Chapter 1372 - 859: Can't Deny Old Age Anymore

Du Heng said so, thus Dean Tian couldn't insist on further questioning. They agreed to have dinner together in the evening, then dispersed.

Back at their accommodations, Sun Jiaxiang asked Du Heng, "Xiao Du, do you have confidence?"

Du Heng slowly nodded after pondering, "This patient's condition looks terrifying, but I think we can try. We should be able to save his leg."

"Oh?" Sun Jiaxiang's spirit lifted, and he hastily inquired, "Hurry and tell me your thoughts."

Du Heng took a deep breath and stood up, pacing slowly within the room, "Sir Sun's initial diagnosis was correct; the patient indeed suffers from excessive dampness, forming the erysipelas leg."

Although Du Heng confirmed his diagnosis, Sun Jiaxiang furrowed his eyebrows, "Since the diagnosis is correct, was my medication wrong?"

Du Heng gently shook his head, thought about his words, then said, "The medication wasn't wrong either."

This left Sun Jiaxiang even more puzzled, "Then why wasn't the effect of my medication ideal?"

Du Heng was about to respond, but felt a direct answer might be inappropriate, so he thought for a moment and asked Sun Jiaxiang, "Sir Sun, discarding the issue of the erysipelas leg, what do you think of the patient's constitution?"

"The patient's constitution?" Sun Jiaxiang squinted slightly and recalled the patient's condition in his mind.

After thinking it through, he slowly said, "If we discard the disease itself, this patient is very young and likely exercises regularly, so his body is in decent shape.

Otherwise, with such a prolonged illness, his body would have long since collapsed.

However, to speak frankly, because of the prolonged illness, the patient now suffers from a deficiency of qi and blood."

Du Heng gently nodded, agreeing with Sun Jiaxiang's assessment, but added, "Sir Sun, I believe the patient's deficiency of qi and blood didn't just arise from the illness.

It's because he had an existing issue with insufficient qi and blood, leading to the current disease."

Sun Jiaxiang froze and then grew contemplative.

Although he and Du Heng had the same diagnosis, the differing order became the crucial issue.

Du Heng softly said, "The patient likely depleted excess qi and blood earlier, causing an impeded circulation, failing to process the dampness efficiently, which eventually accumulated within.

Coupled with the environmental impact of the expedition and ensuing injuries, it led to damp-poison flowing downward. Damp-heat erupted internally and occupied the sores, hindering healing."

Sun Jiaxiang's eyes gradually brightened, and he continued from Du Heng's words, "The post-injury sores failing to heal further exacerbated the depletion of qi and blood, preventing it from adequately governing the whole body, thus worsening the enlargement of the wounds."

Du Heng remained silent but nodded slightly with pursed lips.

After speaking, Sun Jiaxiang let out a long sigh, "The reason my medication was ineffective, or less so, is due to overlooking the patient's deficiency of qi and blood.

Consequently, the medication's efficacy couldn't be fully realized."

At this point, a gloomy expression flashed across Sun Jiaxiang's face, and he slammed his palm on the chair's armrest, "Falling short of efficacy!

The damp-poison flowing downward fully inundates the legs, and if my medication worked, the damp-poison surely would exude from the sores.

Once the damp-poison pours out, the current sores are bound to become infected. Considering the patient's condition, if infected, it would certainly be a large-scale infection of both legs.

Then..."

Sun Jiaxiang understood and realized, yet his vitality involuntarily diminished.

Seeing Sun Jiaxiang's despondent change, Du Heng couldn't find a good way to comfort him, so he could only look at Sun Jiaxiang helplessly.

However, Sun Jiaxiang, after all, was a seasoned figure. After the despondency came a regretful chuckle, "Old, really old now. It's inevitable; the brain can't keep up.

In the future, it'll depend on young talents like you, Xiao Du."

Du Heng quickly replied, "Sir Sun, please don't say that.

It's said having an elder at home is akin to possessing a treasure. The experience you've accumulated over the years, any bit imparted to us juniors is invaluable.

Take this patient, for example. Had it not been for your earlier hint—suggesting it might be erysipelas leg—my thoughts would have been directed toward unknown bacteria and viruses."

Listening to Du Heng's comforting words, Sun Jiaxiang chuckled, then gently shook his head and said, "Alright, stop flattering me.

Old is old; my energy isn't what it used to be, nor is my thinking as sharp, leading to less comprehensive considerations.

But rest assured, youngster, I know what I should do."

Seeing Sun Jiaxiang's smile was genuine and his vitality somewhat restored, Du Heng couldn't help but smile softly too.

After his laughter subsided, Sun Jiaxiang gently tapped the armrest and said, "I can't be the main force now; the vitality and mental faculties aren't keeping up, and consideration of issues has become less comprehensive.

However, as you said, I have the experience, I've accumulated nearly seventy years in this field. I can be an auxiliary to you young folks, helping you fill in gaps, which is still very much doable."

Despite being ninety years old, Sun Jiaxiang coming all the way from the Capital to Yangcheng truly involved high risk.