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In the fourth month of the Gengxu year, a rural woman surnamed Wu contracted Shanghan (Cold Damage). She suffered from headache and fever, with incessant diarrhea. Most physicians treated her with Fuzi Lizhong Wan (Aconite Pill to Regulate the Middle) and Jin Ye Dan (Golden Elixir), but her irritability and diarrhea worsened. Upon examination, I stated: "The pulse is slow and deep. If there is heat below the umbilicus, this is Xiere Li (Diarrhea associated with Heat)." I administered Sanhuang Shuai Ai Tang (Three-Yellow Decoction with Cooked Mugwort). After three doses, the diarrhea ceased and thirst was relieved. Subsequently, I gradually prescribed Jiemo Han Yao (Muscle-Releasing Sweating Medicines), and she recovered after sweating.

In the summer of the Dingwei year, my clan's younger sister contracted Shanghan. After having sweated, she suffered from incessant vomiting and rigidity, unable to swallow medicine. The physician treated her with drugs such as Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), Xiaoshi (Natrii Sulfas), Liuhuang (Sulfur), and Huoxiang (Agastaches Herba), likely treating it as Stomach Cold. Upon visiting, I said: "This is residual heat remaining in the epigastrium after sweating. Administering hot medicines here would be like adding fire to fire; how could it stop?" Therefore, I used Xiangru Tang (Mosla Decoction) and Zhuru Tang (Bamboo Rind Decoction). After three doses, she was cured.

In summer, Zhongli Dequan fell ill one night with vomiting and diarrhea, cold body, profuse sweating like bathing, and mental restlessness. I gave him Xiangru Yin (Mosla Drink). The next day, the condition stabilized. He was subsequently regulated with Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) and recovered.
The commentary states: Zhang Zhongjing said, "When a patient has fever, headache, body pain, aversion to cold, vomiting, and diarrhea, what disease is this?" The answer is: This is called Huoluan (Cholera-like disorder). It involves spontaneous vomiting and diarrhea, which may stop and recur, accompanied by recurrent fever. This disease is mostly caused by summer-heat and dampness. There is disharmony between Ying and Wei (Defensive and Nutritive Qi), confusion of clear and turbid Qi, and overindulgence in food damaging the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). It causes abdominal cramping, incessant thirst and irritability, and calf cramps. It kills rapidly and cannot be delayed.

Wu, a tea merchant from Jiangxi, fell ill with a headache feeling like being wrapped, coldness in both legs below the knees, excessive sweating in the chest, and occasional delirium. Physicians diagnosed it as a Yin Syndrome and treated it with Aconite-type formulas, assuming the cold feet indicated Jue Ni (Reversal Cold). I palpated his pulse: the Guan position was soggy, and the Chi position was rapid/tight. I diagnosed it as the pulse and syndrome of Shiwen (Damp-Warmth). His illness resulted from contracting dampness previously, then suffering from summer-heat. Dampness and heat fought each other, forming this syndrome. I urgently administered Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). After three doses, the illness resolved.

Someone contracted Shanghan. Several days after sweating, he suddenly had fever and spontaneous sweating, with a wiry and rapid pulse, appearing as if the disease had relapsed. I diagnosed it as: Caused by mental exertion. The residence of Shen (Spirit) had not returned to its original state, and further mental labor injured the Shen. Ying and Wei lost their rhythm. One should tonify the Son organ (Spleen), benefit the Spleen Qi, and resolve the mental fatigue, so that recovery is likely. A physician present questioned: "For deficiency, one should tonify the Mother. Now you tonify the Son. Which classic does this come from?" I replied: "It comes from the Treatises of Qianjin Fang." Do you not know about Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption)? Nan Jing says: "Deficiency tonifies the Mother, Excess drains the Son." This refers to the case where deficiency requires tonifying the Mother. However, Qianjin Fang states: "For severe Heart labor, tonify Spleen Qi to benefit the Heart. When the Spleen is prosperous, it influences the Heart." This is the method of tonifying the Son for labor. The Mother generates me; the Son inherits and assists me. When treating deficiency, we tonify the one who generated us, consistent with the meaning of "Ben Hai De Qi, Yi Ti Shou Yin" (The root bone receives Qi, the remnant body receives influence). When treating labor, we tonify the one who assists us, consistent with Xunzi's saying "There has never been a son rich while the father is poor." Thus, both tonification methods have their own rationale. The physician agreed and withdrew.