Medicine and Drugs

The advancement of medicine in Drakepunk is not nearly so advanced as our own, but it is progressing at all times. Anatomy is generally very well understood, and surgeries can be conducted reliably, though painfully due to a lack of proper modern anesthesia or painkillers. The nearest found to either is a plant which grows on Kohatu and can be refined into something like opium. It is generally rarely prescribed, as the chemical is known to be addictive.

While there is little understanding of "germs", there is still a high degree of cleanliness among all mortal societies. Emaen doctors have proposed a theory of "toxins" which cause all manner of ailments either by damaging the body, or the body's attempts to exorcise these toxins. These toxins do include what we would normally call germs, but also include things such as coal particulate or dangerous chemicals, they are all considered to be the same sort of thing, with what we know as "germs" as "Atomic Environmental Toxins" as they are too small to be observed, and seem to exist in the general environment. Proper hygiene, the disposal of waste, industrial and otherwise, and rigorous cleanliness is observed, as are quarantines as doctors understand that the exorcism of toxins from the body releases them into the environment where they may be reabsorbed by another body. Most non-surgical medicine is focused on assisting the body in removing toxins, such as by placing the patient in a heated room (along with plenty of water) to help create a fever which will "sweat out the toxins". Patients suffering from gastrointestinal diseases will be placed on special diets, etc. Bloodletting is still practiced as a legitimate form of medicine, but in recognition that bleeding a patient can cause them to die, it is almost always supplemented with transfusions to replace the drained "bad blood" with healthy blood.

Draconic medicine is arguably even less advanced. Dragons are not exactly the cleanest of creatures, and so have developed resistances to many different ailments. However, wounds are still prone to infection, and injuries still must be healed.

Raikana are arguably the least developed in any medical field, and if injured, will generally attempt to dull the pain with cold, use sea salt as a disinfectant, and generally wait for it to fix itself. This means that many Raikana are marked with more than a few scars, which are generally considered a sign of resilience.

Nakakana, due to being far more urban, are most likely to go to a hospital manned by mortals in the even they become injured or ill, relying on their superior medical knowledge. Medical studies are frequently sponsored by Nakakana, who are prone to developing a number of crippling and fatal ailments as they age, contributing to their shorter lifespans.

Rokukana take a similar approach, but are unique in draconic society in that members of their hives will often become dedicated medical professionals. These Rokukana doctors are rightly famed for their skill, though their bedside manner is quite lacking. Rokukana also have arguably the best understanding of infectious disease in the Broken Worlds, making use of quarantines to separate sick areas of their hives, and have even begun experimenting with primitive vaccination techniques.

While Kahukana typically lack direct medical knowledge, almost all Kahukana are versed in the basics of first aid, and their clans will come together to care for the sick and injured as best as they are able. Kahukana apothecaries are among the finest available, as their supreme understanding of their island homes allows them to easily find medicinal herbs and natural medicines. However, what is cure for one is poison for others, as many Kahukana remedies would be lethal to any other species. However, in small doses, these poisons can act as powerful stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens, the aforementioned opium equivalent for example.