Medicine

Various substances and processes are used in medical practices across the world, and certain informative texts are widely distributed as sources of essential knowledge. Some of these are more accurate than others, but most contain at least a glimmer of greater knowledge.

Diseases

Epidemiology has some way to go before it recognizes bacteria or viruses, but the progression of diseases, at least, has been studied for centuries.

For practical reasons, and reasons of modesty, depictions of the illnesses mentioned here shall be left to the viewer's imagination.

Blead

Caused by a bacterium, blead is common worldwide (though less so in Yandjee and Greater Aheya), and involves the raising of flower-like welts on the skin, as well as high fever and sometimes blindness. Once survived, one is immune, but a great many perish in the month it takes for the disease to reach its full effect.

Corpse Fever

Caused by a bacterium, corpse fever has its origins in rodents in Temacan; it is not a pleasant disease. Fever aside, lack of circulation to the rest of the body can lead to gangrene and difficulty clotting, and these in turn can lead to death in a matter of months, at times a year. Thankfully it is rare, as there is as yet no real cure.

Dangle Fever

Caused by an overload of bacteria in the small intestine, dangle fever is marked by, well, fever, but this in addition to muscular dystrophy, anemia, fatigue, and diarrhea. It has been common across Sayintha for eons, and even when passed, it leaves the recovered weakened.

Grippe

The grippe, caused by a virus, is primarily respiratory in nature—it causes a sore throat, a runny nose, and coughing, as well as fever, muscle pain, headaches, and fatigue. Two strains are found primarily in humans (and seem to have originated in Yashdar and Yandjee respectively), a third in birds, and a fourth in hogs and peccaries.

Oakheart

Also called dentritis. A bacterium affecting the pancreas and blood, having its origins in Yashdar, regulation of sugar levels becomes harder and less oxygen is carried. Shortness of breath, headaches, thirst, and fatigue are all common…but the most noticeable signs of the sickness are a greenish tint to the skin and sweet-tasting blood. Physicians have learned to treat it, though it takes time to dispel.

Panther's Shiver

Caused by a fungus affecting pyric, panther's shiver causes a form of encephalitis and epilepsy that lasts for only a short time but can leave lasting damage. The affected are compelled to sing and dance and beat themselves and lose control, until they literally drop from exhaustion. It has been a bane on Einir and Oma for centuries.

Rash-by-Rock

Caused by a bacterium found in the swampy waters of Tjiwehng, rash-by-rock starts with the typical rash, which (in the more severe cases) takes some time to harden, causing keratinization and sensitive nerves. At the same time, sensitivity to light becomes stronger, painful, and delirium sets in with (sometimes-fatal) encephalitis. In time, the rash dissipates.

Suckerpest

Caused by a virus originally affecting aquatic lactiles, suckerpest manifests as sucker-like marks in patterns of five dots across the body, fever, lethargy, coughing, and foaming at the mouth. The disease also leads to issues with breathing that can continue for decades to come, earning it the sobriquet "canemaker" in Yandjee, where the virus first emerged. No longer immediately fatal to locals, it is passed by air.

Synagitis

Caused by a bacterium found worldwide, synagitis—also called entension—causes muscle spasms across the body, usually starting with the jaw; if this spreads to the muscles in the lungs, it can lead to death. It typically begins its infection through open wounds.

Weeping Skin

Also called madefaction. Caused by a bacterium originating in eastern Aion and passed by insects, the first symptom is a headache, then giddiness, then drenching, pouring sweat accompanied by delirium and rapid pulse; all of these may occur within three hours, death may occur any time within twenty-four hours of appearance, and the circumstances may repeat themselves as many as five times before dissipating.

Medicines

There are diseases, yes, but there are also treatments, some of them quite common around the world.

Alum, ground to a fine powder, has long been used as a styptic (to stem bleeding), as well as an odourless antiperspirant.

Use: Sayintha, Yashdar, Einir, Oma.

Apples contain considerable amounts of quercetin, catechin, phloridzin, and chlorogenic acid, all of which are strong antioxidants.

Use: Einir, Oma, Gykken, Yashdar.

Bittershine contains a fair amount of codiine; too much is toxic, but in tiny amounts it has sedative properties.

Use: Einir, Oma.

Bloodhorn bark is used to treat fungal infections and tumours, though the fruit and sap are incredibly poisonous.

Use: Gimgaranka, Nukambi, Malehi.

Brighteye stems are used in the treatment of tumours; side-effects may include hair loss, nausea, and birth defects when used in pregnancy.

Use: Western Sayintha.

Corkwood leaves are a favourite of physicians in Yandjee; the scopolamine has use against motion sickness, stomach disorders, and tumours.

Use: Nukambi, Waadja

Ginberries are used against fungal infections and tumours, and the berries themselves are edible and reasonably tasty.

Use: Gimgaranka, Nukambi, Malehi.

Ginger of various species contains a small amount of Vitamin C—excellent in scurvy prevention—as well as gingerol, more useful as an antifungal, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory.

Use: Sayintha, Aheya, Malehi, Nukambi, Waajda, Yashdar, Gykken, Einir, Oma.

Lilygold contains colchicine, and is used to treat gout and heart attacks. Cream of lilygold has also been used to experiment in creating new plants—triploid, seedless, even fertile hybrids.

Use: Eastern Sayintha, Southern Oma.

Various types of mould are sometimes used in medicine—especially ones containing penicillin and cephalosporins, used to treat bacterial infections.

Use: Yandjee, Sayintha, Yashdar, Einir, Oma

The poppy is useful for many reasons—the codeine, morphine, and papaverine within have uses in moderating pain, encouraging tissue growth, and treating intestinal issues.

Use: Mocueyoh, Einir, Oma.

One of the few plants found that can dispel the effects of the blead early is the purple pitcher plant, a feature that makes it worth its weight in gold.

Use: Einir, Oma, Gykken, Sayintha, Yashdar.

Rivercoin fruits contain strychnine—a poison in any large amount, but sometimes used as a stimulant in very, very small doses.

Use: Western and Central Sayintha.

Scentic is a herb containing decent amounts of thymol, used as an antiseptic.

Use: Eileiwa, Gimgaranka, Malehi.

Leaf of starseed contains thymol (an antiseptic) and shikimic acid (which can be prepared to better treat the grippe).

Use: Yashdar, Gykken, Einir, Oma.

Thyme has a place of prominence not only as a herb, but also as an antiseptic (particularly by way of thymol) and antimicrobial (by way of carvacrol).

Use: Mocueyoh, Einir, Oma.

Tremic leaves contain quinine, useful in controlling shivers—as well as malaria.

Use: Temacan, Suru, Yashdar, Einir, Oma

Willow bark contains acetylsalicyclic acid, a useful chemical for reducing pain, fever, and inflammation, as well as aiding in heart health and against tumour formation.

Use: Mocueyoh, Einir, Oma.

The achillene in yarrow is excellent for inducing blood-clotting; other chemicals help against inflammation.

Use: Gykken, Yashdar, Einir, Oma.

Medical Texts

Sometimes, it's worth compiling what you know.

The Jogaen Ye-Ket

Written in the mid-7th Century BC by Songura Tyeokpoh (a polymath and philosopher from, well, Songura), the Jogaen Ye-Ket (sometimes called the Ket-Kwal) is the earliest text we have from Tjarral on the workings of the human body. Songura relies on the theory of the time—that human sicknesses are a result of the interactions of individuals with their environment—but makes an effort to diagnose at least a few of the local ailments.

The Bhijvetta

Also referred to as the Yokhródzi Zgádoro in Imgyalém, the Bhijvetta was written by Tsalél Síko Chádak (more commonly called Tsalelsícha), an itinerant priest of Firá, in the 4th Century BC. It contains records of existing illnesses common to the archipelago at the time, the majority of which are still found today, and a comparison of treatments found in various communities.

The Gadur

Written in the early 8th Century AB, the Gadur is actually a compilation of earlier treatises on basic treatments for disease from across Waadja. The author, Tjinuurn-Uraan (typically called Tjinooran in Arrahng), was a Lyaatumitan gawan brought to assist Duway during an outbreak of suckerpest; he and others established themselves in the region, taking on students for a fee. The Gadur was to be a guide for these new gawan; three hundred years later, it remains a text of incredible importance, although at least a few of the methods described therein have been altered in accordance with "peer review" from other doctors.

All placeholder images from Mage.

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