the head of the order of the scribe healers , a bald , extremely fat man who seemed on the verge of death himself with every laboured breath he drew , was clearly at a loss about the nature of the kings sudden illness , stammering fearful nonsense about kidneys and the need to replenish the lost blood by consuming great amounts of raw veal heart and cows afterbirth , till king fazen grew so nauseous he chased him away with a cat-o-nine-tails he sometimes used on his more adventurous courtesans .