Named Alexander Fleming, a doctor.”
“Finding people is simple. For your fighting Japanese, I won’t charge, but you tell me why.”
Iron Dragon scrutinized Fang Wen.
How to say it, Fang Wen thought in his mind.
For gangs, couldn’t just use patriotic talk; he’d seen it in Shanghai—during national crisis, gangs might prioritize national righteousness, but normally, interests first.
If said finding a medicine that cures diseases, the other side would definitely think of interests.
Thus, he replied: “Alexander Fleming once discovered lysozyme; I have a doctor friend very interested, asked me to find him and ask some questions.”
Said this way, Iron Dragon didn’t think more and readily agreed: “No problem, message tomorrow. But tonight, can you give me face? Let’s set a table, chat, and let my brothers hear about sinking warships.”
Such socializing unavoidable, Fang Wen agreed.
But he remained wary of these opium den operators, holding back in his words during talk.
One night passed.
Because of drinking with Limehouse gang last night, Fang Wen slept until 9 a.m.
He finished washing up and went downstairs.
Lin Shuiwang and Tu Zai were waiting downstairs.
Seeing him, Lin Shuiwang immediately stood: “Iron Dragon’s people found Alexander Fleming. He has a surgeon license but doesn’t work at a hospital; mainly teaches at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School.”
“Let’s go find him now.” Fang Wen put on his jacket.
“Mr. Fang, no breakfast? I prepared fish porridge for you.” Tu Zai brought over a bowl of porridge.
After a few mouthfuls finishing the porridge, the three went out.
St. Mary’s Medical School, full name St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School.
An institution combining hospital and school.
Located in west London, needed a taxi to get there.
Along the way, Lin Shuiwang talked about Alexander Fleming’s situation.
“He studied at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, later returned to teach, in charge of microbiology.”
“But these years, seems no research on penicillin as you said.”
Hearing Lin Shuiwang, Fang Wen was also uncertain.
After all, he knew nothing about medical development history.
Exact situation would be known only on arrival.
The taxi stopped at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School; the three got out and entered this school without security guards.
Lin Shuiwang stopped a student to ask: “Hello, where is Professor Alexander Fleming?”
“Microbiology lab, over there.”
Guided by the student, the three arrived at a small building.
This was the lab building; labs of various departments inside, very quiet, everyone working in their own labs.
Lin Shuiwang didn’t care; he directly stopped a short woman coming out of a lab and asked again where Alexander Fleming was.
The woman raised her index finger: “Quiet, no noise here. Alexander Fleming is in the second lab; wait outside, he’ll come out in half an hour.”
Then, the three went to wait outside that lab.
Through the window, could see an elder with white hair inside conducting some experiment.
After several tens of minutes, the elder finished the experiment and came out.
Fang Wen stood and proactively stated: “Hello, I’m Fang Wen from China, here to learn about penicillin.”
“That was four years ago. No new discoveries in that area.” Alexander Fleming replied.
“I’m very interested in your research, have read your paper《on the bactericidal effect of mold culture》. Could you give some time for constructive discussion?”
“Constructive?” Alexander Fleming was somewhat moved. “Yes. Follow me.”
He took Fang Wen’s group to his office.
Lin Shuiwang and Tu Zai waited outside; Fang Wen and Alexander Fleming talked in the room.
Fang Wen asked first: “Regarding penicillin treatment, have you researched it?”
Alexander Fleming rummaged in the office wall cabinet and brought out a stack of information, placing it before Fang Wen.
“I did intravenous injection research on crude penicillin extract; most biological subjects had no allergic reaction after injection. But later, in oral penicillin experiments on biological subjects, most died. Later autopsy found the bacteria in their intestines killed by penicillin, leading to body function collapse.”
Fang Wen didn’t understand medical information; after pretending to look, he asked: “So you stopped the research?”
“Yes. But my students continue; St. Mary’s Hospital doctors used penicillin extract intravenous injection for human treatment, effective on eye infections and skin boils. But allergic reactions remain; large doses intravenous likely fatal.”
Seemed the other had touched the door to penicillin application.
Fang Wen asked again.
“Have you considered mass producing penicillin for wider drug experiments, treating more diseases?”
Alexander Fleming shook his head affirmatively: “Impossible. Penicillin is a therapeutic but very dangerous medicinal substance; I don’t believe it can be applied on a large scale.”
Through exchange with Alexander Fleming, Fang Wen learned the penicillin situation.
Right direction, wrong person.
Alexander Fleming was indeed penicillin’s discoverer.
But not the one promoting its effects widely.
Even, Alexander Fleming had no intention to continue penicillin research.
Thus, future history should be during World War II outbreak, others building fully on Alexander Fleming’s research, producing medicinal penicillin.
Meaning, its medicinal technology not yet formed; other medical experts could research, and he could too.
Fang Wen was suddenly delighted.
Though he didn’t understand medicine, he grasped historical advantage and some future common knowledge now unknown.
For example, safest penicillin treatment this era was intravenous injection, but to avoid allergic danger, skin test required.
Skin test passed, safe for penicillin intravenous treatment.
This small skin test seemed simple, but before penicillin, no such allergy test method.
And in London, most important was obtaining Alexander Fleming’s penicillin preparation method.
Then recruit biology talents, cultivate penicillin strain, form scaled, standardized penicillin extract preparation process.
Thinking this, Fang Wen smiled, saying to Alexander Fleming: “I have a very good suggestion.”
Alexander Fleming looked up: “I’ve been waiting for your constructive proposal.”
“I’m very interested in penicillin, willing to fund purchase of your penicillin preparation technology, conduct deeper research, okay?”
“It shouldn’t be worth much; how much are you willing to pay?” Alexander Fleming asked.
