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Zhang Xiliang from Fengxin County suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness, with a lacerated head bleeding, phlegm rattling in the throat, urinary incontinence, profuse sweating, and discomfort/inability to move both hands and feet. All physicians knew this as a condition of Collapse (a critical syndrome characterized by extreme deficiency of Zheng Qi leading to collapse). They had already prepared Shenfu Tang (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction). I observed his complexion: his face was red and shiny. I palpated his pulse: it was floating, large, and slow. I urgently stopped the use of Shenfu Tang and administered one dose of Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), after which the phlegm sound subsided. After another dose, he gradually regained consciousness. The next day, his left hand and foot could move, but the right could not; only then did I realize he suffered from hemiplegia on the right side. Consequently, he took several more doses, and his right hand also recovered. However, he had no appetite. Others suspected the medication was too cooling and advised stopping it, but he refused. He continued taking several doses of cooling medicine, after which he felt extreme hunger and ate significantly more than usual, leading to a complete recovery. Someone asked, "How did you determine that there must be夾 Fire (Fire pathogen) involved, and why is the red face definitely not Dai Yang (Floating Yang/False Heat due to deficient Yang floating upward)?" Because if it were deficient Yang floating upward, the pulse would necessarily be Scattered (San Mai, a pulse indicating dispersion of vital energy, lacking root and distinctness), and certainly not Slow (Huan Mai). Therefore, I was certain that (when the pulse is indistinct and rapid without clear rate, it is called Scattered; if such a pulse appears, Cinnamon Twig and Aconite should be used to anchor it).

Liu Simei from Xinjian County suddenly lost consciousness, with eyes closed and phlegm rattling in the throat. Only his right hand moved; the rest of his body was immobile, and he had no sweat. The physician administered Shenfu Tang. Three days later, his neck tendons became tight and rigid, unable to flex or extend, resulting in permanent disability.

Lu Sheng from Nanchang suffered from symptoms identical to Liu Simei and had mistakenly taken Shenfu Tang for six days. I also used the previous formula (referring to the correct cooling/clearing formula implied in context, though not explicitly named in this specific sentence, it refers to the successful treatment method described earlier) for three doses, after which he revived. Using the original formula with modifications for eight doses led to a full recovery. This shows that such syndromes are often harmed by tonic medicines.

Bai Yingsheng, the magistrate's assistant from Anyi County, was over sixty years old but still vigorous like a young man, having never taken medicine. In the summer of the Guiyou year, while kneeling to burn incense at the City God Temple, he suddenly could not rise, muttering incoherently. His family believed he was being punished by the gods. When carried home, he had phlegm rattling in his throat and was stiff. I examined his tongue: it was black and coated like a mesh. I prescribed Da Qin Jiao Tang (Great Qinjiao Decoction) with doubled Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and added Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum). After finishing five doses in three days, he revived, but his left half-body remained immobile. After ten more doses, there was still no effect. Thus, I removed all wind-dispelling herbs and used exclusively Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Tian Dong (Asparagi Rhizoma), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Jiu Bai Shao (Wine-processed Paeoniae Radix Alba), Bai Ju Hua (Chrysanthemi Flos), and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma). After two months of administration, he recovered.

Li Rongguang from Fengxin County was obese and prone to Phlegm. Throughout his life, he liked taking Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) and Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), and even dared not take Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix). One day, he suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness, with deviation of the mouth and eye, immobility of the right hand, and a black, dry, and scorched tongue. I prescribed Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) with added Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), and Bai Ju Hua (Chrysanthemi Flos). After four doses, he revived, and his right hand gradually returned to normal.

Xin Wenxiang from Jing'an County liked taking tonic medicines, which led to diarrhea. Physicians attributed this to Spleen Deficiency and Fire Decline (at that time, he was 62 years old) and vigorously applied warming and tonifying methods. Consequently, the diarrhea worsened, muscles wasted away, food was vomited immediately after eating, and he had been bedridden for a month. Subsequently, he suddenly lost consciousness, with deviation of the mouth and eye, inability to speak, and immobility of the right half-body. He took one dose per day. On the second day, he revived. After continuing for six or seven days, his hands and feet could move, although he still could not speak. After one or two more days, he experienced abdominal distension and urgency to defecate but could not pass stool (having not passed stool for over ten days). At this point, I switched to Chengqi Tang (Chengqi Decoction, a purgative formula) with added Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba). After two doses, his bowels moved, his limbs became agile, and his speech returned. He then continued taking the previous formula (consisting of Sheng Di Huang and Mai Dong) for one month and fully recovered (total consumption: 30 jin of Sheng Di Huang and over 10 jin of Mai Dong). Someone asked for the reason. I replied: "The human intestines and stomach have thirty-six curves; how can food enter and exit immediately? This clearly indicates that excessive warming and unblocking caused the Qi transformation and transportation of the San Jiao (Triple Burner) to be too fast, which is essentially Fire Leakage (diarrhea caused by heat forcing fluids into the large intestine). Heat accumulated internally, yet warming tonics were still applied, causing internal heat to attract external Wind, resulting in sudden stroke from evil Wind. Using moistening herbs slowed down the transportation, thus stopping the diarrhea; using them to resolve internal heat extinguished the Wind."

I have tentatively recorded these few cases to clarify that Stroke (Zhong Feng) is mostly a Heat disease. This is based on my definite observations, not empty talk from books. It also shows that all popular medical books are unreliable. Those [from] Jingyue Quanshu... [text missing] ...deceive people, and do they not discern this?