Sludge suction system

The clinic welcomed its second patient. He was a hunched, emaciated middle-aged man. Dragging his heavy, weak body, each step seemed to drain the last ounce of strength from his frame. His legs trembled uncontrollably, as if he would collapse at any moment. His face was ashen, devoid of any color. Beads of sweat, the size of soybeans, rolled down his forehead, forming trickles that streamed down his sunken cheeks, splashing onto the ground—clearly, he was enduring unbearable pain. His family members anxiously supported him, their eyes filled with terror and despair. Their knuckles were white from the strain, and their bodies trembled slightly.

As they approached, a nauseating stench assaulted their nostrils. The surrounding patients instantly paled, covering their noses with their hands, their faces contorted with extreme disgust and remorse. Some even gagged, hastily turning and fleeing the area as if the boils were the most terrifying plague in the world. The man's arms, from the elbows down, were densely covered with swollen, festering boils, like menacing demons relentlessly eroding his skin. Pus and blood oozed continuously from the wounds, their dark color resembling rotten swamp mud, with bubbles constantly rising and bursting, releasing an even stronger stench. The skin around the boils was a strange purplish-black, swollen as if about to burst, with bulging veins like writhing earthworms, clearly visible. The poison had clearly penetrated deep into his flesh, writhing wildly within him; his condition was extremely critical, like a candle flickering in a storm, its life hanging by a thread.

Upon seeing this, Bai Pingping's brows furrowed instantly, but in just a moment, she took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and quickly walked to the man's side. She first spoke softly to the man, "Don't be afraid, I will do my best to treat you, so please rest assured."

Then, she carefully lifted the man's arms and gently placed them on a clean wooden tray that had been prepared beforehand, and began to carefully observe the condition of the boils with great concentration.

Her eyes were sharp and keen, not missing a single subtle change in the wound. She would sometimes lean in to examine it closely, sometimes gently touch the skin around the boil with her fingers, feeling its hardness and temperature. She would occasionally let out a soft hiss, seemingly heartbroken for the man's suffering. Bai Pingping softly inquired about when the boil had appeared, whether there had been any unusual symptoms, and what treatments he had received. The man replied weakly that the boil had initially been just a small red dot, slightly itchy, which he hadn't paid much attention to, only scratching it casually. But unexpectedly, just one night later, the red dot rapidly enlarged, becoming inflamed, hot, and increasingly painful. He then realized the seriousness of the situation and rushed to see a doctor, using various topical herbal remedies and even trying some folk remedies, but all to no avail. The boil spread rapidly, causing him unbearable pain day and night, pushing him to the brink of mental collapse. He couldn't even perform simple actions like raising his arm, and was completely unable to care for himself.

After listening to the man's account, Bai Pingping fell into a brief moment of contemplation. Her brows furrowed, and her eyes revealed a deep concern and worry. She knew all too well that this carbuncle was no ordinary condition. She turned and walked to the medicine cabinet, skillfully and swiftly opening each drawer. Relying on her years of accumulated experience and profound medical knowledge, she precisely selected a variety of herbs with powerful effects in clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and draining pus, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and softening and dispersing nodules.

After carefully removing the herbs, Bai Pingping hurried to a basin of water, rolled up her sleeves to reveal her slender, fair arms, and began to meticulously wash them. Her hands gently turned the herbs, carefully rubbing each leaf and root to ensure no impurities remained. The washed herbs were neatly arranged beside a stone mortar. She picked up the pestle, gripped it tightly, and began to vigorously crush the herbs. With each powerful stroke of the pestle, the fragrant aroma of the herbs gradually filled the air, permeating every corner of the clinic. Bai Pingping's gaze was focused and resolute, her arms moving rhythmically.

After the herbs were mashed into a fine paste, Bai Pingping didn't use it immediately. Instead, she poured it into a clean porcelain bowl and added some specially prepared medicinal powder. This powder, meticulously crafted according to an ancestral recipe, possessed extremely strong detoxifying and tissue-regenerating effects. Using a clean bamboo chopstick, she quickly and evenly stirred the paste and powder until they were fully combined, forming a dark green ointment with a rich medicinal aroma. Then, she carefully wrapped the ointment in a piece of white gauze that had been sterilized by high-temperature steaming and set it aside for later use.

Next, Bai Pingping picked up a magic needle and repeatedly heated it over an alcohol lamp to sterilize it. Once the needle was red-hot, she quickly set it aside to cool slightly, allowing it to reach a suitable temperature for manipulation. Then, with focused and calm eyes, she lifted the man's arm again and gently used the needle to puncture the festering but not yet ruptured sores. Her movements were cautious and precise, each touch just right, allowing the pus and blood to drain smoothly without causing excessive damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. As the pus and blood gushed out, she immediately wiped it clean with a clean cotton ball to prevent it from spreading and causing secondary infection.

After puncturing all the boils that needed treatment, Bai Pingping picked up the prepared ointment, used a bamboo stick to scoop up an appropriate amount, and applied it evenly to the patient's boils. Her movements were gentle and meticulous; each sore was carefully treated to ensure the ointment penetrated deeply into every lesion and exerted its maximum effect. After applying the ointment, she wrapped the patient's arms tightly with clean gauze, patiently instructing the patient as she did so: "When you get home, you must strictly follow my instructions. This arm must not get wet; even a drop of sweat must be wiped dry immediately. Try to avoid touching the wounds to prevent infection. Keep your arms still for the next few days and avoid excessive activity to prevent affecting wound healing. Change the gauze and ointment regularly every morning and evening. If you notice any abnormalities in the wounds, such as increased redness and swelling, fever, unbearable pain, or an unusual odor, come back to me immediately. Don't delay!"

Immediately afterward, Bai Pingping went to her desk, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and carefully prescribed a Chinese herbal medicine formula for the man based on his condition, physical state, pulse, and tongue coating. As she wrote, she explained in detail to the man's family, "This medicine should be decocted and taken three times a day, once in the morning, once at noon, and once in the evening. It can regulate the body from within, help expel toxins, and enhance the body's resistance. Combined with the external ointment, it forms a two-pronged attack to completely eliminate the boils. When decocting the medicine, be sure to use a low flame to slowly simmer it, allowing the medicinal properties of the herbs to be fully released. First, soak the herbs for half an hour, then add water to cover them, and boil until half a bowl of water remains. In addition, the patient should maintain a cheerful mood and avoid excessive emotional fluctuations, as negative emotions can also affect the recovery."

Throughout the treatment, Bai Pingping remained focused and attentive, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, yet she seemed oblivious to it. Every step was carried out methodically and meticulously.

After Bai Pingping meticulously treated the patients with carbuncles, their families were deeply grateful. An elderly family member knelt down, sobbing uncontrollably, "Doctor, you are our savior! We were desperate after hitting walls everywhere, but fortunately, you treated us with your skillful hands and kind heart. We will never forget your kindness!" A younger family member also thanked her repeatedly, "Previously, all the doctors were helpless, but you were so dedicated. Your medical skills and ethics are admirable. If you ever need our help in the future, we will definitely do our best to repay you!" Other family members gathered around, nodding in agreement, their eyes filled with gratitude.

Just as everyone was thanking Bai Pingping, an even more troublesome patient arrived.