Merovingen - Fever Season Part 27

(second quarter-frontwpt&x map) * NUMBERS INDICATE ISLES AND BUILDINGS LISTED IN INDEX.

MEROVINGEN.

(third quarter-frontwptece map) * NUMBERS INDICATE ISLES AND BUILDINGS USTED IN INDEX.

3) MEROVINGEN.

(fourth quarter-frontispiece map) * NUMBERS INDICATE ISLES AND BUILDINGS LISTED IN INDEX.

VENTANIISLE.

(Ca.n.a.ltuk Lewl showing MoghL'j Tavern) 1 LEWYT SECOND HAND.

2 WEAVER.

* DRUG 4 DOCTOR.

*> CHANDLER.

6 FURNITURE MAKER.

7 KILIM'S USED CLOTHES.

8 JONES.

0 TINKER.

10 JUNK SHOP.

11 SECONDHAND.

12 SP1CERY.

J LIBERTY p.a.w.n.

M TACKLE.

15 MAG'S DRUG.

16 a.s.sAN BAKERY.

Merovatt Ecology MEROVINGIAN EPIDEMIOLOGY 101.

OR THIS TOWN IS MAKING ME SICK.".

There is only one thing keeping the entire city of Merovingen from being decimated-if not removed entirely from the map-by disease. That is that even the lowliest inhabitants have a thorough and practical working knowledge of the germ theory of disease. They all know to boil suspect water before drinking; to scald or sear dishes and implements before cooking; to throw out suspect food; to disinfect wounds however possible.

Nevertheless, there are still plenty of "bugs" to lay the unsuspecting low.

INFLUENZA:.

By far and away the most common diseases in Merovingen are the upper respiratory influenzas-the true 'flu,' as opposed to what is commonly referred to as 'flu'-viral-bom gastrointestinal afflictions. For the native, these are usually non-fatal-only the old, the very young, or those weakened by something else are liable to become statistics. For the native, the symptoms include running nose, clogged sinuses, irritated throat, coughing, and low-grade fever.

For the non-native, however, the consequences of catching 'Infiuenza-M' can frequently be fatal. Within a few hours of 285.

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Appendix the onset of the first symptoms, fever can be high as 104 F, congestion in the lungs can be life-threatening, delirium is a possibility and pneumonia is little more than a breath away.

VIRAL PNEUMONIA:.

Without the drugs available to the rich, this disease is invariably fatal. The virus appears to be native to Merovin, and is probably the first to have 'crossed-over' to non-native hosts.

BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA:.

Usually survivable, provided the victim is not allergic to whatever antibiotic is available. Bacterial pneumonia is known to hit whole islands, causing the priests to declare a quarantine.

TUBERCULOSIS:.

Human stock is less susceptible to TB than in pre-s.h.i.+p days, but the bacillus thrives in the damp, polluted air of Merovingen. While humans are less susceptible to the disease, the bacillus is far more resistant to antibiotics.

BACTERIAL DYSENTERY:.

This is the 'fever' that commonly carries off those who drink ca.n.a.l-water; it is extremely resistant to penicillin, the most commonly available antibiotic for the ca.n.a.lers and ca.n.a.lsiders.

AMOEBOID DYSENTERY:.

Another of the first 'cross-overs' to non-native hosts. Was invariably fatal until a vermifuge was discovered that killed it-ethyl alcohol. One of life's little ironies. . . .

TYPHIN:.

True 'fever,' one of two; a mutated form of the typhus bacillus. Has the same symptoms as typhoid fever. Vector is the water. Resistant to most antibiotics. Can sometimes be survived with the help of blueangel.

BUBONIC PLAGUE:.

Somehow this managed to make it into s.p.a.ce; so far however it has been only a few isolated cases since the majority APPENDIX.

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of citizens manage to avoid both the rats and the fleas that carry the disease. Ca.n.a.lers are uniquely 'immune' since they seldom come into contact with the above; the large number of feral cats keeps the rat population down and so helps prevent the spread of the disease.

HAKIM'S FEVER:.

The other 'true' fever. This one appears to be either a mutated form of some otherwise harmless virus, or something entirely new; without electron microscopes it's impossible to say which. Vector is unknown, transmission is unknown. This is a real killer, and appears only in really hot weather. Symptoms are a dangerously high fever, delirium, hallucinations, insatiable thirst. This is a cyclic fever; if the first bout doesn't carry off the victim, the second, the third, the fourth probably will. Named for the first person to survive it; has a 90% fatality rate.

MEROVINGIAN PHARMACOLOGY 101 OR 'HI!-NOT YET.".

It is something of a commentary on life in Merovingen that the majority of the available pharmaceuticals are either recreational or fatal.

Since medicinal drugs are by far in the minority, we will begin with those.

MEDICINALS:.

The range of medicinal drugs in Merovingen varies wildly with the state of one's pocketbook-there are some fairly sophisticated drugs available to the very rich-from up the Det, where tech is better tolerated.

Chiefest among these are the Immuno-system boosters. These little lovelies are used chiefly when moving into a new area, and resistance to local diseases is nil. Theoretically they sensitize the immune system to operate at high gear and deal with everything mat happens to waltz by. There are two dangers involved with taking these; one with taking them too 288.

Appendix short a period of time, the other for too long. When the course of medication is timed properly, the patient has acquired the same immunities as the surviving natives-may, in fact, have a superior set. If the course is not followed through, for whatever reason (and the average course is about six months), the patient will not have time to acquire his own immunity to the local diseases. If the course is followed for too long (a year or more) there is a possibility that the immune system will become too sensitive and begin attacking helpful organisms such as intestinal flora, or even cause severe allergies to food, drugs, and breathable proteins (pollens, mold-spores).

A better choice are the prophylactic antibiotics; less expensive and easier to manufacture (though useless against viruses) these can be taken as a precautionary measure against bacterial disease, and can be prescribed for an indefinite period without harm.

Whole Blood Transfusion is also available to the very wealthy. The cost involved is due to three factors: firstly, that it must be performed patient-to-donor directly, as it was originally; secondly, the difficulty of manufacturing hollow needles and flexible tubing (there is a small plastics plant in Nev Hettek proper which produces such specialties on a very limited scale; how long it will continue to do so is problematical); thirdly, although blood-typing is a relatively simple procedure, it is one few doctors or priests have learned; by the time the appropriate text is unearthed the patient may well have expired. When the paraphernalia is available, fluid replacement with some form of Ringer's solution is far more common.

Antihistamines and decongestants are common in the medicine-cabinets of the well-to-do; they are easily obtained, but the cost of producing them keeps them confined to the upper and upper middle cla.s.ses.

Various painkillers available range from Demerol to Synthetic Codeine-again, cost of synthesis (although they can be produced in a lab the size of most sitting-rooms) keeps them limited to the upper cla.s.ses.

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Available to the middle cla.s.s are several wide-spectrum antibiotics including tetracycline. There is an anti-viral agent, Contradine, which is not overly costly but has several nasty side-effects, up to and including death by asphyxiation (about 5% of the cases). A painkiller, Comeine (which is similar in effect to codeine but not as powerful) has been isolated frorq a native plant, the bloodbulb. Actominophin and ibuprofen are also available.

At the lowest common denominator, there are contraceptives, antibiotics; blueangel (a febrifuge of native origin) and ethyl alcohol.

Unofficially, there is also a growing 'pharmacy' of herbal medicines available to the lowest cla.s.ses. In Merovingen resistance to change among the priests and priest-taught doctors and medics tends to keep these medicinals limited only to the lower cla.s.ses who cannot afford the services of such lofty personages. One of the more common herbal concoctions is menthil-salve which has a very similar formula to the ancient eucalyptus and mentholated rubs used both for arthritis and aching muscles and as a decongestant for the common cold. The 'herb-doctors' tend to be secretive about their lore, which again tends to limit the spread of such knowledge. Things filter into town from time to time from the swamp, but up until now the proliferation of such medicinals has been limited to a scant handful of people at any one time. Usually it has been on a case-by-case basis-someone falls ill, and the desperate loved-one seeks help in the swamp; the crazies for unfathomable reasons give aid instead of the business-end of a blade. But as with all things in Merovingen, this, too, is subject to change without notice.

RECREATIONAL DRUGS:.

By far and away the most common drugs used in Merovingen are the narcotics, intoxicants, stimulants, euphorics and hallu-cinogenics. Nearly all of these are derived from native plants or animal products.

Those ingested by smoking tend to be lumped under the name of 'tobacs' (usually spoken with a wink and a nudge).

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Appendix Most of the tobacs are narcotics or euphoric in nature. Most stimulants are drunk in the form of 'cordials1-sweet, alcohol-based drinks with additional 'flavorings.* Most intoxicants and hallucinogenics are eaten. Due to the scarcity of hypodermic needles (the treasured possessions of the wealthy doctors) the practice of direct injection of recreational drugs has not developed.

Side effects: the 'tobacs' tend to nurture psychogenic dependence if abused; also evident has been loss of short-term memory and creative ability. Abuse of the 'cordials' is very low, primarily because of the protocol surrounding the ingestion of same; alcoholism is far more prevalent. The few cases of abuse have seemed to display violent withdrawal symptoms, however, indicating that abuse can bring on strong dependency. Side effects of the hallucinogenics include flashback, unpredictable memory loss, and personality changes-up to and including severe mental disorder. Abuse of the intoxicants can lead to severe dependency, loss of interest in anything not connected with the drug, immtmological depression, acc.u.mulative poisoning, severe mental depression, and death by a variety of causes.

There is some experimentation connected with combining two or more recreational drugs or 'boosting1 the strength of the existing drugs by attempting to concentrate the active principle in one of several ways. Results of this experimentation are not generally known; however the morning following some of the wilder parties among the well-to-do not infrequently finds one of the invitees no longer among the living.

PRACTICAL MEROVINGEN.

AQUATIC ECOLOGY 101.

OR "WHAT'S TO EAT?".

The aquatic ecosystems of Merovingen and its surroundings are influenced primarily by the following two factors: (1) the cold arctic current that travels down along the eastern coastline and cuts in through the Strait of Storms (which, cold current APPENDIX.

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meeting warrn, is why the Strait has so many storms); and (2) the relatively narrow continental shelf. These two factors give the area around Merovingen a climate a great deal like Northern California (as opposed to the Eastern Seaboard).

The current is fast and pretty much constant, carrying away silt and sand. As a result the sh.e.l.lfish and crustaceans found in the area around Merovingen are either of the 'rooting' variety (i.e., they anchor themselves and let food come to them), or they are large enough (around a meter in size) when full grown that the current can't pick them up and carry them off. They are intolerant of change in temperature and salinity, hence for the most part cannot live in the harbor or estuary. Because the continental shelf drops off so quickly, their preferred habitat is below ten meters-this makes them nearly impossible for anyone but trained drivers to retrieve. This keeps them rare, expensive, and prevents them from being fished out.

The one exception to this is a tiny lcrab' of about three inches in diameter that lives among the reeds in the swamp. These are edible only in summer when they emerge from hibernation in the mud. After the fifteenth of the Quinte they have ingested enough insect larvae to give them an extremely disagreeable taste-and worse, very powerful purgative properties. Favorite punishment among the swampy gangs is to force a malefactor to eat a double-handful of them after they've gone inedible.

DINNER TIME IN THE SWAMP.

Spring (Prime, Deuce, Planting) Edible are the very young shoots of reeds and marsh-gra.s.s (edibleness can be judged by the color), either raw or boiled. Fish, of course, provide protein-but the springtime staple is the 'mud-pup.' Mud-pups are the juvenile form of a remarkably ugly, tough, and vicious oceanic reptile called the 'dragonelle.' Dragonelles (not entirely reptilian as they are endotherms and do not hibernate, and have a warty hide 292.

Appendix instead of scales) are sea-going creatures that range from one to two meters in length, and are possessed of a mouthful of needle-teeth, long, tearing claws on webbed feet, and poisoned ventral and tail spines. Their flesh is very unpleasant to the taste, and quite poisonous. In late summer they mate at sea, and the gravid females take to the marshes to lay their eggs in the mud at the foot of reed-clumps. The mud-pups emerge all three months of spring. Mud-pups are plump, stupid, and easy to catch, having only the urge to get to salt-water on their tiny minds. Their flesh is fairly tasteless, but nouris.h.i.+ng, and most of a mud-pup is edible. And there are lots of them, presumably to make up for their stupidity, as one adult dragonelle can produce up to a thousand eggs per season, laying them over a period of one to two months.

Summer (Greening, Quartin, Quince) Some time in the beginning of Greening the crabs begin to emerge from hibernation. They are not overly large, and they are not as easy to catch as a mud-pup (they defend themselves) but again, there are lots of them. Fish, as usual, provides the rest of a swampy's protein. Vegetable material is provided by one of the few things seeded by the Ancestors; several varieties of edible deep-sea kelp. By Greening the kelp beds have grown up to reach the surface and long pieces are constantly being broken off and carried in to the beach. A hungry swampy need only stake out a section of beach for a few hours and sooner or later an oceanic salad big enough to stuff him and several friends will come floating in. If he's really lucky, clinging to the kelp will be one of the oceanic crabs, but he'd better keep.such a piece of great good luck to himself. . . .

FaH (s.e.xte, Septe, Harvest) These are the lean months for the swampy. The kelp betls have died back down, the mud-pups are gone, the crabs can't be eaten, and the reeds and gra.s.ses have all gone woody and fibrous. The only vegetable material he can get is the pith of certain rushes; knowledge of those rush-beds is carefully APPENDIX.

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guarded. About all there is for the hungry swampy is fish and river-eels. Things can get very unpleasant in the fall. . . .

MEDICINALS AND OTHER RELEVANCIES:.

Although most of the vegetation in the swamp is either poisonous or disagreeable in quant.i.ty, in small amounts quite a number of the plants have medicinal properties.

Redberry bush bark; contains salicylic acid and acetyl sali-cylate (locally called asprin). Useful for headache and fever-reduction.

Wiregra.s.s: contains quinchona (quinine).

Marshcress: an expectorant.

Nodding Tom (a reed): seeds produce a mild tranquilizen root, a sedative.

Numbvine: sap has a benzocaine-Iike-substance; a local anesthetic; also speeds clotting.

Potchbush: sap has a very powerful antibiotic effect, but only externally.

Rainbow weed: stimulant.

PRACTICAL MEROVINGEN ECOLOGY 102 OR "WHAT'S EATING YOU?".

In sober fact, most of the wildlife of Merovin finds human beings (a) inedible or (b) as poisonous as humans find the wildlife. This is fortunate for the humans, especially those in the swamp. However there are any number of things out there that are perfectly willing to defend themselves/territory by taking a bite out oi you, provided they can spit it out afterwards.

JAWS 3, SWAMPY 0.

The single largest dangerous criner a swampy is likely to encounter is the gravid female dragonelle. They are between one and two meters long, have short tempers (you'd be 294.

peeved too, if you had up to a thousand eggs to lay), are highly territorial and aggressive, and are possessed of poisonous ventral and tail spines and a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth. They swarm into the swamp in the winter months, coming in after dark with the high tide and leaving with the ebb (like grunion) before dawn. They have been known to take a whole foot off an injudicious swampy, and will certainly extract the proverbial pound of flesh if they get the chance. The main rule in dealing with dragonelle is, NEVER, EVER, PUT ANY PART OF YOURSELF INTO THE WATER AFTER DARK IN WINTER. While they are amphibious, they don't really like 'dry land' and much prefer to grumble down in the mud underwater. They will not climb up on rafts or into boats.