Nineteenth Century Medical Guide

Chapter 414 410. Exhibition break

From the perspective of the authorities, this opening ceremony was undoubtedly a success.

After successive encounters with worker shortages and inadequate facilities, the 67 Paris Expo can still be regarded as the pinnacle of the 19th century expositions.

What's more, Mexico, which was supposed to be lost during the Expo, was lost as early as the end of last year. Mexico's independence declared the complete bankruptcy of Nazionale's Americas strategy, which severely dealt a severe blow to Nazionale's idea of ​​"great domination" at the time.

It's just that no one will use this old incident to touch Nasan's bad luck at this juncture.

Maximilian, who was supposed to die with Mexico, became Franz's right-hand man on the political stage after winning military honors and was managing the rebellion in Hungary. The relationship between Fa and Ao, which should have been cold because of this, no longer has this layer of resentment.

The entire French Palace does not need to mourn Maximilian, and the commemorative celebrations planned for the Ottoman Sultan at the end of June will remain as they are.

In Nassan's eyes, Mexico's failure was the bottom, the Paris World Expo was a rebound, and France will be advancing all the way.

Naturally, the critics would not sing the opposite, and competed to show their own literary skills. They judged the opening ceremony as a gorgeous, magical and extremely successful material splendor of the new world. It was the most glorious record in the history of the world of the moral reputation of the emperor and the great achievements of the Second Empire. of a sum.

But if you change the perspective to an outsider, such as Kavi, who was sitting in the south stand before, this is undoubtedly a successful event, but the meaning is completely different.

In addition to his personal preference, participating in the opening ceremony is also a political task. Besides, there are still a lot of experiments to be completed and time is very tight. If Morazo hadn't been dragged into the diplomatic corps, he might have left not long after Nezan entered the main hall.

But when he let go of his worries and actually participated in the exhibition after the opening ceremony, he discovered that there were still many things to do waiting for him.

Such a figure is full of topicality and attracted a large number of reporters as soon as it appeared in the exhibition hall. Their questions were also very pointed: as the manufacturer of these explosives, should Nobel International Industrial Group be responsible for the workers and civilians who died due to the instability of nitroglycerin?

Nobel turned around and saw that the crowded crowd of reporters had long since dispersed. Only a young man who had taken off his hat was left in front of him and walked towards him: "Aren't you also a reporter? I can accept the interview. I just hope you can Can report truthfully.”

"Don't talk nonsense. This is a very stable detonator, not unstable nitroglycerine."

"Why does it look like explosives?"

Of course, his career suffered a lot of criticism in the past 1866, and nitroglycerin was too unstable. The casualties caused by this instability are far greater than the convenience brought by explosives. Many countries have banned nitroglycerin, and the company's operations have been hindered.

The young man took off his gloves, smiled and stretched out his hand: "I am a surgeon."

The entire industrial exhibition hall has become a mess. Everyone is running for their lives. No one will listen to Nobel's explanation.

"Yes, yes, it's dynamite. It's a murderous dynamite specially designed to blow up absentees."

"Technology has been advancing, and casualties due to technological progress are inevitable. Now our company has developed stable nitroglycerin"

At this time, Alfred Bernhard Nobel had already made enough money from his invention of dynamite and established companies in Britain, France, Prussia, and Switzerland.

The other party's answer is of course no.

The reporters hurriedly backed away as if they had seen a monster.

There are not only various machines that combine physics and heavy metals, but also the newly discovered miracle metal "aluminum" and strange products that process a substance called "petroleum". Of course, there are also accessories that serve the war, such as the Prussian Krupp cannon, the new French hunting rifle, and explosives from Sweden.

It was nothing at first, just the fearful reaction of ordinary people to explosives. Gradually, the crowd's retreat spread to a wider and wider area, and the news of the presence of explosives in the exhibition hall slowly spread around the crowd of onlookers. Finally, someone suddenly raised his voice and shouted loudly: "There are explosives!!!"

"No, I'm not a reporter," the young man said, "I'm a doctor."

"Doctor?" Nobel looked him up and down and mocked himself, "The angel who saves people also comes to chat with the murderer?"

"what is this?"

Suddenly the crowd was like frightened sparrows, bursting into flames.

At this moment, a young voice came over: "Mr. Nobel?"

Seeing that someone was about to refute, Nobel quickly took out a metal pipe from the cargo box behind him and argued: "This is also our new invention. It can detonate the stabilized nitroglycerin from a long distance, at least it won't."

"What are you doing? It's a world-famous expo after all. I'm not stupid enough to bring dangerous nitroglycerine." Nobel put the detonator into the cargo box and sighed, "It seems that the bad impression before can hardly be restored in a short time. erased”

Nobel was caught off guard by the sudden kindness. He took out his handkerchief and wiped off the dust and oil stains on his hands: "Although we have made a lot of explosives, we have no experience in how to help surgeons treat the wounded. If you really know If you are interested in these traumas, I can"

"I'm not doing it for this." The young man turned his head and looked at the cargo box behind him with a smile, "I'm just interested in making explosives."

"what?"

Kawei did not expect to see Nobel at the Expo.

He himself has long been eyeing nitroglycerine, but he has never touched it due to his cooperative relationship with Laszlo. Compared with hemostatics, anticoagulants, epinephrine and other drugs used in surgery, there are several times more patients who need nitroglycerin. Such medicine cannot fall into Laszlo's pocket, it must still be kept in his own hands.

The reason why it hasn't started yet is simply that we haven't been able to find a suitable factory. From explosives to medicines, we have to go through several processes and require a lot of skilled workers and researchers. It's not that easy.

Kawei didn't come here to discuss cooperation, he just wanted to meet Nobel. Unfortunately, the person in front of him was not Alfred Nobel, but his brother, Ludwig Nobel, who took over the management and operation of the company.

"Are you really a doctor?"

"Of course." Kawei looked at the detonators in the cargo box and asked, "Huh? Why are they all detonators, and where is the nitroglycerin?"

For a moment, Ludwig didn't know whether his brother was crazy or the young man in front of him was crazy: "That's nitroglycerine. It will explode if you are not careful. It is powerful enough to destroy this industrial exhibition hall. Even if we study I don’t dare to take the risk of bringing stable nitroglycerine.”

"Oh, that's it." Kavi suddenly realized that he hadn't introduced himself yet, "My name is Kavi, Kavi Hines, a surgeon from Vienna."

"Why would a doctor be interested in a 'killing' tool?"

"Killing tool?" Kawei has been thinking about nitroglycerin. "Oh, yes, explosives are indeed killing tools. But the reason why chemistry is fascinating is not just because of those complex and changeable compounds."

Ludwig was confused by what he said without beginning or end: "What do you mean?"

"I mean, killing people and saving people all depends on how you use it."

Ludwig only cared about the company's operations and never interfered with the research of his two younger brothers. His theoretical knowledge was only at the middle school level. He became increasingly confused: "Can explosives save people?"

Kawei did not want to discuss other uses of nitroglycerin with others. He came here just to meet Nobel himself. If possible, he would also like to talk to him about the various changes that dynamite has brought to the world. Since the other party is not me, there is nothing much to talk about: "I wonder if your company has factories in France and Austria?" "No." Ludwig shook his head, "We only have branches in France, but the factory The permit has never been approved. Austria has always been conservative and will not easily allow foreign businesses to build factories in the country.”

Kawi had gained a certain status, but not enough to change commercial and industrial policy. After thinking for a moment, he asked again: "What about your customers? You should have customers in France and Austria."

"We must have customers. Many railway companies come to us to buy explosives." Ludwig was puzzled, "Why do you ask?"

Kawei still didn't reply to him, but just nodded: "By the way, does your company exist in Switzerland?"

"Switzerland?" Ludwig thought for a while and gave an affirmative answer, "We built a branch last year and are already building a factory."

"OK, thanks."

"伱"

"I'm just asking casually." Kawei ended the chat seemingly "tactfully", turned around and left: "Farewell, I wish your company a prosperous business, goodbye."

"Um, bye."

Ludwig didn't pay attention to the young man who left, and quickly ordered his workers to move the goods: "What are you looking at? Is there anything interesting to see? Work for me! Quickly pack the boxes, and a few more people will come over Call the freight carriage, we can’t stay here any longer, let’s go back to the Swedish showroom.”

At 9 o'clock in the evening, relying on oil lamps and arc lamps provided by Paris, the interior and exterior of the Swiss Pavilion were still brightly lit.

"I really didn't expect you to come."

Gustav brought coffee and an account book, and said with a smile: "Since the last time we left in Vienna, antique collection has been going on in an orderly manner. Mr. Shanwang is very knowledgeable in this area and asked me not to leave. Many detours.”

Kawei opened the account book, glanced at it, and closed it: "I can rest assured that you will do the work."

Gustav accompanied the smiling face, thinking that since it was not for the antiques, it was for another important event they had talked about in Vienna, and continued to report: "There are not many pharmaceutical factories in Switzerland. They are all small-scale workshops at a glance. I really can’t find the right one.”

Naturally, there were no decent pharmaceutical factories in the 19th century. The one opened in Austria together with Laszlo could already be considered a big factory. What Kawei wants is just a decent shell. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pharmaceutical factory. It will have to be replaced in the end: “I knew this before. If not, I will replace it with something else. Is there any other substitute?”

"Yes, there are." Gustav hesitated, "But they are not very good chemical factories, which are very different from the refined processing of pharmaceutical factories."

"The chemical plant is pretty good, isn't it?" Kawei became interested after hearing this, "Let's talk about it."

"it is good"

Before being in Zurich, Kawei wanted to get rid of Laszlo's control and build a pharmaceutical factory of his own as soon as possible. It is necessary to have complete laboratories, researchers and pharmaceutical machines and assembly lines, all serving pharmaceuticals.

Originally there was no rush for this matter, and I wanted to do it slowly and secretly, so as not to arouse Laszlo's dissatisfaction. I guess I have to wait until after the World Expo is over to see if there are any clues about the projects I have invested in before taking the next step. But now that we know that there is a factory being built by Nobel Company in Switzerland, the construction of the pharmaceutical factory needs to be put on the schedule.

"This one is good, the purchase price is not expensive, and the scale is okay." Kawei pointed to a dye factory on the list, "Ciba, Ciba?"

"Well, the company and factory are both in Basel, and now they specialize in silk and magenta dyes." Gustav said, "The business was pretty good at the beginning. In the past two years, it has been competed by several Prussian dye factories. The turnover It’s just so-so.”

Kawei felt strange: "These companies are not bad. By the way, why are all the companies based in Basel?"

"Because Basel started out as a textile industry and printing and dyeing factory in the early days. It is very close to France and Prussia, and many people built chemical plants here."

Kawei drew circles on several chemical and dye factories: "Let me keep an eye on these and ask them if they are willing to take action."

Gustave nodded and put the note away.

"One more thing." Kawei asked, "Do you know Nobel Industries Group?"

"Of course I know. They specialize in explosives." Gustav said helplessly. "The explosives produced by their factory have killed hundreds of Swiss workers this year alone. They have been reported several times."

"Where is their factory located?"

"It's on the outskirts of Zurich, quite far from the city." Gustav was puzzled, thinking that Kawei had taken a fancy to their factory. "You're not trying to get their idea, are you? Nobel has a lot of money, and he's not one of those families. Small companies can compare.”

"I'm just interested in what their workers are earning."

"what?"

"Please ask the workers who make explosives how many hours they work every day and how much they earn every month, especially those skilled workers." Kawei said, "By the way, there are also researchers from their company, let's find out too. "

Gustave knew that Kawei had his own ideas, so he didn't ask any more questions and silently wrote down these requests: "I understand."

"This matter is not urgent." Kawei put down the tea cup and asked, "It's your turn. If you have anything to say, please tell me quickly. I'm in a hurry to get back."

Gustav knew his position very well, so he kept his own affairs behind. I wanted to wait until Kawei was about to leave before mentioning it, but now it seems that there is no need for it: "Actually, it's not my own business. I'm not even sure whether to interfere."

"Don't play riddles, just tell me if you have something to say."

"Doctor Carvey, do you know Dunant? Henry Dunant."

"Dunan?" Kawei felt that the name was familiar, but he couldn't place it on his lips. "I have an impression, but..."

"After all, he is a Swiss, so it's normal if you don't recognize him." Gustave introduced, "He has written a book before, "Memoirs of Solferino," which records Fao's battle on the battlefield of Solferino in Italy. You should have an impression of what he saw. After that, he and several colleagues organized the International Committee for the Relief of Wounded Soldiers."

"Oh, it's him." Kawei remembered, "I have read that book, and I agree with his ideas on rescuing wounded soldiers. However, his ideal is too far away, and it is too difficult to realize it."

The so-called "International Committee for the Relief of Wounded Soldiers" was the predecessor of the International Red Cross. Dunant was the founder and was honored as the "Father of the Red Cross" by later generations. It's just that his life was not as brilliant as it sounds. 67 was the turning point.

"Why did you suddenly talk about him?"

Gustave "He has a credit company in Geneva, and many people have invested money in it, including my family's bank. It was running well before, but unfortunately, the business in Algeria ran into big trouble last year and owed a large amount of money. Maybe after a while, Dunan will have to declare bankruptcy."

(End of this chapter)