The Shadow of Great Britain

Arthur heard this and immediately took out the prescription from his pocket: ”Can you help me take a look and see what these medicines are for?”

Snow took the slightly wrinkled piece of paper and lowered his head to carefully scan the medicine names.

He first lightly tapped ”Laudanum” with his fingertip: ”This is a common analgesic and sedative. You know, almost all chronic patients and those with nervous fatigue use it.”

Then his fingers slid to ”Valerian Root Powder” and ”Lemon Balm Tea”: ”These two are mild herbal sedatives, mainly used to relieve anxiety and insomnia. If prescribed for a female patient, it might also be to soothe her... uh, monthly emotional fluctuations.”

Soon after, he gently tapped on the line for ”Fragrant Balsam Tincture”: ”This can be used as an anti-inflammatory for the respiratory tract or as an inhalant sedative, commonly used for patients prone to fainting or rapid breathing.”

Finally, his gaze settled on ”Ergot Wine,” his brows noticeably furrowed: ”This one is more special. Ergot Wine is primarily used to induce labor, stop postpartum bleeding, or control abnormal uterine contractions. It strongly stimulates the uterine smooth muscle, so the dosage must be extremely cautious, otherwise, it might lead to fatal spasms. Ordinarily, only a doctor very familiar with the patient’s condition and willing to take the risk would prescribe this.”

Snow held the list of medications up in the sunlight and examined it once more: ”If these medicines were procured at the same time and prescribed by the same person, it’s almost certain that the patient’s problem is not merely nervous tension. Either she is recovering from a childbirth event, or someone is interfering with her menstrual cycle.”

”Childbirth?” Arthur nearly jumped out of his chair upon hearing this: ”John, are you sure?”

Snow examined the list carefully again: ”If judging solely from this list of drugs, childbirth is indeed a possibility. But for the specific situation, I would need to see the patient to make a definite conclusion. As I mentioned earlier, the other possibility is that a doctor wishes to intervene in the patient’s menstrual cycle.”

Snow paused slightly at this point, seemingly realizing that his previous phrase ”intervening in the menstrual cycle” might evoke numerous associations outside a medical context.

So he slowed his speech, switching to a more formal expression: ”In our profession, if written as catamenial regulation, it generally refers to using medicinal means to adjust a lady’s monthly cycle. As for the reasons, it could be due to cycles being too long, too short, or excessive bleeding, or associated with severe menstrual neuralgia.”

As he spoke, he folded the prescription and placed it gently on the table.

”However...” Snow added: ”In court or upper-class medical records, such situations are often not directly stated. Usually, it’s vaguely summarized as ’lady’s discomfort,’ and whether it’s neuralgia, menorrhagia, or other problems, only the involved party and the prescribing doctor would know for sure.”

Arthur tapped the table with his knuckle, silently noting this term: ”Then let me ask differently, if it’s to conceal the true cause of illness, is deliberately mixing these sedatives with Ergot Wine capable of hiding the patient’s real symptoms?”

Snow pondered slightly: ”In the short term, it can make it difficult for outsiders to detect from appearances, but the risk is high. Laudanum and Valerian will make the patient seem calm and unresponsive, Fragrant Balsam Tincture can mask the odor in their breath, but the side effects of Ergot Wine cannot be completely hidden, especially at high doses, it may result in abnormal gait, numb fingertips, or even a sallow complexion.”

He looked up at Arthur with a hint of curiosity in his eyes: ”Sir, where did you get this prescription from? The person who wrote it seems not only highly skilled but also quite familiar with using these drugs without drawing attention. In other words, this is not something an ordinary country doctor could do.”

Arthur was silent for a moment, then took a sip of ginger beer, watching the bubbles rise to the surface from the bottom of the cup.

”John, you’re not in a hurry to return to London from Ramsgate this time, right?”

Snow nodded with a smile: ”Didn’t you say there was a patient here? Even if I were to leave, I’d have to wait until after attending to the patient.”

Arthur nodded slightly, setting down his cup with a determined tone: ”Alright, John. Then you prepare yourself. In the coming days, you might have to make a visit in Ramsgate, and it will be a... very discreet one. Regarding the patient’s privacy, I hope you can adhere to professional ethics as a doctor.”

Snow raised an eyebrow but didn’t probe further, merely tucking the prescription into his jacket pocket.

He had heard of such scandals in high society before.

Frankly, it was nothing more than Sir Arthur Hastings or one of his friends getting a young lady in trouble, requiring the seasoned doctors at Westminster Hospital to take on such discreet tasks from time to time.

Snow agreed with a smile: ”You know, Sir, I’m a professional doctor; my consultation fee never concerns who pays it, just whether I can save someone. Rest assured, I won’t divulge anything inappropriate.”