Episode 83: Isn't It Too Much to Do? [3]
All over again. I thought about it while riding in the carriage with the director and Liston accompanying me.
What was I thinking about?
The white phosphorus match factory.
Even though… when making white phosphorus matches, they use something, right?
I wasn’t even expecting anything like a gas mask. This wasn’t a world where such things existed. No, even if they did exist, it was unlikely that factory managers at this time would provide them to workers. These people were truly obsessed with money, valuing it more than human life. I was really shocked when I asked why the workers’ armpits were chafed. They said they slept at night hanging from ropes… walked there, then slept… It was insane.
Would they even want to wear masks?
Masks. They were almost unheard of. Of course, our hospital didn’t use masks either. They wore them during dissection, but not at all during surgery or treatment. When I performed surgery, I wore one. Others thought it was because I had a weak stomach. It was hard to argue otherwise, so I just kept quiet.
Even if it isn’t to protect others, wouldn’t you wear one to protect yourself?
Those were mixed thoughts and hopes, but that hope was crushed the moment we arrived at the factory.
“No… This…”
The factory was located near London, but it wasn’t really a factory. It was just a shabby building. Most of the people coming and going inside were women. If I had just arrived from Korea, I wouldn’t have known what to make of it by looking. But now, I was somewhat of a Londoner, right?
These people… they don’t even pay them properly, do they?
At this point, it was safe to say women’s human rights simply didn’t exist. You could get a general idea just by looking at the obstetrics and gynecology ward, right? But would they pay women properly? Obviously not. They used women so they wouldn’t have to pay properly. At least it didn’t take much effort to make white phosphorus matches. It was a method even pigs could come up with…
“Hmm. It smells a bit.”
“Director, every factory smells like this.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Director, since you have no reason to visit, it’s natural you wouldn’t know.”
“Why do you go?”
“To collect receivables.”
“Ah… okay… It’s more efficient than sending other people… I suppose this is it.”
I couldn’t stay outside in shock forever, so I entered the factory with the two doctors. The smell had already been noticeable outside, but as soon as I entered, a foul stench struck my nose. The problem was that I couldn’t identify the smell. Even if it smelled like white phosphorus, that was a big problem. Even if it didn’t, it was still a big problem. How on earth had something so harmful been left alone until it gave off such a dangerous odor?
Squeak.
As always, Liston took the lead. It was clear he wasn’t used to standing behind others. He was physically strong enough to act for himself once surgery was overpaid, and no one around him would find it strange.
“What, what is it?”
“Wh-who are you…?”
Of course, that didn’t mean the others would simply accept him taking the lead. The few male employees who made eye contact seemed to size us up first. Did they think they could fight if they joined forces? I doubted it would be one hundred percent effective… Just as I was thinking this, Liston spoke.
“My name is Liston. The factory manager here also had his leg cut off.”
“Ugh.”
“I came to register.”
“It’s a big deal! Call the police!”
Honestly, I had some expectations. I thought this man would speak calmly… So what? At least comfort the others a little. Say you’re a doctor and a professor, not someone to fear. But did he have to start by saying the factory manager lost his leg? How was that a way to introduce yourself?
“Hey, what on earth are you doing?”
I would have been really frustrated if the director had smiled happily too, but fortunately, he didn’t. This man had common sense. He scolded Liston with a stern look, and though he avoided eye contact, he looked ahead and spoke.
“I am the director of University College London Hospital.”
To be honest, that sounded a bit weak. Would it be convincing, standing next to someone like Liston and calling yourself the director? Somehow, he looked like a smart man standing among gangsters… Not that he actually looked like that, but next to Liston, people always assumed he was a gangster. I probably looked like a mysterious swordsman from the East.
“Ah, Director!”
Contrary to my expectations, someone waved. At first glance, he looked plump, like a man who was well-fed and had lived comfortably.
“Ah… I contacted you in advance, but I only heard about this just now.”
“Yes, I heard. Long time no see, Dr. Liston.”
“Haha. Is your father well?”
“Sometimes he says his leg hurts, but he says it hurts in a leg that isn’t there… I suppose it’s his time to go now.”
The words were too creepy to dismiss as ignorance. The director smiled and continued as if whatever happened was a good thing. He tapped my shoulder, and even without that, the man who seemed to be the factory owner was already looking at me.
“This is Doctor Pyeong. You may have heard of him. He helped develop anesthetics and painkillers. He is a treasure to our hospital.”
“Ah… okay. But what brings you here?”
“I remember hearing about Austrian white phosphorus matches. You said you would try making them here? I think you’re making them now?”
“Ah… yes. You have a really good memory. Even if we hadn’t planned to, we are making them now, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“Isn’t it easy? Which part?”
“You know, the workers. There’s not much to do, yet there’s a lot of dissatisfaction…”
When the owner heard about anesthetics and painkillers, he looked at me with mixed feelings, then frowned while glancing around. Rather than just looking around, he glared at the workers all around him.
“Some say they can’t work because of the smell. I come out here and stay occasionally.”
“Aha. So you mean it smells that bad?”
The director looked like he would probably agree if I weren’t there, but now he wore a troubled expression.
“By the way, this boy says white phosphorus can be dangerous?”
“Yes?”
At those words, the owner glared at me even more harshly than before. He had looked friendly, but he stared so intensely that I instinctively hid behind Liston’s thick arm. Hiding behind an arm might sound awkward, but it was possible. Liston was a huge man.
“They say it can be dangerous, so why do you keep doing it?”
He knew very well that he could be threatened. He asked in a commanding voice, taking advantage of his height, more than a head taller than the other man. Then, as if possessed, the owner apologized first.
“Sorry.”
“If you’re sorry, please tell me.”
The ability to make someone apologize first, no matter who they were. It almost made me wonder if magic and superpowers in fantasy novels were actually born in moments like this. Anyway, the owner began speaking rapidly, trying to get through this crisis.
“Yes, yes, it’s true that white phosphorus is dangerous if it catches fire and touches a person’s body. It’s truly terrible.”
“But what we’re talking about is the smell.”
“But this is the first time I’ve heard about a smell. Aren’t there worse smells? I’ve never heard of a problem at a factory like this.”
“Hmm.”
It wasn’t that there was no truth to his words. Liston had a history of visiting various factories over unpaid bills. Back then, the exact existence of molecules was unknown, so harmfulness was judged by smell. As a result, the owner’s words sounded somewhat plausible. I could see Liston nodding unconsciously.
Brother… no.
I grabbed Liston’s forearm desperately. Fortunately, his face turned grim again.
“Why are you talking about other factories when we’re discussing this smell?”
“Well, that’s reasonable. What else can I do if you come back?”
To be honest, something like this shouldn’t have been made at all. A white phosphorus match. Why make something like this, sell it, and cause deaths? No matter how cheap and easy it was…
But right now, there was no evidence. From what I heard, production had just begun, meaning there were no victims of chronic poisoning yet. They wouldn’t know about acute poisoning either, so they would assume workers had died of some strange illness. You might wonder how they could say that so casually when someone died at work, but they really did.
“Excuse me… The work over there looks the most dangerous.”
After gathering my thoughts, I pointed to where they soaked match heads in white phosphorus. I expected it to be bad, but it was even worse when I saw it in person. Several female workers were exposed to white phosphorus with no protection.
“How… what should I do?”
The owner glared at me when I first spoke, but immediately softened when Liston grabbed my shoulder. It was natural. I felt like my shoulder would break if something happened.
“Once people are assigned to that task, rotate their shifts. Also, cover their noses and mouths with thick cloths. The breath coming from there… no, the smell is dangerous.”
“That… yes.”
He didn’t seem to understand. This was probably because they didn’t know white phosphorus particles could spread through the air. But understanding didn’t always mean acting, and not understanding didn’t mean someone couldn’t act. At least, that was the case in front of Liston.
“I come here often.”
Because of Liston’s comment, the owner looked helpless and simply nodded.
“Yes, yes. All right… oops… sorry, sorry.”
He even apologized. The murmured apologies continued until we left the factory.
“Ah, right.”
When Liston entered the factory again, the owner’s face turned pale. I didn’t know why, but it was obvious that he was probably cursing inwardly.
“Please spare me.”
“What are you talking about? Bring your father to the hospital soon.”
“Yes?”
“That’s called phantom pain. It’s not time for him to die. I’ll treat that too.”
“Ah…”
One way or another, they probably didn’t know that Liston was a good doctor in his own right.
Footnote 1 — Translator’s Notes
White phosphorus — Highly flammable and toxic form of phosphorus used historically in early matches and later associated with severe occupational poisoning.
Gas mask — Protective mask designed to filter harmful airborne substances. The narrator notes that such protection is unrealistic for this era.
Mask — Protective face covering. Pyeong contrasts modern surgical and industrial safety habits with nineteenth-century practice.
Receivables — Money owed to a business or individual. Liston’s factory visits are linked to collecting unpaid debts or fees.
University College London Hospital — Hospital associated with University College London Medical School in the story’s setting.
Austrian white phosphorus matches — Early white phosphorus matches associated here with imported Austrian manufacturing methods.
Molecules — Tiny units of matter made of atoms. The narrator notes that this era lacks the modern chemical framework needed to understand airborne toxic exposure.
Acute poisoning — Sudden poisoning after a short-term exposure to a toxic substance.
Chronic poisoning — Poisoning caused by repeated or long-term exposure.
White phosphorus particles — Tiny airborne particles or fumes from white phosphorus that can be inhaled and harm workers.
Phantom pain — Pain felt in a missing limb after amputation.