I: The iconoclastic iatrarchy

In my research about the Free City of Jubylon, there has been remarkable little mentions of the inner workings of it’s government, only some of the effects. I did manage to stumble across one document that described the origins and workings of the goverment. The High Circle (a group of if not formal aristocrats, then at least wealthy land owners that ruled Jubylon) were all killed in a single day, stabbed by assassins from two conspiracies acting independently, apparently not aware of each other. Chaos then broke out, leading to a civil war.

This civil war lasted for apparently four months, between four factions of various surviving land owners. A fair amount of it seems to have taken place outside the city, with only a few examples of street fighting inside the city. Jubylon’s army did try to intervene, but were soundly defeated at the Battle of the Eastern Ridge when they fell into an ambush. At this point, the Medical Association of the Free City of Jubylon met for their annual general assembly in a government building that was unused at the time. At one point, a representative from one of the four factions of land owners broke in and accused the doctors in there of planning a coup, since it was hosted in a government building.
After suggesting a treatment of fresh air, plenty of rest and time alone for the intruder, the doctors threw him out. About two minutes afterwards, one of the doctors rose and asked “I would like to suggest a treatment of revolution for the Free City of Jubylon. We could make a coup and govern by Hippocratic principles. Since this treatment is certainly radical, I would like to have the inputs of my fellow physicians before prescribing it.” A somewhat anxious and at the same time dispassionate discussion followed, before the doctors agreed to make a coup attempt.

They then went to the Inner Circle’s palace, broke in and smashed, burned, tore apart and destroyed every image of the former aristocracy’s supposed power and glory. When one civil servant present there asked what they were doing, one junior doctor replied. “What does it look like? We’re on strike, smashing false idols and carrying out a government coup. We’re doing our duty.” When asked why, she continued. “Because I am tired of digging out bullets of twelve-year old children. I am tired of treating burn wounds from people’s homes being burned to the ground. This is the shock treatment. The ordained medicine against chaos and tyranny. I took an oath and I intend to keep it. It’s my duty. Now please, return to yours, sir.” The civil servant acted like a good civil servant and did as ordered. He then told all other civil servants, that a new government had been formed (quickly glossing over the fact that they had done so themselves) and ordered all government workers to return to work. Afterwards, the newly formed government informed the four factions of land owners to lay down their weapons. If this did not happen, the newly reformed Army would come, fetch them and send the leaders to the asylum. After the government had delivered on this threat for the first leaders they caught, the remaining aristocratic leaders surrendered and was sentenced to exile for life. The first sentenced were dispatched from the asylum and sent into exile as well. The new government unveiled a statue of the agitator Alexander Thymós for his contributions to public health as a peace celebration, made from materials taken from the vanities of the Inner Circle. Finally, they then passed land reforms in order to secure a more varied and nutritious diet for the citzens of Jubylon. Since then, their government provided much stability and a public health system for the Free City of Jubylon.