Life of Being a Crown Prince in France - Chapter 1493 - 1399: The Wisdom of the 19th Century

Chapter 1493: Chapter 1399: The Wisdom of the 19th Century

“That’s about it,” Joseph concluded, “Blood pressure is directly related to diseases such as heart disease and stroke. If the blood pressure is too high, it must be promptly intervened…”

All the doctors as well as the biologists widened their eyes. They were hearing for the first time about pressure issues in blood circulation and its close relation to health.

Joseph looked at the crowd: “We can measure blood pressure by compressing the artery – when the artery under pressure cannot pulse, it means the blood pressure is below that pressure value.

“Then gradually reduce the pressure, at the moment the artery starts pulsing again, the pressure value is the blood pressure…”

His understanding of measuring blood pressure was shallow; he could only describe the appearance of the sphygmomanometer from memory.

“Use a hollow air cushion to grip the arm, then inflate it to increase pressure. As for measuring the pressure… it should be with a column of mercury…

“Who would be willing to undertake the development of this instrument?”

The conference hall was silent. Mainly because the Crown Prince had only mentioned the concept, leaving them completely at a loss.

Just as Joseph frowned and was about to appoint a few people to develop the sphygmomanometer, Doctor Bisha stood up and said, “Your Highness, if it’s only to determine if the patient’s blood pressure is higher than that of an ordinary person, perhaps there’s no need for a sophisticated machine.”

“Then how do you plan to measure it.”

“I think there’s someone who might be able to do it,” Doctor Bisha replied, “Mr. Joel Prevoost.”

“Is he a doctor?”

“Prevoost is a court magician, Your Highness,” Bisha explained quickly seeing the Crown Prince frowning, “He has the world’s most sensitive hands, reportedly able to distinguish whether five or seven hairs are placed on his hand.

“According to my idea, he could use his hand to grip the patient’s arm, then gradually relax. While using a stethoscope to listen to the patient’s pulse, when the artery begins to pulse, Mr. Prevoost can remember how much force he used at that moment.

“The same steps can be repeated on a normal person, and Mr. Prevoost can compare the difference in force used to hold down the arteries to determine if the patient’s blood pressure is too high.”

Joseph nodded. Although the method was extremely crude, if the blood pressure was very high, it might indeed be felt with a hand.

Before the sphygmomanometer was created, this might be a make-shift solution.

“Alright, have him come and give it a try.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Joseph looked once more at the doctors: “Is anyone familiar with machinery or pressure science? I will have the Engineering Design Institute assign the best technicians to assist you in developing a sphygmomanometer…”

The next day at noon.

In the dining room of the Petit Trianon Palace, Queen Mary looked at the veal steak, grilled fish, and pigeon soup in front of her with a worried expression, sighing involuntarily.

Although these were all delicacies carefully prepared by the Imperial Chef, she felt no appetite at all.

She now just wanted a large piece of strawberry cake, even a “courteous lion”! would do.

Indeed, she hadn’t had dessert for two days, making her feel like the whole world had turned gray, as if Jesus had abandoned her.

Louise XVI spoke gently from the side, “Dear, the salmon is cooked very well. You must give it a try… You didn’t eat much breakfast, and if this continues, it won’t be good for your health.”

For the past two days, he hadn’t even gone to his workshop, constantly staying by his sick wife’s side.

Queen Mary sighed again, picked up the fork listlessly.

At this time, Countess of Debeninac lightly knocked on the door and said, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is here.”

Joseph entered the dining room, quickly saluted his parents, and then gestured behind him, “Please bring it in.”

Soon, several servants walked over and placed three plates on the wide dining table.

Joseph himself opened the lid of the first dish, and Queen Mary’s eyes immediately lit up — it was a uniquely styled strawberry cake!

But she soon felt wronged and almost cried, whispering, “Dear, what are you doing bringing this here?”

Two days ago, Joseph and the Imperial Physician solemnly informed her that she must not eat sugar, honey, bread, or even potatoes in the future.

Joseph opened the second lid, “It’s for your after-dinner dessert, of course.”

“But Doctor Bisha said I can’t eat these…”

Joseph pointed at the bright orange pudding on the plate, smiling, “These are specially prepared for you by Mr. Kareem.

“They didn’t use any cane sugar but are made with fructose refined from apples and strawberries.”

“How is this different?”

“Fructose almost doesn’t affect blood sugar,” Joseph thought to himself and sighed. Thankfully in the past life he heard his class teacher mention that absorbing fructose doesn’t require insulin, making it suitable for people with diabetes.

He said as he lifted the last cover, presenting a piece of “courteous lion”: “As for these pastry and cake bodies, they are made with almond flour, walnut flour, mixed with a small amount of wheat and rye flour. Although it will raise blood sugar, as long as you don’t eat too much, the impact won’t be too significant.” He had already delegated several chemists and biologists to search for alternative sweeteners similar to xylitol, but it wouldn’t likely have breakthroughs soon. So he spent much effort to prepare these sweet treats with the lowest sugar rise for his mother.

Queen Mary joyfully stood up and hugged her son, “Dear, you are simply sent by Jesus to save me!”

Joseph gently patted her back and gestured towards the table, “Please try them.”

Queen Mary nodded, returned to her seat, carefully cut a small piece of strawberry cake, and hesitated, “Is it really okay?”

“Don’t worry, just don’t eat too much,”

Queen Mary immediately put the cake in her mouth and chewed carefully, the sweet taste quickly enveloping her senses, making her happily squint her eyes.

Truthfully, the taste was still somewhat inferior to previous cakes, especially the cake body, nowhere near as soft as regular flour, and it crumbled at the slightest chew.

Yet the sweetness was only slightly lower. To her “who hadn’t had dessert for a ’long time’,” it was already a dream-like delight.

Half an hour later, Queen Mary finished her lunch.

She ate about a quarter of each dessert, as well as most of the grilled fish and some steak.

Joseph waited for her to complete a series of post-meal etiquette, stood up, and immediately went forward with a smile and hand on his chest, “Mother, now we will declare ’war’ on the dessert you’ve eaten!”

“Huh?”

Half an hour later, the King and Queen sprinted down the pebble path of the Petit Trianon Palace under the warm sunlight.

Joseph was on the side cheering them on, “Keep going! You’ve run past 700 meters, hold on! 300 meters left! Then another 30 minutes of tennis, and your midday workout will be over!”

Indeed, another key weapon against diabetes was exercise.

Joseph had heard that intense exercise could foster muscle consumption of sugar in the bloodstream.

Although Queen Mary had just eaten “low sugar desserts,” there was still a small amount of cane sugar and starch, which needed to be consumed through exercise.

He estimated that by this method, his mother’s blood sugar levels should be controllable.

As for his father, exercising along would also have benefits — his belly was already akin to having three swimming rings attached, and without exercise, he feared he would soon be troubled by ’three highs’.

What Joseph didn’t expect was that just three days later, the Queen’s “healthy desserts” quietly became popular in the Palace of Versailles…